Te Guruma (Hand Wheel) throw for MMA Drill
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Wheel Throw (Guruma)·Mong Phu
In this video Sensei Phu teaches how to use Te Guruma for MMA Drill using the punching bag Te-guruma is a member of the…
Wheel Throw (Guruma)
Family車技
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Wheel Throw (Guruma, 車) family covers judo hand technique throws that use a wheeling motion to rotate the opponent around the thrower's body — named for the wheel-like circular arc the opponent travels during the throw. [1] The most famous guruma technique is kata guruma (shoulder wheel, also known as the fireman's carry) where the thrower loads the opponent across the shoulders and wheels them over, plus other variations like ushiro guruma (rear wheel). [1],[2] Kata guruma was historically one of judo's most popular and spectacular throws, but its usage in judo competition has changed dramatically since the IJF banned grabbing below the waist in standing (2013), forcing judoka to modify the technique for the modern ruleset. [2],[3]
Guruma WazaJPWheel TechniqueRotational Throw
History & Origin
Kata guruma is one of the original Kodokan judo throws, classified under te waza (hand techniques). [1] It has been a staple of both judo and wrestling (as the fireman's carry) for over a century. [1],[2] The IJF's 2013 ban on leg grabbing significantly reduced kata guruma's usage in judo competition, though modified versions persist. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Loading the opponent onto the thrower's body (usually across the shoulders) and using a wheeling rotation to project them to the mat
Joints Involved — Shoulders (bearing the opponent's weight across the shoulders for kata guruma), legs (the primary lifting muscles — squatting under the opponent and standing with them loaded), arms (pulling and controlling the opponent's arm and leg during the wheel)
Force Vector — Rotational and downward — the opponent is rotated around the thrower's body axis and projected to the mat in a wheel-like arc
Throw Mechanic — The thrower positions their body as the axle of a wheel, with the opponent's body rotating around it; the thrower's legs provide the initial lift, and the pulling arms create the rotational force
Position & Entry
Kata guruma (shoulder wheel / fireman's carry) — Duck under the opponent's arm, load them across your shoulders with one arm between their legs and the other controlling their arm, then stand and wheel them over to the mat [1]
Modified kata guruma (no-leg-grab version) — Under modern IJF rules, enter by ducking under the arm without grabbing the leg, using a shoulder wheel motion with only upper body contact [2]
Ushiro guruma (rear wheel) — From behind the opponent, wheel them backward over your hip
Videos
2 WAYS to do a HIP WHEEL Throw (Koshi Guruma)
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Wheel Throw (Guruma)·DadBod Judo
DOWNLOAD (FREE) EBOOK: THE WINNING EDGE: https://mindcoach-system.groovepages.com/thewinningedge/ 🥋This is a judo tech…
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Guruma throws involve high-amplitude lifting and wheeling; the opponent travels a significant distance from standing to the mat; shoulder and neck injuries can occur from landing impact
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— 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— 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
✓Kata guruma requires significant leg strength — the thrower must squat under the opponent and stand with them on the shoulders [1]
✓Under modern judo rules (no leg grabs), the drop kata guruma has replaced the standing version in competition
✓In wrestling, the fireman's carry (same technique) is one of the most commonly drilled throws
✓The entry requires ducking under the opponent's arm — the duck-under must be explosive and well-timed
✓Practice loading drills — partner drills where you load the opponent on your shoulders build the confidence for the full throw [2]
Common Mistakes
!Not squatting deep enough — the thrower must get fully under the opponent's centre of gravity
!Losing grip during the wheel — the arms must maintain control throughout the rotation
!Attempting kata guruma without the entry angle — the duck-under must create the correct angle
!Grabbing the leg in IJF competition (illegal since 2013)
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Set Up Entry — feint or arm drag to create the angle
2Duck Under — explosive level change under the opponent's arm
3Load — position the opponent across the shoulders
4Lift — stand with the loaded opponent using leg strength
5Wheel — rotate the opponent in an arc to the mat
6Follow Through — maintain control for the pin or position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo (Jigoro Kano, 1986)
1BookKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Description sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] IJF rule changes 2013 [3] Wrestling fireman's carry tradition
2BookBest Judo (Inokuma & Sato, 1979)
3BookWrestling methodology
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
5OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
6CitationKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Description sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] IJF rule changes 2013 [3] Wrestling fireman's carry tradition
7CitationBest Judo (Inokuma & Sato, 1979)
8CitationWrestling methodology
Community
Athletics
Requires
strong legs (loading and standing with the opponent), shoulder stability (bearing the weight), explosive entry (duck-under speed)
Favours
strong legs, low centre of gravity, shoulder strength
Key muscles
quadriceps (squatting and standing), shoulders (bearing weight), core (rotation), grip (maintaining control)
Sub-techniques
Notes
Wheel throws appear in 20 passages across 8 books. Guruma (wheel) throws use a circular wheeling action over a fulcrum — the opponent is rotated over the attacker's leg, hip, or shoulder like a wheel over an axle. (8 books; Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key details for executing a wheel throw with proper technique?
According to Mong Phu, when picking up your opponent, use your hip more while kicking your knee harder and timing your hip motion with the knee lift. Then use your body to crack the slam down, ensuring every motion works together for power.
What's the most common mistake people make with the hip wheel throw?
DadBod Judo explains that people often try to lift their opponent while bending down with poor posture—shoulders out, hands positioned inefficiently. Instead, you should get low enough to wheel them smoothly over your hip for a super efficient throw.
How do I prevent my opponent from posting their arm during a wheel throw?
DadBod Judo emphasizes the importance of locking your opponent in close to your body, especially if they're positioned on either side of you, so they can't post their arm out to break the throw.
How does the Wheel Throw (Guruma) work?
The Wheel Throw (Guruma, 車) family covers judo hand technique throws that use a wheeling motion to rotate the opponent around the thrower's body — named for the wheel-like circular arc the opponent travels during the throw. The most famous guruma technique is kata guruma (shoulder wheel, also known as the fireman's carry) where the thrower loads the opponent across the shoulders and wheels them over, plus other variations like ushiro guruma (rear wheel).
Where does the Wheel Throw (Guruma) come from?
Kata guruma is one of the original Kodokan judo throws, classified under te waza (hand techniques). It has been a staple of both judo and wrestling (as the fireman's carry) for over a century.
Is the Wheel Throw (Guruma) legal in competition?
IJF: legal — Legal throwing technique; 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 Wheel Throw (Guruma)?
Danger rating 7/10. High — guruma throws involve high-amplitude lifting and wheeling; the opponent travels a significant distance from standing to the mat; shoulder and neck injuries can occur from landing impact
How do I set up the Wheel Throw (Guruma)?
The standard setup chain: Set Up Entry → Duck Under → Load → Lift → Wheel → Follow Through.
How do I defend against the Wheel Throw (Guruma)?
Standard counters include: Sprawl — dropping hips to prevent the duck-under / Block the hip — preventing the thrower from getting underneath / Counter-roll — rolling with the throw to prevent being pinned / Whizzer — overhook to prevent the loading.
What are the variants of the Wheel Throw (Guruma)?
Common variants: Kata guruma (shoulder wheel) (loading the opponent across the shoulders and wheeling th…); Drop kata guruma (dropping to the knees while performing the shoulder wheel…); Ushiro guruma (rear wheel) (wheeling the opponent backward); Sukui nage (scooping throw) (related throw that scoops the opponent's legs); Te guruma (hand wheel) (lifting and wheeling with the hands rather than loading o…).
How effective is the Wheel Throw (Guruma) in competition?
Kata guruma has been used at Olympic and World Championship level in both judo and wrestling. Usage in judo declined after the 2013 leg-grab ban.
What are common mistakes when doing the Wheel Throw (Guruma)?
Top errors to watch for: Not squatting deep enough — the thrower must get fully under the opponent's centre of gravity / Losing grip during the wheel — the arms must maintain control throughout the rotation / Attempting kata guruma without the entry angle — the duck-under must create the correct angle / Grabbing the leg in IJF competition (illegal since 2013).
What are other names for the Wheel Throw (Guruma)?
The Wheel Throw (Guruma) is also known as Guruma Waza, Wheel Technique, Rotational Throw.