Hand Wheel Throws - Hiza Te Guruma - Karate Jutsu
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Standard Te Guruma·Daniel Pyatt·Added by Admin
This technique is a variation on Ohyo 5 of Wado Ryu Karate (I say 3 in the video, that is the variation for next week, g…
Standard Te Guruma
Genus手車(Te Guruma)
TraditionalTranslation: Hand Wheel
Overview
Te Guruma (hand wheel) is a judo throwing technique classified under te-waza (hand techniques) where the attacker scoops under the opponent's thigh with one arm while controlling the collar with the other, executing a circular wheel-like lifting throw. [1] Described in Kyuzo Mifune's 'The Canon of Judo' (1956) and demonstrated in his instructional film 'The Essence of Judo,' Te Guruma is officially classified by the Kodokan as equivalent to Sukui Nage (scooping throw). [2] The technique was a standard part of competitive judo until the 2010-2011 IJF rule changes that banned direct leg grabs, driven by statistical analysis showing that leg-grab techniques encouraged low-quality sloppy attempts.
Te GurumaJPHand WheelSukui Nage variantJPScooping Wheel Throw
History & Origin
Te Guruma is documented in Kyuzo Mifune's 'The Canon of Judo' (1956) and demonstrated in his instructional film 'The Essence of Judo.' [1] The Kodokan classifies it as equivalent to Sukui Nage within te-waza. The technique was part of standard competitive judo until the 2010-2011 IJF leg-grab ban. [2]
Effectiveness
Te Guruma was an effective competitive judo throw before the 2011 leg-grab ban. Particularly devastating as a counter to forward-entry throws like seoi nage. The scooping mechanics generate high-amplitude throws that score ippon (full point) in judo. [1]
Lineage
Kodokan judo te-waza tradition. Documented by Kyuzo Mifune (10th dan). Classified as equivalent to Sukui Nage by the Kodokan. Competition use restricted by IJF leg-grab ban (2010-2011).
Competition Record
Used at the highest levels of international judo competition before the 2011 ban. A Swedish competitor won Best Athlete at the Swedish World Cup in 2005, winning the final with a Te Guruma. The technique was particularly effective as a counter to seoi nage entries.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — One arm scoops under the opponent's thigh (lifting action) while the collar grip guides the opponent's upper body in the throwing direction
Force Vector — Circular wheel-like trajectory — the leg-attacking arm does most of the lifting while the collar grip serves as a directional guide
Balance Breaking — Tai-sabaki (body shifting) is essential to break the opponent's balance before initiating the lift
Finishing Mechanic — The opponent's forward momentum is redirected into a circular trajectory, wheeling them through the air to land on their back
Position & Entry
As counter to Seoi Nage — When opponent enters for seoi nage, hop around their hips to create the opening, scoop the exposed thigh
From standard gripping — Collar and sleeve grip, step in and scoop under the opponent's near-side thigh
From clinch — In no-gi/MMA, use collar tie or underhook to set up the scooping lift
Variants
Standard Te Guruma — classical one-arm scoop with collar control
Counter Te Guruma — specifically used as a counter to seoi nage or hip throws
Sukui Nage (scooping throw) — the Kodokan's official grouping, nearly identical mechanics
Modified Te Guruma — adapted versions for post-2025 IJF partial leg-grab allowances
No-gi Te Guruma — adapted for MMA and submission grappling without gi grips
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Amplitude throw where the opponent lands from significant height — risk of shoulder, back, and head injury if thrown forcefully onto hard surfaces; in judo competition on tatami, the risk is moderated by mats
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
✓Te Guruma is described in Kyuzo Mifune's 'The Canon of Judo' (1956, Kodansha International, ISBN 4770029799) as a reference technique. Mifune also demonstrated it in his instructional film 'The Essence of Judo.' The Kodokan officially classifies Te Guruma as equivalent to Sukui Nage (scooping throw), placing it within the te-waza (hand techniques) group of nage-waza (throwing techniques). The technique was a viable competitive option until the 2010-2011 IJF rule changes that banned direct leg grabs. The ban was driven by statistical analysis conducted by Thierry Loison for the IJF showing that leg-grab techniques like morote-gari and kata-guruma were low-risk attacks encouraging poor technical execution. As of 2025, the IJF has begun partially lifting the leg grab ban with restrictions, potentially allowing Te Guruma to return to competition in modified form. The technique is particularly effective as a counter to seoi nage — as the opponent enters for the forward throw, the defender hops around the hips, creating the opening to scoop the exposed thigh. Te Guruma belongs to the broader guruma (wheel) throw family alongside Kata Guruma (shoulder wheel), Koshi Guruma (hip wheel), and Ashi Guruma (leg wheel).
Common Mistakes
!Not breaking balance before the lift — uchikomi (entry practice) must establish kuzushi first
!Scooping too low — the hand should scoop the thigh near the hip, not the knee
!Not committing to the lift — half-hearted attempts result in failed throws and vulnerable positions
!Poor timing as a counter — waiting too long after opponent's attack entry makes the counter impossible
!Not using collar grip to guide direction — the collar hand controls where the opponent lands
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Sprawl — drop hips back to deny the scooping arm access to the thighCrossface — use the free hand to push the attacker's face awayUnderhook Defense — establish an underhook to prevent the scooping entryHip Drop — lower center of gravity to make the lift more difficultCounter-Throw — use the attacker's forward commitment against them
Setup Chain
1Establish Gripping — secure collar and sleeve (gi) or clinch control (no-gi)
2Break Balance (Kuzushi) — use tai-sabaki to off-balance the opponent forward
3Scoop Under Thigh — attack arm scoops under opponent's near-side thigh near the hip
4Guide with Collar — collar grip pulls opponent in the throwing direction
5Execute Circular Lift — wheel the opponent through a circular trajectory
6Complete the Throw — drive through to land opponent on their back
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Canon of Judo (Mifune, 1956) — Te Guruma
Primary historical source — [1] The Canon of Judo (Mifune, 1956) — Te Guruma documented as reference technique
[2] IJF rule analysis — Thierry Loison statistical study leading to 2010-2011 leg-grab ban
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
5OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
Primary historical source — [1] The Canon of Judo (Mifune, 1956) — Te Guruma documented as reference technique
[2] IJF rule analysis — Thierry Loison statistical study leading to 2010-2011 leg-grab ban
8CitationJudoInfo.com — Sukui Nage technical description
Community
Athletics
Requires
upper body strength for scooping lift, good timing and tai-sabaki
Favours
strong legs and back for the lifting component
Key muscles
quadriceps, biceps, latissimus dorsi, core stabilizers
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best initial attack to practice Te Guruma against?
Start with a straight punch when first learning the technique, as it provides simplicity, though you can eventually apply it against kicks, grabs, and other attacks.
How do I generate power when entering into Te Guruma?
As your opponent attacks, absorb their energy by loading your kick, then drive forward with your whole body entering in one continuous motion to generate the power needed for the throw.
What should I do if my opponent is stronger and resists the throw?
If the initial throw is absorbed, redirect by bringing their head forward and strike the back of the head while controlling the arm, then drop them to complete the technique.
How do I properly execute the throwing mechanics in Te Guruma?
Bring the opponent's shoulders over their head and heel line with a short, controlled movement rather than just pulling, while simultaneously dropping your body and pushing forward to rotate them around.
How does the Standard Te Guruma work?
Te Guruma (hand wheel) is a judo throwing technique classified under te-waza (hand techniques) where the attacker scoops under the opponent's thigh with one arm while controlling the collar with the other, executing a circular wheel-like lifting throw. Described in Kyuzo Mifune's 'The Canon of Judo' (1956) and demonstrated in his instructional film 'The Essence of Judo,' Te Guruma is officially classified by the Kodokan as equivalent to Sukui Nage (scooping throw).
Where does the Standard Te Guruma come from?
Te Guruma is documented in Kyuzo Mifune's 'The Canon of Judo' (1956) and demonstrated in his instructional film 'The Essence of Judo. ' The Kodokan classifies it as equivalent to Sukui Nage within te-waza.
Is the Standard Te Guruma 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 Standard Te Guruma?
Danger rating 7/10. High-amplitude throw where the opponent lands from significant height — risk of shoulder, back, and head injury if thrown forcefully onto hard surfaces; in judo competition on tatami, the risk is moderated by mats
How do I set up the Standard Te Guruma?
The standard setup chain: Establish Gripping → Break Balance (Kuzushi) → Scoop Under Thigh → Guide with Collar → Execute Circular Lift → Complete the Throw.
How do I defend against the Standard Te Guruma?
Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back to deny the scooping arm access to the thigh / Crossface — use the free hand to push the attacker's face away / Underhook Defense — establish an underhook to prevent the scooping entry / Hip Drop — lower center of gravity to make the lift more difficult.
What are the variants of the Standard Te Guruma?
Common variants: Standard Te Guruma (classical one-arm scoop with collar control); Counter Te Guruma (specifically used as a counter to seoi nage or hip throws); Sukui Nage (scooping throw) (the Kodokan's official grouping, nearly identical mechanics); Modified Te Guruma (adapted versions for post-2025 IJF partial leg-grab allow…); No-gi Te Guruma (adapted for MMA and submission grappling without gi grips).
How effective is the Standard Te Guruma in competition?
Used at the highest levels of international judo competition before the 2011 ban. A Swedish competitor won Best Athlete at the Swedish World Cup in 2005, winning the final with a Te Guruma.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Te Guruma?
Top errors to watch for: Not breaking balance before the lift — uchikomi (entry practice) must establish kuzushi first / Scooping too low — the hand should scoop the thigh near the hip, not the knee / Not committing to the lift — half-hearted attempts result in failed throws and vulnerable positions / Poor timing as a counter — waiting too long after opponent's attack entry makes the counter impossible.
What are other names for the Standard Te Guruma?
The Standard Te Guruma is also known as Te Guruma, Hand Wheel, Sukui Nage variant, Scooping Wheel Throw.