Gokyo: the 40 Judo Throws

The Gokyo no Waza is the Kodokan's standard syllabus of 40 judo throws, arranged in five groups of eight, in roughly the order a judoka learns them. Most clubs still teach throws in Gokyo order.

• Japanese name: gokyo no waza, "five sets of techniques". The groups are dai ikkyo to dai gokyo, first to fifth.
• History: judoinfo.com explains that the Gokyo originated in 1895, that from 1920 to 1982 it held 40 throws in 5 groups, and that in 1982 the Kodokan restored 8 traditional throws and recognised 17 newer ones, with 2 more in 1997.
• Today: the Kodokan list of techniques names 68 throws; the 40 of the Gokyo are the core of that list.

The 40 judo throws, group by group

Each throw links to its own page in this glossary, with the official Kodokan video. The type after each name follows the Kodokan classification.

Dai ikkyo, first group:

1. De-ashi-harai, foot technique
2. Hiza-guruma, foot technique
3. Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi, foot technique
4. Uki-goshi, hip technique
5. O-soto-gari, foot technique
6. O-goshi, hip technique
7. O-uchi-gari, foot technique
8. Seoi-nage, hand technique

Dai nikyo, second group:

1. Ko-soto-gari, foot technique
2. Ko-uchi-gari, foot technique
3. Koshi-guruma, hip technique
4. Tsurikomi-goshi, hip technique
5. Okuri-ashi-harai, foot technique
6. Tai-otoshi, hand technique
7. Harai-goshi, hip technique
8. Uchi-mata, foot technique

Dai sankyo, third group:

1. Ko-soto-gake, foot technique
2. Tsuri-goshi, hip technique
3. Yoko-otoshi, side sacrifice technique
4. Ashi-guruma, foot technique
5. Hane-goshi, hip technique
6. Harai-tsurikomi-ashi, foot technique
7. Tomoe-nage, rear sacrifice technique
8. Kata-guruma, hand technique

Dai yonkyo, fourth group:

1. Sumi-gaeshi, rear sacrifice technique
2. Tani-otoshi, side sacrifice technique
3. Hane-makikomi, side sacrifice technique
4. Sukui-nage, hand technique
5. Utsuri-goshi, hip technique
6. O-guruma, foot technique
7. Soto-makikomi, side sacrifice technique
8. Uki-otoshi, hand technique

Dai gokyo, fifth group:

1. O-soto-guruma, foot technique
2. Uki-waza, side sacrifice technique
3. Yoko-wakare, side sacrifice technique
4. Yoko-guruma, side sacrifice technique
5. Ushiro-goshi, hip technique
6. Ura-nage, rear sacrifice technique
7. Sumi-otoshi, hand technique
8. Yoko-gake, side sacrifice technique

The table on judoinfo.com also lists the habukareta waza, the eight throws from the 1895 Gokyo that were restored in 1982, and the shinmeisho no waza, the newer techniques, which include morote-gari, kuchiki-taoshi, kibisu-gaeshi, ippon-seoi-nage and the counter throws.

How to use the Gokyo

1. Treat the first group as the first year. The eight throws of dai ikkyo cover a foot sweep, a prop, two hip throws, two reaps and a shoulder throw.
2. Read the Kodokan definition for each throw before drilling it. One sentence gives the direction and the key action.
3. Watch the official Kodokan video for each technique.
4. Move to the next group only when you can demonstrate all eight to both sides.
5. Keep a log of each throw with the date you first landed it in randori.

The most common mistake is rushing through the groups to collect names. Judoinfo.com describes the Gokyo as a syllabus, and a syllabus is for learning in order.

A throw-by-throw log is the Gokyo's natural companion. Our grappling training journals collection has lined journals for exactly that.

For a full book on these techniques, see Kodokan Judo: Throwing Techniques by Toshiro Daigo, one of our picks in the best judo books for BJJ players.

Sources

1. Judoinfo.com explains, JudoInfo
2. Kodokan list of techniques, Kodokan Judo Institute

Related terms

Throwing techniques (nage-waza), Kodokan, Standing techniques (tachi-waza), Sacrifice techniques (sutemi-waza), Training journal.

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