Uchi Mata
Takedown · Judo Throws
An inner thigh throw from the grip fight standing to side control, for an opponent in a wide stance who leans forward. Pull with collar and sleeve forward and up onto his toes; circling him first widens his stance. Turn in with your hips in front of his, supporting leg bent and back close to his chest, then place, do not kick, the back of your thigh against his inner thigh and lift it high while you bow and pull the sleeve down and in, head going down and turning. He rotates forward over your leg. Lift with the thigh, which is under his centre, not with the heel, and keep the sleeve tight so his chest stays glued to your back. If he slips the leg out, ouchi gari; if he drops the hips and hugs you, makikomi.
How to do it
- From collar and sleeve, pull them forward and up onto the toes; circling them first widens their stance and opens the space between their legs.
- Step in and turn so your hips are in front of theirs, supporting leg bent, your back close to their chest.
- Swing your leg up between their legs, the back of your thigh against their inner thigh: place it there, do not kick.
- Lift the leg high while you bow and pull the sleeve down toward your support foot; the head goes down and turns, and the throw rotates around it.
- They rotate over your leg and land on their back; keep the sleeve and follow into side control.
Key details
- The pull puts them on the toes first: a flat-footed partner is too heavy.
- Lift with the thigh, not the heel or the foot: the thigh is under their centre of weight, the foot only kicks.
- Head down and turning: the throw rotates around your head.
- Pull them round in a circle first so their stance widens.
- Pull the sleeve hand to your own armpit at the moment of the sweep, so their chest stays glued to your back.
- Make space before you turn: step back and pull so they come forward; the pivot foot lands between their feet, under their centre.
Common mistakes
- Kicking between the legs. — It hurts the partner and has no lift, because the thigh never gets under their weight. — Place the thigh inside their thigh, then lift.
- Standing on a straight support leg. — You cannot get your hips under them and you lose balance on one leg. — Bend the support leg on the entry.
- Hopping forward on one leg. — They step around the leg and counter with uchi mata sukashi. — Throw from a stable base, turning in place.
How to drill it
Leg swings alone, 3 x 10; then uchikomi with a partner, 3 x 10; then 5 throws each side onto crash mats.
Safety
A high, fast throw: the partner needs a good forward breakfall. Keep the sleeve so they land on the back, not the head.
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