Yoko Guruma

SubFamily

Translation: side wheel

Range & classification

Overview

Yoko Guruma, the side wheel, is a sacrifice throw in which tori drops to their side in front of uke, wraps one arm around uke's waist or hip, and uses a wheeling motion to rotate uke laterally over tori's body. ^[1],[2] The name refers to the wheel-like rotation uke undergoes as they are swept over tori. ^[1] Yoko guruma is particularly effective when uke is moving laterally or when tori can get deep hip contact before dropping. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Side Wheel^[1]Lateral Wheel Throw^[2]Yoko GurumaJP^[3]

Used in

Judo Sambo

History & Origin

Yoko guruma is one of the traditional Kodokan yoko sutemi waza and has been included in the gokyo classification since the early 20th century. ^[1],[2] The technique shares biomechanical similarities with ura nage but applies force laterally rather than rearward. ^[2],[3]

Country of origin· shown in random order

Japan横車(Yoko Guruma)Judo
RussiaSambo

Effectiveness

Yoko guruma (side wheel) sacrifices to the side while using a wheeling action to rotate the opponent over. ^[1]

Lineage

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

Competition Record

Yoko guruma is occasionally scored in IJF competition. ^[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

JUDÔ ONTEM E HOJE

TÉCNICA YOKO GURUMA

Yoko Guruma·JUDÔ ONTEM E HOJE

O canal Judô ontem e hoje, mostrará técnicas, filosofia da arte, atualizações de técnicas, grandes mestres, contra- ataq…

HanpanTV (IpponTV)

[한판TV] 모로돌리기(Yoko-guruma) ; 허리껴치기 콤비네이션 기술

Yoko Guruma·HanpanTV (IpponTV)

유도인이라면 앞-뒤, 뒤-앞 콤비네이션을 자유롭게 쓸 수 있어야죠!! 허리껴치기-모로돌리기로 한판을 만들어보세요!! -- 유도의 모든 것을 알려주는 한판TV! 2012 런던올림픽 유도 메달리스트 조준호 & 유도…

2 videos

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

Yoko-Sutemi-Waza; lateral falling sacrifice; shoulder/rib impact 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

✓Yoko guruma (side wheel) involves dropping to the side and wheeling uke over your body using your entire torso as a fulcrum (Daigo, Kodokan Judo Throwing Techniques, 2005)

✓This is a counter-throw: when uke attacks with a forward technique, drop under them and wheel them laterally

✓Wrap uke's waist or hip with one arm while falling to the side — your body becomes the axle they rotate around

✓The throw requires strong lateral pulling combined with the body drop — both elements are essential

✓Yoko guruma is classified as an advanced technique — it requires excellent timing and body coordination

✓In randori, use yoko guruma when uke over-commits to forward attacks like uchi mata or harai goshi

✓The wheeling action should be smooth and continuous — once you commit, follow through completely

Common Mistakes

!Dropping without wrapping uke — the body wrap is what creates the wheeling fulcrum

!Falling flat on your back instead of to the side — the throw requires a sideways drop

!Not timing the counter to uke's forward attack — yoko guruma only works against committed forward movement

!Releasing the wrap during the wheel — keep uke against your body throughout

!Not generating enough lateral force — the sideways pull must be powerful

!Attempting as an offensive throw — it's primarily a counter technique

!Landing on uke's head or neck — guide the wheel so they land on their upper back

Related Techniques

Major Hip Throw — shares hip-loading mechanics and similar kuzushi principles 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

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

Standard Yoko Guruma

Genus

Standard Yoko Guruma is the conventional side wheel throw in which tori secures a grip around uke's waist, drops to one side while maintaining tight body contact, and uses the rolling momentum to wheel uke over tori's hip and body. [1,2] The throw produces a lateral rotation that sends uke over tori in a cartwheel-like trajectory. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Yoko Guruma work?

Where does the Yoko Guruma come from?

Yoko guruma is one of the traditional Kodokan yoko sutemi waza and has been included in the gokyo classification since the early 20th century. The technique shares biomechanical similarities with ura nage but applies force laterally rather than rearward.

Is the Yoko 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 Yoko Guruma?

Danger rating 6/10. High — Yoko-Sutemi-Waza; lateral falling sacrifice; shoulder/rib impact risk

How do I set up the Yoko Guruma?

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

How do I defend against the Yoko Guruma?

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 Yoko Guruma?

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 Yoko Guruma in competition?

Yoko guruma is occasionally scored in IJF competition.

What are common mistakes when doing the Yoko Guruma?

Top errors to watch for: Dropping without wrapping uke — the body wrap is what creates the wheeling fulcrum / Falling flat on your back instead of to the side — the throw requires a sideways drop / Not timing the counter to uke's forward attack — yoko guruma only works against committed forward movement / Releasing the wrap during the wheel — keep uke against your body throughout.

What are other names for the Yoko Guruma?

The Yoko Guruma is also known as Side Wheel, Lateral Wheel Throw, Yoko Guruma.

yoko guruma throw sacrifice throw sutemi waza side sacrifice judo sambo side wheel lateral wheel throw