Hiza Guruma Combinations
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Hiza Guruma·WINNING
Sensei Yoko Tanabe (3xOlympic Medalist, Japanese/ World Champion) teaches how to used Hiza Guruma in combination with ot…
Hiza Guruma
SubFamily膝車(Hiza Guruma)
TraditionalTranslation: knee wheel
Overview
Hiza Guruma is a judo foot technique (ashi waza) where the attacker blocks the opponent's knee with the sole of the foot while pulling them forward and around, causing them to wheel over the blocked leg. [1] The attacker places the sole of the foot against the opponent's knee, then uses a circular pulling motion with the hands to rotate the opponent over the pivot point. [1] It is classified in the first group of the Gokyo no Waza. [1]
Hiza-GurumaJPKnee Wheel ThrowHizaguruma
History & Origin
Classified in the Kodokan Judo syllabus. [1]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Kodokan judo lineage: Jigoro Kano (1860–1938) systematized this technique as part of the Kodokan judo curriculum. Transmitted through the Kodokan instructor system to judo federations worldwide. Adopted into BJJ through Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → the Gracie family lineage. [1]
Competition Record
Recognized Kodokan judo technique but rarely seen in modern IJF competition due to rule changes favoring forward-throwing techniques. Occasionally appears in kata demonstrations and regional tournaments. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Sole of foot blocks opponent's knee while hands pull them in a circular motion over the pivot point
Joints Involved — Attacker's hip (rotation), ankle (block contact), arms (circular pull)
Force Vector — Circular — opponent rotates over the blocked knee like a wheel
Impact — Opponent falls sideways over the blocked leg
Position & Entry
From right natural posture — Step to the side, place sole of left foot against opponent's right knee, pull circularly with both hands
Against advancing opponent — Time the block as they step forward, using their momentum
Variants
Inside Hiza Guruma — blocking from inside the leg
Outside Hiza Guruma — blocking from outside
Combination with Osoto Gari — feint the wheel, switch to reap
Videos
hiza guruma
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Hiza Guruma·Shintaro Higashi
hiza guruma Support my dojo which has been hit hard by the pandemic. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-kokushi-budo J…
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
The opponent falls sideways over the blocked knee.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
IJF Judo— Kodokan classified technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025PDFUnified MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFTraining Notes
✓The sole of the foot must contact FLAT against the knee — not the toes
✓The pulling motion must be CIRCULAR, not straight — think of spinning a wheel
✓Timing is everything — block the knee at the moment the opponent commits weight to that leg
✓Practice with uchikomi to develop the timing
Common Mistakes
!Pushing the knee instead of blocking it — this warns the opponent
!Pulling straight instead of circularly — the wheel effect is lost
!Blocking too high (thigh) or too low (shin) — the knee is the pivot point
!Not committing to the pull — half-hearted attempts fail
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Push-pull to create forward movement → block knee as opponent steps → circular pull for the throw
2Feint Osoto Gari → opponent shifts weight forward → immediate Hiza Guruma
3Grip fighting to get dominant grip → off-balance forward → Hiza Guruma
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
1BookKano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
[1] Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
[1] Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
Community
Athletics
Requires
precise timing, balance on one leg, circular pulling coordination
Key muscles
core (rotation), hip flexors (foot placement), grip (pulling)
Notes
Hiza guruma (knee wheel) blocks the opponent's knee with the sole of the foot while wheeling them over with a pulling motion. One of the first throws in the Gokyo no Waza (five groups of techniques). (Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I maintain my own balance while executing hiza guruma?
You need to keep your body balanced while dropping your opponent's balance. Focus on maintaining your own stability as you execute the technique—avoid closing in too tightly, as this will compromise your own balance.
What footwork is important for setting up hiza guruma?
Proper stepping is essential to the technique. Practice the correct step sequence methodically (one, two, three) to ensure smooth execution and proper positioning before applying the technique.
How does the Hiza Guruma work?
Hiza Guruma is a judo foot technique (ashi waza) where the attacker blocks the opponent's knee with the sole of the foot while pulling them forward and around, causing them to wheel over the blocked leg. The attacker places the sole of the foot against the opponent's knee, then uses a circular pulling motion with the hands to rotate the opponent over the pivot point.
Where does the Hiza Guruma come from?
Classified in the Kodokan Judo syllabus.
Is the Hiza Guruma legal in competition?
IJF Judo: Legal: legal — Kodokan classified technique; IBJJF: Legal {src:IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024|/sources/IBJJF: legal — Rules-v6.0-June-2024.pdf}; Unified MMA: Legal {src:Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025|/sources/Unified: legal — MMA-Rules-August-2025.pdf}; FIAS Sambo: Legal {src:FIAS International Sambo Competition Rules|/sources/FIAS: legal — Sambo-Rules.pdf}
How dangerous is the Hiza Guruma?
Danger rating 5/10. Moderate — the opponent falls sideways over the blocked knee.
How do I set up the Hiza Guruma?
The standard setup chain: Push-pull to create forward movement → block knee as opponent steps → circular pull for the throw → Feint Osoto Gari → opponent shifts weight forward → immediate Hiza Guruma → Grip fighting to get dominant grip → off-balance forward → Hiza Guruma.
How do I defend against the Hiza Guruma?
Standard counters include: Step over the blocking foot — remove the pivot point / Push the attacker's blocking leg down — collapse their base / Drive forward through the attempt — overwhelm the technique with pressure.
What are the variants of the Hiza Guruma?
Common variants: Inside Hiza Guruma (blocking from inside the leg); Outside Hiza Guruma (blocking from outside); Combination with Osoto Gari (feint the wheel, switch to reap).
How effective is the Hiza Guruma in competition?
Recognized Kodokan judo technique but rarely seen in modern IJF competition due to rule changes favoring forward-throwing techniques. Occasionally appears in kata demonstrations and regional tournaments.
What are common mistakes when doing the Hiza Guruma?
Top errors to watch for: Pushing the knee instead of blocking it — this warns the opponent / Pulling straight instead of circularly — the wheel effect is lost / Blocking too high (thigh) or too low (shin) — the knee is the pivot point / Not committing to the pull — half-hearted attempts fail.
What are other names for the Hiza Guruma?
The Hiza Guruma is also known as Hiza Guruma, Hiza-Guruma, Knee Wheel Throw, Hizaguruma.