Sukui Nage

SubFamily

Translation: scoop throw

Range & classification

Overview

Sukui Nage (scoop throw) is a te-waza technique in which the thrower scoops the opponent's body upward with the arms, typically by reaching between or around the opponent's legs to lift and turn them over. ^[1] The scooping action can be performed from the front, side, or rear, with the thrower's arms gathering the opponent's lower body and elevating it while driving the upper body downward. ^[1],[2] In modern judo competition since the 2010 IJF rule changes restricting direct leg grabs, sukui-nage in its traditional form is less commonly seen in shiai, but it remains an important technique in the Kodokan curriculum and in other grappling arts. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Scooping Throw^[1]Scoop Throw^[2]Sukui NageJP^[3]Te GurumaJP^[4]

Used in

Judo Sumo Sambo Shuai Jiao

History & Origin

Sukui nage was recognised in the Kodokan's nage-waza catalogue as a hand technique that demonstrates the scooping principle of throwing. ^[1] The technique was widely used in judo competition before the IJF's 2010 rule changes that restricted direct attacks to the legs, which significantly reduced its application in competitive shiai. ^[2],[3]

Country of origin· shown in random order

Japan掬い投げ(Sukui Nage)Judo, Sumo
RussiaSambo
ChinaShuai Jiao

Effectiveness

Sukui nage (scooping throw) scoops up the opponent's legs while driving them backward. ^[1] It is effective against bent-over opponents. ^[1],[2]

Lineage

Sukui nage is part of the Kodokan judo te-waza syllabus. ^[1] Its application in competition has been restricted by IJF rules limiting leg grabs since 2010. ^[2]

Competition Record

Sukui nage was a common technique before the 2010 IJF rule changes restricting leg grabs; it is still used in sambo and some BJJ competitions. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Pulling and lifting with the arms to load the opponent over the shoulder or upper back

Joints Involved — Attacker's shoulders (loading point), elbows (pulling action), hips (turning under the opponent)

Force Vector — Forward and downward rotation — the pulling arm creates circular momentum while the body turns underneath

Kuzushi (Off-balancing) — Forward — breaking the opponent's balance forward over their toes allows the turning entry

Position & Entry

From judo grip (collar and sleeve) — Break the opponent's balance (kuzushi), enter the throwing position (tsukuri), and execute the throw (kake)

From clinch — Establish control, off-balance the opponent, and apply the throwing mechanic

From grip fighting — Win the grip battle, establish dominant hand position, and enter the throw

Videos

Mercuryu Judo

Judo - Sukui-nage

Sukui Nage·Mercuryu Judo

Judo techniek Sukui-nage. Onderdeel van het Tachi-waza, Nage-waza, Te-waza. Kijk voor meer informatie op: http://www.mer…

Aris judo Club

Sukui nage - Te guruma

Sukui Nage·Aris judo Club

Sukui Nage (scoop throw) is not legal in international judo competitions under the current IJF (International Judo Feder…

2 videos

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

High5/10

Arm throws use arm leverage; shoulder dislocation risk if arm trapped

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Intermediate

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— IJF — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct han...

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

Legal

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— UWW — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman

UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal throwing technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— ADCC — Legal

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Sukui nage (scooping throw) scoops the opponent's leg and lifts them while driving forward and to the side

✓Traditional sukui nage grips between the opponent's legs and scoops upward while driving forward with the body

✓In current IJF competition, leg grabs are banned, so modified versions use body locks or gi grips

✓The scooping action lifts the opponent off the ground from below while the forward drive tips them over

✓Enter low and scoop with one arm while the other arm controls the upper body

✓The throw works when the opponent is charging forward — use their momentum to load the scoop

✓In no-gi grappling and wrestling, sukui nage (or the double-leg-to-lift variant) remains a fundamental technique

Common Mistakes

!Scooping without driving forward — the scoop alone is not enough to throw; forward pressure tips them over

!Not getting low enough for the scoop — your hips must be below the opponent's

!Using the back to lift instead of the legs — leg drive is essential for a safe scoop

!Attempting the traditional leg-grab version in IJF judo — this is a penalty

!Not maintaining the upper body control hand — losing the grip lets the opponent resist the lift

!Scooping and standing up without the forward drive — the opponent lands on their feet

!Over-lifting and spiking the opponent on their head — control the rotation

Related Techniques

Breakfall (Ukemi) — essential receiving skill for safe practice of this throw

Counter Techniques

Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration Stiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry

Setup Chain

1Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) — establish the controlling grips needed for the throw

2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — break the opponent's balance in the throwing direction

3Entry (Tsukuri) — position the body for the throw by turning, stepping, or loading

4Execution (Kake) — complete the throwing action with full commitment and follow-through

Sources & References

Primary Source

Kodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

1BookKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

Traditional Judo throwing technique terminology (Kodokan Institute)

2SyllabusKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification

Official Kodokan ground technique classification system

3SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

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)

5CitationKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

Traditional Judo throwing technique terminology (Kodokan Institute)

Community

Athletics

Requires

coordination, grip strength, hip and core power, balance

Favours

athletic build with strong hips and good proprioception

Key muscles

core, hips, legs, grip/forearms

Sub-techniques

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

Standard Sukui Nage

Genus

Standard Sukui Nage executes the classical scoop throw where the thrower reaches between or around the opponent's legs, scoops the lower body upward with the arms, and drives the opponent over by rotating them around a horizontal axis. [1] The scooping arm gathers the opponent's thigh or leg area while the other hand controls the upper body, creating a rotating force that inverts or topples the opponent. [1,2] The technique requires the thrower to lower their level significantly to reach the opponent's legs while maintaining enough base to execute the lifting scoop. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Sukui Nage work?

Where does the Sukui Nage come from?

Sukui nage was recognised in the Kodokan's nage-waza catalogue as a hand technique that demonstrates the scooping principle of throwing. The technique was widely used in judo competition before the IJF's 2010 rule changes that restricted direct attacks to the legs, which significantly reduced its application in competitive shiai.

Is the Sukui Nage legal in competition?

IJF: banned — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct hansoku-make; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: legal — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman; Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Sukui Nage?

Danger rating 5/10. High — arm throws use arm leverage; shoulder dislocation risk if arm trapped

How do I set up the Sukui Nage?

The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).

How do I defend against the Sukui Nage?

Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration / Stiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry.

What are the variants of the Sukui Nage?

Common variants: Standard technique (primary execution from standard grip and positioning); No-gi adaptation (modified without gi grips for submission grappling or MMA); Combination entry (entering from a failed attack or chain of techniques); Counter throw (applied as a direct counter to the opponent's throw or at…).

How effective is the Sukui Nage in competition?

Sukui nage was a common technique before the 2010 IJF rule changes restricting leg grabs; it is still used in sambo and some BJJ competitions.

What are common mistakes when doing the Sukui Nage?

Top errors to watch for: Scooping without driving forward — the scoop alone is not enough to throw; forward pressure tips them over / Not getting low enough for the scoop — your hips must be below the opponent's / Using the back to lift instead of the legs — leg drive is essential for a safe scoop / Attempting the traditional leg-grab version in IJF judo — this is a penalty.

What are other names for the Sukui Nage?

The Sukui Nage is also known as Scooping Throw, Scoop Throw, Sukui Nage, Te Guruma.

sukui nage throw hand technique throw te waza arm throw judo sumo sambo scooping throw scoop throw te guruma