BARRON SHEPHERD JUDO - KOSHI WAZA: O-Goshi, Koshi Guruma and Uki Goshi

Koshi-waza (Hip techniques) consist of throwing an opponent in a sudden motion, using one's hip as the fulcrum. After pulling an opponent onto one's hip, the Koshi-waza (Hip techniques) may be performed with a leg sweep tecnique, by a shoulder throw technique performed while grasping and lifting one of the opponent's sleeves, or by using the spring force in one's legs to flip the opponent up and over one's hip. Kodokan Judo specifies 11 Koshi-waza (Hip techniques), which include O-goshi, Koshi Guruma, Uki Goshi, Sode-tsurikomi-goshi, Harai-goshi, Hane-goshi, and Uchimata.

Ogoshi (Hip Throw) Split step entry

Ogoshi is often translated as full hip throw. It is classified as a hip technique. When you execute O goshi, you have to turn a full 180° so that your back and hips are flush against the opponent.  You bend the knees as you enter to lower your level then lift your opponent and load them on your back.

1.) Blue is standing in a right foot forward lead. Blue’s knees are bent and his center of gravity low. Twist the upper body clockwise bring the left hand and shoulder to the front closer to the opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. 

2.) Blue punches in with the left hand and grips the opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Blue’s right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get his grip.

3.) Immediately after the getting the grip, Blue pulls the opponent with the left hand rocking him forward up off his heels. Simultaneously, Blue steps his left foot up to his right foot. As Blue steps in with his right foot his knees are bent more and his belt line should be lower than his opponent’s belt line.

4.) Blue reaches his right arm around the opponent’s back grabbing the opponent’s gi at the shoulder blade as he steps his right foot between the opponent’s feet. As the right foot lands the toes of both feet should be pointing in the direction of the throw. Blue continues the pull with the left hand breaking the opponent’s balance to his front (note that blue has his oppponent’s head out past his feet).

5.) Blue steps back with his left foot. As the left foot moves back the opponent’s feet should start to come off the mat. Blue straighten his legs quickly, lifting his opponent as he bends forward popping his hips upward into the opponent.

6.) Blue twists his torso to the left by taking his left elbow toward his left knee or hip to finish the throw.

Koshi-Guruma (Hip Wheel) Split Step Entry

Koshi Guruma is classified as a Koshi Waza or hip technique. Koshi guruma is not only a fundamental but it is also a dynamic judo throw. The legendary Toshihiko Koga, well-known for his standing Ippon-Seoi-Nage (split step varation), would sometimes surprise his opponents with a split step variation of Koshi-Guruma. Koshi-Guruma has since emerged to be quite a popular competition technique. Koshi guruma has a high success rate in judo, it is also very effective in no-gi grappling and MMA.

1.) Blue is standing in a right foot forward lead. Blue’s knees are bent and his center of gravity low. Twist the upper body clockwise bring the left hand and shoulder to the front closer to the opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. 

2.) Blue punches in with the left hand and grips the opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Blue’s right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get his grip.

3.) Immediately after the getting the grip, Blue pulls the opponent with the left hand rocking him forward up off his heels. Simultaneously, Blue steps his left foot up to his right foot. As Blue steps in with his right foot his knees are bent more and his belt line should be lower than his opponent’s belt line. 

4.) Blue reaches his right arm around the opponent’s back grabbing the opponent’s gi at the shoulder blade as he steps his right foot between the opponent’s feet. As the right foot lands the toes of both feet should be pointing in the direction of the throw. Blue continues the pull with the left hand breaking the opponent’s balance to his front (note that blue has his opponent’s head out past his feet).

5.) Blue steps back with his left foot. As the left foot moves back the opponent’s feet should start to come off the mat. Blue straighten his legs quickly, lifting his opponent as he bends forward popping his hips upward into the opponent.

6.) Blue twists his torso to the left by taking his left elbow toward his left knee or hip to finish the throw.

Uki-goshi (floating hip throw)

“Uki goshi” is often translated to “half-hip throw”. From a beginner’s perspective, O goshi and Uki goshi are the same throw. They are both classified as hip techniques but there are big differences between these two throws. In Uki goshi only one hip makes contact with the opponent, you don’t make a full 180° turn as you do to execute O goshi, with Uki goshi you pivot less. When entering into Uki goshi with the right side, your right hip should make and keep contact to the front side of your opponent’s left hip or belly. High-level judokas execute Uki goshi with only a 90°-100° turn.

1.) Blue is standing in a right foot forward lead. Blue’s knees are bent and his center of gravity low. Twist the upper body clockwise bring the left hand and shoulder to the front closer to the opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. 

2.) Blue punches in with the left hand and grips the opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Blue’s right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get his grip.

3.) Immediately after the getting the grip, Blue pulls the opponent with the left hand rocking him forward up off his heels. Simultaneously, Blue steps his right foot slightly toward his opponent’s right foot. Blue’s knees are bent more and his belt line should be lower than his opponent’s belt line.  

4.) Blue pivots his right foot counter clockwise pointing the toes of his right foot toward nine o’clock. Blue pulls with his left hand and reaches his right hand around the opponent’s back grabbing the opponent’s gi just below his left shoulder blade. Simultaneously Blue executes a back step by stepping behind his right foot with the left foot to the inside of the opponent’s left foot.

5.) Blue then immediately steps his right foot back next to his left foot. As the right foot moves back the legs straighten and the opponent’s feet come off the mat.

6.) To finish the throw, Blue pulls his left elbow across his body and to his left hip, twisting his upper body to the left and taking the opponent to the mat.