Judo technique
Uki-waza
- Pronunciation
- oo-kee wah-zah
- Meaning
- Floating technique
Tell a side sacrifice to the front corner from a rear sacrifice.
Understand the technique
is a floating throw in , the side sacrifice throws. leads toward a front corner, stretches one leg out, and falls onto the side, so Uke rotates forward over Tori’s shoulder. There is no foot on the abdomen as in : the forward pull and Tori’s side fall make the rotation.
How it works
Lead forward and extend the leg
In the right-sided example, Tori leads Uke toward Uke’s right front corner so Uke has to come forward. Tori extends the left leg diagonally out and starts to fall onto the left side.
Guide Uke over the shoulder
As Tori lands on the left side, the hands guide Uke forward over Tori’s left shoulder. Keep the rolling path past the shoulder open and never use Uke’s head as a pivot. The other side mirrors this example.
Common mistakes
Sitting straight back
Sitting straight back while Uke is still balanced takes away the forward-corner rotation and turns the side sacrifice into a rear one. Fall to the side, under Uke’s forward movement.
Steering the fall toward the head
Pulling Uke straight down beside Tori aims the fall at the head and neck. Guide Uke over the shoulder so Uke can roll or land in controlled .
First learning focus
First compare Tori’s side landing in Uki-waza with the backward roll in Tomoe-nage. Then watch whether Uke was already moving to the front corner before Tori fell.