Judo technique

O-guruma

Pronunciation: oh goo-roo-mah
Meaning: Large wheel

Compare a high leg line with Ashi-guruma’s lower line.

O-guruma: Tori in white blocks high across Uke's thigh with a straight leg while Uke in blue wheels over it. — Technique image: Tori is in white, Uke in blue. The lesson describes one side; the opposite side mirrors it.

Understand the technique

is a large wheel in . stretches a leg across upper thighs or lower abdomen, and the hands wheel a forward-moving Uke over that high line. It works like with a higher leg line, and it still counts as a leg technique because the leg is central to the throw.

How it works

Use the forward step

In the right-sided example, Tori leads a forward-stepping Uke toward Uke’s right front corner. Tori wheels Uke’s own forward movement, so the entry comes while Uke is still coming in.

Set the high line and wheel

Tori turns left and extends the right leg across Uke’s upper thighs or lower abdomen, higher than in Ashi-guruma. The leg lifts as the hands turn Uke forward over that line. The other side mirrors this example.

Common mistakes

Dropping the line to the knee

If the leg ends up at knee level, the throw has turned into Ashi-guruma. Keep the leg high across the thighs for the large wheel.

Lifting with the leg alone

A big leg lift without the hands turning Uke only props Uke up on the leg. Leg lift and hand rotation have to work as one wheel.

First learning focus

First compare the contact height in the two Guruma throws: knee level in Ashi-guruma, upper thighs or lower abdomen in O-guruma. Then watch whether the hands turn Uke over the leg.