Harai Makikomi

SubFamily

払巻込(Harai Makikomi)

Traditional

Translation: sweeping wraparound

Overview

Harai Makikomi is a rolling sacrifice variation of harai goshi (sweeping hip throw) in which tori executes the sweeping hip action but continues to roll through, wrapping uke tightly and using tori's entire body weight to drive the throw to completion. ^[1],[2] The winding motion of tori's arm traps uke's upper body, and the combined sweeping leg action with the rolling momentum produces a devastating, high-amplitude throw. ^[2],[3] Harai makikomi is classified as a yoko sutemi waza in some references due to the lateral rolling finish. ^[3]

Also known as

Sweeping Winding Throw^[1]Hip Sweep Wrap-Around^[2]Harai MakikomiJP^[3]Sweeping Rolling Throw^[4]

Used in

Judo Sambo MMA

History & Origin

Harai makikomi evolved as a power variation of harai goshi, developed by judoka who found that committing their full body weight through a roll made the throw nearly impossible to block. ^[1],[2] The technique became a staple of heavyweight judo competitors from the 1960s onward. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

Harai makikomi (sweeping winding throw) combines the sweeping action of harai goshi with a rolling sacrifice, using the attacker's full body rotation to throw. ^[1] It is one of the most powerful throwing techniques in judo. ^[1],[2]

Lineage

Harai makikomi is part of the Kodokan judo yoko-sutemi-waza syllabus. ^[1]

Competition Record

Harai makikomi is a high-frequency technique in IJF competition, particularly in middle and heavy weight categories. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Loading the opponent onto the hip and rotating them over it — the hip acts as the fulcrum

Joints Involved — Attacker's hip (fulcrum point), knees (deep bend for loading), core (rotation), opponent's centre of gravity (elevated)

Force Vector — Rotational — pulling and turning motion loads the opponent, then hip extension and rotation drives them over

Kuzushi (Off-balancing) — Forward and upward — breaking opponent's posture forward lifts their centre of gravity onto the attacker's hip

Position & Entry

From judo grip — Break the opponent's balance forward (kuzushi), turn in with hip below their centre of gravity, and rotate to throw

From clinch (overhook or underhook) — Secure inside position, turn the hips across the opponent's body, load and throw

Videos

welcomematstevescott

HARAI MAKIKOMI THREE VARIATIONS

Harai Makikomi·welcomematstevescott

Harai Makikomi (Sweeping Winding Throw) is a powerful and popular throwing technique. In this video, we show three appli…

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

High6/10

Rolling sacrifice adds rotational momentum; uncontrolled landing risk

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

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 RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Harai makikomi combines harai goshi's sweeping leg with a rolling sacrifice — when harai goshi is blocked, roll through to complete the throw (Kashiwazaki, 1992)

✓Begin as harai goshi: enter, sweep the leg — when uke blocks, wrap their arm by rolling your shoulder over it

✓Commit to a forward roll while maintaining the leg sweep — your body weight crashing into uke completes the throw

✓This is a common competition combination: attempt harai goshi, and if blocked, transition seamlessly to harai makikomi

✓Keep uke's arm trapped between your arm and body throughout the roll

✓The sweep continues through the roll — don't stop sweeping when you start rolling

✓Harai makikomi scores frequently in heavyweight judo competition where the mass advantage amplifies the roll

Common Mistakes

!Abandoning the leg sweep when initiating the roll — both the sweep and the roll must continue simultaneously

!Not wrapping uke's arm — without the arm trap, uke can post and prevent the throw

!Rolling sideways instead of diagonally forward — the rolling direction follows the original harai goshi line

!Hesitating between harai goshi and the makikomi transition — it must be seamless

!Landing heavily on uke's ribs (dangerous) — control the roll

!Not starting from a genuine harai goshi attempt — the makikomi works because uke is defending harai goshi

!Releasing the sleeve grip during the transition — maintain both grips

Related Techniques

Major Hip Throw — shares hip-loading mechanics and similar kuzushi principles Foot Sweep — complementary off-balancing technique using similar directional forces 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 Block the Hip — post hand on the thrower's hip to prevent loading Step Around — circle away from the throw direction to avoid being loaded 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

5Fall (Sutemi) — commit body weight to the ground to generate throwing force

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

hip rotation speed, core strength, lower back stability

Favours

strong hips and core, good flexibility for turning entry

Key muscles

hip rotators, core, quadriceps, latissimus dorsi

Sub-techniques

Standard Harai Makikomi

Genus

Standard Harai Makikomi is the classical form in which tori enters as for harai goshi — turning in, sweeping uke's leg — but instead of staying upright, tori wraps their throwing arm tightly around uke and commits to a forward roll, carrying uke along in the rotation and landing with uke trapped underneath. [1,2] The throw generates significant force and typically scores ippon when completed cleanly. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the most common mistake that causes harai makikomi to fail?

According to Steve Scott, a weak grip is where a lot of guys lose the throw—you need to maintain solid control rather than letting your grip slip during the technique.

How do hip movement and grip work together in harai makikomi?

Steve Scott explains that as soon as you crush the grip in, turn your hips and execute the throw—the timing of the hip rotation combined with the grip pressure is what makes the technique work effectively.

Can you throw harai makikomi without gripping the arm the whole time?

Yes, Steve Scott demonstrates a variation where instead of maintaining an arm grip, you crush the shoulder and come down hard on it, then switch and lead with your hips to break balance—the fundamental mechanics stay the same even without the continuous arm grip.

How does the Harai Makikomi work?

Harai Makikomi is a rolling sacrifice variation of harai goshi (sweeping hip throw) in which tori executes the sweeping hip action but continues to roll through, wrapping uke tightly and using tori's entire body weight to drive the throw to completion. The winding motion of tori's arm traps uke's upper body, and the combined sweeping leg action with the rolling momentum produces a devastating, high-amplitude throw.

Where does the Harai Makikomi come from?

Harai makikomi evolved as a power variation of harai goshi, developed by judoka who found that committing their full body weight through a roll made the throw nearly impossible to block. The technique became a staple of heavyweight judo competitors from the 1960s onward.

Is the Harai Makikomi 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 Harai Makikomi?

Danger rating 6/10. High — rolling sacrifice adds rotational momentum; uncontrolled landing risk

How do I set up the Harai Makikomi?

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

How do I defend against the Harai Makikomi?

Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Block the Hip — post hand on the thrower's hip to prevent loading / Step Around — circle away from the throw direction to avoid being loaded / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration.

What are the variants of the Harai Makikomi?

Common variants: Standard hip throw (full turn-in with hip below the opponent's centre of gravity); No-gi hip throw (adapted without gi grips, using overhook and collar tie); Drop hip throw (dropping to one knee to lower the fulcrum point); Combination hip throw (chaining from a failed foot technique or hand technique).

How effective is the Harai Makikomi in competition?

Harai makikomi is a high-frequency technique in IJF competition, particularly in middle and heavy weight categories.

What are common mistakes when doing the Harai Makikomi?

Top errors to watch for: Abandoning the leg sweep when initiating the roll — both the sweep and the roll must continue simultaneously / Not wrapping uke's arm — without the arm trap, uke can post and prevent the throw / Rolling sideways instead of diagonally forward — the rolling direction follows the original harai goshi line / Hesitating between harai goshi and the makikomi transition — it must be seamless.

What are other names for the Harai Makikomi?

The Harai Makikomi is also known as Sweeping Winding Throw, Hip Sweep Wrap-Around, Harai Makikomi, Sweeping Rolling Throw.

harai makikomi throw sacrifice throw sutemi waza rolling sacrifice judo sambo mma sweeping winding throw hip sweep wrap around sweeping rolling throw