Judo technique

Yoko-guruma

Pronunciation: yoh-koh goo-roo-mah
Meaning: Side wheel

Recognize a side sacrifice that wheels Uke over Tori.

Yoko-guruma: Tori in white lies on the side under Uke in blue, who wheels over with the legs in the air. — Technique image: Tori is in white, Uke in blue. The lesson describes one side; the opposite side mirrors it.

Understand the technique

is a side wheel in , the side sacrifice throws. slides one leg deep between legs, drops onto the side, and the upper-body pull wheels Uke diagonally forward over Tori. Tori’s side fall separates it from rear sacrifice throws such as .

How it works

Slide in on the forward step

In the right-sided example, Tori draws Uke into a forward step with the right foot. Tori slides the right leg deep between Uke’s legs and turns onto the left side, staying close under Uke.

Wheel Uke diagonally over Tori

The steady pull on the upper body carries Uke in a diagonal forward wheel over Tori. Keep Uke’s rolling path open and guide the shoulder through the turn; never trap Uke’s head or plant it as a pivot. The other side mirrors this example.

Common mistakes

Trapping the head

Holding Uke’s head closes the rolling path and can drive Uke onto the head or neck. Control the upper body and shoulder instead, and leave Uke room to roll.

Falling beside Uke

If Tori drops beside Uke instead of sliding in underneath, the pull has nothing to wheel Uke over and Uke steps around. Slide the leg in deep before turning onto the side.

First learning focus

First follow Tori’s side landing and Uke’s open rolling path. Then compare Tori’s fall with the backward fall in Tomoe-nage: the direction of Tori’s own fall names the group.