Yellow Stripe/Yellow

Have a look at the links and other resources on this page to help refresh your memory on all the skills and knowledge you've gained so far in Judo. This page focuses on Yellow Belt.

See below for some summaries and video examples of the techniques we've covered in class, and scroll down a little further for a couple of videos showing examples of what a yellow belt test might look like.

Kesa Gatame and Yoko-Shiho gatame

Here are some clips showing how to apply the two hold-downs we've covered in class, Kesa Gatame (scarf hold) and Yoko-Shiho Gatame (side four quarters pin).

Both hold-downs are applied from the side of uke's body, with uke on their back.

For Kesa Gatame tori will take uke's closest arm across their lap/torso and trap it under their arm, sometimes gripping the gi. Tori's other arm will reach around uke's head, sometimes gripping the gi and even reaching to grab tori's own gi pants. Tori's leg closest to uke will slide forward, and the other leg will slide back in a position that looks like running. Tori will also lower then head towards uke's closest shoulder.

For Yoko-Shiho Gatame, tori will lay their chest across uke's chest, and with the arm closest to uke's head reach under and around uke's head and grip the gi on the opposite shoulder, or over uke's head and reach deep to grip uke's belt. With the other hand tori will reach under uke's far leg and grip either on the pant leg somewhere, or you can try to reach deeply enough to grip the belt. Tori's leg's should either be in the "live toes" position so they feel heavier on uke, or with knees tucked in tightly against uke's body to block them from moving.

O-soto Otoshi and O-soto Gari

Two very similar throws, with the same kumi kata (grip), kuzushi (breaking uke's balance), and tsukuri(getting into position) but with a slightly different kake (completing the throw).

Begin with a standard kumi kata. Kuzushi and tsukuri happen almost together for these throws, with a big step outside uke's hip, a "football kick" with your inside leg past uke's hip, and then bringing that leg back against uke's leg. Your hands should make a bus-driver motion to put weight on the leg you are attacking, and move uke backwards.

Kake for O-soto Otoshi is done with your foot remaining on the floor and sliding backwards to take out uke's leg and drop them to the floor. For O-soto Gari, kake is done by keeping your inside leg straight as you bring your leg back to reap uke's leg and continue the motion upwards (with that straight leg).

In both cases, as with all throws, you should maintain a grip on uke's sleeve to help protect your partner during practice, and to show the referee you have control in a competition setting.

O-Goshi and Uki-Goshi

Another pair of throws that are very similar - kumi kata for both o-goshi (major hip) and uki-goshi(floating hip) is with a normal sleeve grip and the other arm under uke's armpit and around their back (try to reach uke's opposite side ribs).

Kuzushi for both throws is pretty much the same as well, pull uke forward up onto their toes with a strong sleeve pull (think about looking at a watch on your wrist) while reaching around with your other hand. Tsukuri is where the throws start to be different.

O-goshi you should turn your body to face away from uke, with your feet together and legs slightly bent (so that your belt us below uke's). Drive your hip across uke's body and continue to pull on the sleeve while lifting with your other arm. Uke should be up on your hip now, or at least quite off balance. Keep turning your head and body as though you are trying to look around your own sleeve hand shoulder to complete the throw.

Uki-goshi you also turn your body, but stand more straight up. While pulling the sleeve, with a slight bend in your knees put your hip about halfway across uke's body and quickly pull them around your hip while turning your head like in o-goshi. Use the hand reaching behind uke to help bring them around your body and complete the throw.

Ippon Seio Nage

One Arm Shoulder Throw.

Being with your normal kumi kata. Ippon seio nage is a forward throw, meaning the kuzushi should bring uke forward onto their toes. With your sleeve hand pull strongly backwards and up, and look in the direction of your wrist as though you were looking at a watch. This will pull uke on their toes, and make room for tori's body for the next part of the throw.

For tsukuri, you will let go of your lapel grip, and reach that arm under the armpit on the side you have the sleeve grip on. While doing that, try to get your elbow-fold in uke's armpit and then squeeze your arm tight like you're making a muscle. Turn your body to face in the same direction as uke with your feet together and knees slightly bent, so your belt is lower than uke's.

Continue to pull uke forward while you turn your head and body to try to look over your sleeve hand shoulder to complete the throw,

Deashi Barai (harai)

Advancing Foot Sweep

Kumi kata is the standard judo grip, with our strong hand on the lapel and other hand on the sleeve. The kuzushi begins with getting uke moving, and while completing the throw you will also use your hands in a "bus wheel" motion to help the off-balancing.

This throw is mostly about timing. As uke steps, when their foot is just about to land on the mat or just about to come off the mat, use the inside of your foot to sweep uke's foot away. This is where the bus wheel motion also comes into play, use that motion to steer uke's body in the direction you want them to fall.

Tai-Otoshi

Body Drop

Kumi kata for tai-otoshi is the standard judo grip. Some may prefer an overhand grip instead of lapel if uke is a little shorter than tori.

Kuzushi is similar to ippon seio nage, you want to pull the sleeve up and back in order to get uke moving forward and on their toes, and make room for your body as you turn in. The rotation of your body as you turn in for the throw will be part of the kuzushi as well. Keep your lapel hand strong, like you're making a muscle and punching up.

Tsukuri begins with your strong hand foot stepping in the middle of uke's "at the top of the triangle". The next step in the footwork is to "open the door", turning your body to face the same direction as uke's and bringing your leg around (this is the rotation that's part of kuzushi). Next your leg comes all the way past uke's opposite foot.

To complete the throw continue pulling with the sleeve, keeping the lapel hand strong, and as your leg goes across uke's opposite foot you "close the window", bringing both your hands (and uke!) to the mat.

O-uchi gari and Ko-uchi gari

Major and Minor Inner Reap

Uchi means "inner" in English, so when we see uchi in the name of a throw we know that we are attacking between uke's legs (tori's attacking leg goes in the inner space between uke's legs).

Kumi-kata for both throws is the same - our standard judo grip.

For O-uchi-gari you are attacking uke's leg on the same side as your attacking leg, so the kuzushi needs to put uke's weight on that leg and push them in a backwards/diagonal direction. With your lapel hand pretend uke is wearing a backpack, grab the "strap" (uke's lapel) and make a motion like you are trying to take that backpack off uke's shoulder in the backwards direction. Pull down hard on the lapel as well to put uke's weight on that leg.

With your front leg, step deep between uke's legs, then bring your back foot behind the front, making a T shape. Then with your front foot, reach as far back as you can then draw a circle, bringing the back of your lower leg against the back of uke's lower leg on the same side. Pull uke's leg out while making the "backpack" motion with your hands.

For Ko-uchi-gari you will be attacking uke's foot on the opposite side. Similar to deashi-barai, this can be effective when uke is about to step, or your kuzushi can be similar to o-uchi gari putting uke's weight on the leg you are attacking. The initial step is the same as o-uchi, but next you will reach behind uke's opposite leg, and use the inside edge of your foot to pull back (or reap) against uke's Achilles Tendon (the softer part of the back of the ankle, just above the heel).

Grading Examples

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