Judo technique

Uchi-mata-sukashi

Pronunciation: oo-chee mah-tah soo-kah-shee
Meaning: Inner-thigh throw avoidance

Let an Uchi-mata miss and finish the throw with your hands.

Uchi-mata-sukashi: one judoka’s leg swings high while the partner turns away from it. — Technique image: Look for where the bodies touch and which way Uke goes in Uchi-mata-sukashi. The lesson describes the right side; the left side mirrors it.

Understand the technique

is a counter in , the hand techniques. When attacks with , slips the threatened leg out of the way so the attacking leg swings through empty space, and the hands carry Uke’s own rotation forward into the throw. Tori avoids the attack instead of attacking Uke’s supporting leg.

How it works

Slip the threatened leg

Uke attacks with right Uchi-mata. Tori, now the one countering, withdraws the threatened left leg and moves the hips clear of the rising leg while keeping both grips.

Carry the missed rotation forward

As Uke’s leg passes through empty space, Uke keeps turning. Tori’s hands guide that rotation forward into the fall. The other side mirrors this example.

Common mistakes

Attacking the supporting leg

Reaping the attacker’s supporting leg from inside while standing behind them is a different and dangerous action, not this counter. In Uchi-mata-sukashi, Tori only clears the space and the hands do the throwing.

First learning focus

First identify who attacks and who counters: Uke starts the Uchi-mata, Tori finishes the throw. Then watch the missed leg and the hands that direct the finish.