Judo - Sukui-nage
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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…
Sukui Nage
SubFamily掬い投げ(Sukui Nage)
TraditionalTranslation: scoop throw
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]
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]
Effectiveness
Lineage
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]
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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
Sukui nage - Te guruma
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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
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Arm throws use arm leverage; shoulder dislocation risk if arm trapped
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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 27PDFLegal
— 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 RulesPDFTraining 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
Counter Techniques
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)
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)
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Sukui Nage work?
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. 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.
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.