Te-waza are the judo hand techniques, throws where the hands and arms do the main work of lifting, pulling or dropping the opponent. Judoinfo.com describes them as throws performed using the hands and arms, completed from standing, with body shifting to disrupt the opponent before the throw.
- Japanese name: te-waza, "hand techniques".
- Kodokan classification: one of the three groups of standing throws, alongside koshi-waza and ashi-waza. 16 throws in the Kodokan list of techniques.
- Judoinfo.com notes that these throws help a smaller player throw a larger one.
What are the 16 hand techniques?
The Kodokan list of techniques names: Seoi-nage, Ippon-seoi-nage, Seoi-otoshi, Tai-otoshi, Kata-guruma, Sukui-nage, Obi-otoshi, Uki-otoshi, Sumi-otoshi, Yama-arashi, Obi-tori-gaeshi, Morote-gari, Kuchiki-taoshi, Kibisu-gaeshi, Uchi-mata-sukashi, Ko-uchi-gaeshi.
Several of these are everyday competition throws: seoi-nage and ippon-seoi-nage, the shoulder throws; tai-otoshi, the body drop; kata-guruma, the fireman's carry. Others are leg grabs such as morote-gari and kuchiki-taoshi, which BJJ players know as the double leg and the single leg. Two are counters: uchi-mata-sukashi fends off an uchi mata attempt, and ko-uchi-gaeshi dodges a ko-uchi-gari.
How do you train hand techniques?
- Start with the pull. Every te-waza begins with the hands breaking balance forward or backward; drill the kuzushi before the footwork.
- Learn seoi-nage or tai-otoshi first. The Kodokan defines both as throwing by breaking the balance forward, and they share an entry.
- Keep the elbows low and tight on the entry. A high elbow on a shoulder throw lets the opponent slip off.
- Add the drop. Tai-otoshi and seoi-otoshi end with the thrower dropping low, so the knees need to be ready for it.
- Drill the entries with uchi-komi in sets of ten, then finish them with nagekomi.
The most common mistake is doing a hand throw with the back. If the opponent is lifted rather than pulled around you, you are using strength that a bigger partner will cancel.
Hand throws are grip throws. Our judo training gear is rash guards made for people who train; wear one under the gi on drilling days.
Video: KODOKAN official channel
Are the hand techniques legal in judo?
In judo the IJF Sport and Organisation Rules penalise leg grabbing in standing judo with shido: grips under the belt may reach only the top of the inner thigh, so a hand on the leg below that draws a penalty. That makes the leg-grabbing hand throws, such as morote gari, kuchiki taoshi and kibisu gaeshi, penalties in IJF standing judo.
Sources
- Judoinfo.com describes them, JudoInfo
- Kodokan list of techniques, Kodokan Judo Institute
- IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation
Related terms
Seoi nage (shoulder throw), Tai otoshi (body drop), Fireman's carry (kata guruma), Standing techniques (tachi-waza), Throwing techniques (nage-waza).