Yama Arashi Part I: Basic Form
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Standard Yama Arashi·Higashi Canada·Added by Admin
Technique: Yama Arashi: Basic Form Tori: Sensei Jose Eudes Monteiro Uke: Marcelo Wesley Follow us: Facebook: https…
Standard Yama Arashi
Genus山嵐(Yama Arashi)
TraditionalTranslation: mountain storm
Overview
Standard Yama Arashi executes the classical mountain storm throw where the thrower grips deeply at the opponent's lapel or collar, turns explosively, and drives the opponent forward and over while dropping the body to generate maximum rotational force. [1] The deep grip allows the thrower to control the opponent's posture and direction throughout the throw, while the body drop adds falling-body-weight force to the arm action. [1],[2] The technique produces a powerful, high-amplitude throw when executed with full commitment. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Yama arashi (mountain storm) is a powerful sacrifice-style arm throw that generates tremendous rotational force through the combination of a cross-grip pull and a sweeping leg action. [1] When executed with commitment, it produces devastating ippon-scoring throws, though the cross-grip entry makes it difficult to set up in modern competition. [2]
Lineage
Yama arashi holds a special place in judo history as the technique used by Shiro Saigo to defeat opponents in the famous 1886 Tokyo Police Tournament that established judo's reputation. [1] It was included in the Kodokan nage-waza system as a te-waza technique. [2] Some historians debate whether Saigo's technique was true yama arashi or a form of uki goshi, but the technique's association with this foundational moment in judo history is firmly established. [3]
Competition Record
Yama arashi is rarely scored in modern competition but remains in the Kodokan syllabus. [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 — Pull the opponent forward, extend the lead leg across their path as a blocking obstacle, rotate the upper body to throw them over the extended leg
From clinch — Break balance forward, step the lead leg across the opponent's shin, and turn to throw
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 attack
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Sacrifice version adds tori's falling body weight to arm throw mechanics
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— no leg attacks below waist
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFLegal
— IJF — Legal throwing technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— 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
✓From a deep lapel grip and sleeve grip, drive into the opponent with a step forward
✓Turn into the opponent as if entering a seoi nage but continue the rotation into a forward sacrifice fall
✓As you fall, pull the opponent over your body using the deep grip and arm lock action
✓The opponent is pulled over and around your falling body, landing on their back
✓The fall and the throw must be one continuous motion — enter, turn, fall, pull
✓Maintain the grips throughout to control where the opponent lands
✓The throw is complete when the opponent is rotated over your body to the mat
Common Mistakes
!Entering without the deep lapel grip — yama arashi depends on the deep grip for control
!Separating the entry and the fall into two actions — they must be seamless
!Falling forward onto your face instead of rotating to your side or back during the sacrifice
!Not pulling the opponent over with the arm action — the fall alone does not throw
!Releasing the grips during the fall out of instinct
!Over-rotating and ending up in a worse position than the opponent
!Not breaking the fall safely — practice ukemi specifically for yama arashi's falling pattern
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the key difference between the regular form and seoi form of Yama Arashi?
In the regular form, you place your elbow and chest on your opponent and block his leg with your leg before sweeping. In the seoi form variation, you place your elbow in his armpit instead, block his leg, and sweep his leg.
When doing Yama Arashi, which side should my elbow contact on?
Your elbow should touch your opponent's chest on the same side that you are gripping—not the opposite side.
How do you create kuzushi (off-balance) in Yama Arashi?
You pull down and pull up simultaneously to break your opponent's balance before executing the sweep.
How does the Standard Yama Arashi work?
Standard Yama Arashi executes the classical mountain storm throw where the thrower grips deeply at the opponent's lapel or collar, turns explosively, and drives the opponent forward and over while dropping the body to generate maximum rotational force. The deep grip allows the thrower to control the opponent's posture and direction throughout the throw, while the body drop adds falling-body-weight force to the arm action.
Where does the Standard Yama Arashi come from?
The standard form of yama arashi has been part of the Kodokan nage-waza catalogue and carries legendary status due to its association with Shiro Saigo and the founding era of judo. The technique remains studied in judo kata and is practised by advanced judoka.
Is the Standard Yama Arashi legal in competition?
IJF: legal — Legal throwing technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle, banned in Greco-Roman (no leg attacks below waist); Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Standard Yama Arashi?
Danger rating 6/10. High — sacrifice version adds tori's falling body weight to arm throw mechanics
How do I set up the Standard Yama Arashi?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).
How do I defend against the Standard Yama Arashi?
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 Standard Yama Arashi?
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 Standard Yama Arashi in competition?
Yama arashi is rarely scored in modern competition but remains in the Kodokan syllabus.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Yama Arashi?
Top errors to watch for: Entering without the deep lapel grip — yama arashi depends on the deep grip for control / Separating the entry and the fall into two actions — they must be seamless / Falling forward onto your face instead of rotating to your side or back during the sacrifice / Not pulling the opponent over with the arm action — the fall alone does not throw.
What are other names for the Standard Yama Arashi?
The Standard Yama Arashi is also known as Yama Arashi, Classical Mountain Storm, Standard Mountain Storm Throw.