Koshi Guruma
Takedown · Judo Throws
A headlock hip wheel from the grip fight standing to kesa gatame, the answer to someone who pushes in with his head forward and low. Wrap the back of his neck at shoulder level with your arm, hold his near elbow tight to your side so he cannot post that arm, and step in deep so your hip goes completely past his, knees bent. Straighten the legs, pull the head around your body and lean forward: he wheels forward over your hip. The hip past his is the axis; half in, he slides off. Wrap the neck and shoulders, not the skull, and release the neck pressure just before he lands so the fall does not crank it. If he drops his hips and hugs your waist, snap him down; if he steps around to your back, osoto gari.
How to do it
- Win an overhook or the collar and wrap their head under your arm, your forearm across the back of the neck at shoulder level, not around the skull.
- Hold their near arm at the elbow with your other hand and keep it tight to your side, so they cannot post with it.
- Step in deep: your hip goes completely past their hip, knees bent, so your hips stick out beyond their far side.
- Pull the head around your body, straighten the legs and turn, leaning forward: they lift onto your hip and start to wheel.
- They wheel over the hip; land in kesa gatame with the head still trapped, releasing the neck pressure just before they hit the mat.
Key details
- The hip must pass theirs completely: the throw rotates around it. Push your hips out past their side, bend the knees and lean forward as you wheel.
- The elbow grip stops them from posting the arm, so nothing stops the rotation.
- It is a counter to a fighter who pushes in with the head low: the head is already there to wrap.
- Wrap the back of the neck at shoulder level, not around the skull: the arm then pulls their shoulders around, not just their head.
- Release the neck just before they land, so the landing does not crank it.
- Pull them forward before you turn and keep the head pinned to you: if they can turn the head away, they turn the shoulders out and block with the hip.
Common mistakes
- Squeezing the neck to throw. — The throw comes from the hip; squeezing only hurts and makes them fight the grip. — Hold the head firmly and throw with the hips.
- Stepping in beside them. — Their hip blocks yours, there is no axis to wheel around, and they take your back. — Step across their front so your hip clears theirs.
- Letting go of the elbow. — The free arm posts on the mat or reaches around your back and stops the wheel. — Keep the elbow tight to your side all the way down.
- Hesitating halfway into the turn. — They are already behind you: they wrap your waist, drop the hips and throw you backward. — Break their balance forward first, then commit and bring the head forward all the way.
How to drill it
Uchikomi 3 x 10 with a pause at the load; then catch-and-throw rounds where the partner pushes in head first.
Safety
The head is trapped during the fall: do not land your full weight on the neck. Release enough on landing so the partner can breakfall.
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