Sambo techniques
The Soviet system of throws and leg locks: sport sambo on the jacket, combat sambo with strikes. 31 techniques below.
Pins
4The mount is the top position where you sit astride your partner's torso with a knee on each side. In judo it becomes tate-shiho-gatame when you…
1996–2014
Side control pins your partner flat on their back from the side. You lie across them chest to chest, one arm under their neck and the other…
Kesa-gatame is judo's classic side pin. You sit beside your partner's chest, trap their near arm, wrap your other arm around their head and press…
Kami-shiho-gatame pins your partner from above their head. You lie chest to chest with your knees wide, slide your arms under their shoulders, grip…
Principles
3Kuzushi is breaking your partner's balance so they cannot resist your throw. In judo it is the first of three parts of every throw: kuzushi (break…
Ukemi is the art of falling safely. Judo teaches four breakfalls (rear, side, forward and the forward roll) that spread the impact over your arm,…
Kumikata is the way you take hold of your partner's jacket. In judo most attacks start here: the grip helps you control your partner and, under the…
Submissions
6The kneebar is an armbar for the leg: trap the opponent's leg between yours, hug it to your chest with their kneecap pointing at you, and extend…
2008–2023The straight ankle lock traps the opponent's foot in your armpit and levers your forearm into the Achilles tendon while your hips push forward,…
The armbar traps your partner's arm between your thighs, holds their wrist against your chest and lifts your hips so the elbow is forced straight,…
The rear naked choke is a strangle applied from behind. One arm wraps the neck with the crook of the elbow under the chin, that hand grips your…
The kimura is a figure-four lock on the shoulder and elbow. You hold your partner's wrist, thread your other arm behind their upper arm, grip your…
The toe hold is a figure-four foot lock: grip the top of the opponent's foot near the toes, thread your other arm under their Achilles tendon and…
Takedowns
4The double-leg takedown drops under the opponent's guard, wraps both legs and drives them to the mat. It is one of the most common takedowns in…
The single-leg takedown captures one of the opponent's legs and uses it to take away their balance, then finishes by turning the corner, tripping…
1984–1992
Morote-gari is judo's double-leg takedown. You drop your level, step between your partner's feet, wrap both arms around their legs above the knees…
Kuchiki-taoshi is judo's single-leg takedown, sometimes translated 'dead tree drop'. You step outside your partner's leg, grab it with one hand…
Throws
14
Uchi-mata is judo's inner thigh throw. You open your partner's feet, break their balance forward, turn in and swing your leg up between theirs,…
Harai-goshi is judo's sweeping hip throw. You pull your partner onto their toes, turn in with your hip against theirs and sweep your straight leg…
Osoto-gari is the 'major outer reap'. You break your partner's balance back onto one heel, step deep beside that leg and reap it away from behind…
Ouchi-gari is the 'major inner reap'. You step in chest to chest, hook your leg around the inside of one of your partner's legs and sweep it out…
Kouchi-gari is the 'minor inner reap'. You catch your partner's heel from the inside with the sole of your foot and flick it forward just as their…
2005–2019
Seoi-nage is judo's shoulder throw. You turn your back into your partner, tuck an arm under theirs, load them onto your back and tip them forward…
O-goshi is judo's major hip throw. You turn in with your hips lower than your partner's, wrap an arm around their back, load them onto your hips…
Sode-tsurikomi-goshi is a hip throw from sleeve grips. You stretch one of your partner's arms up and forward by the sleeve, turn in under it and…
Kosoto-gari is the 'minor outer reap'. You drive your partner's weight back onto one heel, then sweep that heel away with the sole of your foot…
Kosoto-gake is the 'minor outer hook'. You drive your partner's weight back onto one leg, hook that ankle or calf from the outside with your own…
De-ashi-barai is the 'advancing foot sweep'. You wait for your partner to take a step, then sweep that foot along its path at the instant their…
Okuri-ashi-barai is the 'sliding foot sweep'. You herd your partner sideways until their feet come together, then sweep both feet in the direction…
Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi is the 'supporting-foot lift-pull throw'. You pull your partner forward in a circle, block the leg they are stepping onto with…
Harai-tsurikomi-ashi is the 'lift-pull foot sweep'. You lift and pull your partner forward onto their toes, then sweep their front ankle backward…
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