Judo technique

Soto-maki-komi

Pronunciation: soh-toh mah-kee koh-mee
Meaning: Outer winding throw

Recognize the leg outside Uke’s leg and the arm that stays trapped through the winding turn.

Tori, in white, winds in under Uke’s arm, and Uke, in blue, rolls over Tori’s back. — Technique image: Look for where the bodies touch and which way Uke goes in Soto-maki-komi. The lesson describes the right side; the left side mirrors it.

Understand the technique

is an outer winding throw in . holds arm close under the armpit, turns in with the leg outside Uke’s leg, and keeps winding into a side fall that carries Uke over. The outside leg position distinguishes it from , which hooks from inside.

How it works

Hold the arm while turning in

In the right-sided example, Tori brings Uke’s right arm close beneath Tori’s right armpit while turning in. Tori places the right leg outside Uke’s right leg and keeps the upper bodies together.

Wind into a controlled side fall

Tori keeps winding and falls to the side, and the held arm brings Uke along through the turn. Leave Uke room to fall, avoid landing heavily across Uke’s chest or shoulder, and never dive head-first. The other side mirrors this example.

Common mistakes

Losing the arm

If the arm slips out during the turn, Tori falls alone and Uke is no longer carried through the winding path. Keep the arm close under the armpit from the entry to the landing.

First learning focus

First follow the arm from the entry through the outer winding turn. Then compare the leg outside Uke’s leg with the inside hook of Ko-uchi-maki-komi.