How to do the Koshi Guruma Judo throw
The Koshi Guruma is one of the original Judo throws created by Kano. It is a koshi-waza hip technique that is a hip throw that utilizes getting underneath the opponent to elevate them into the air. The Koshi Guruma relies heavily on using an elbow grip to not only control the opponent but also to help bring them to the floor to finish the throw. Stylistically, the Koshi Guruma loos similar to the Uki Goshi, however the Koshi Guruma relies on placing your arm over the neck of the opponent, as opposed to putting it under their armpit.
In English, the Koshi Guruma roughly translates to ‘hip wheel’. This is because it uses the hips to toss the opponent, whilst your arms should steer the opponent like a wheel towards the ground. Over the years, the likes of Karl-Richard Frey used the Koshi Guruma to great effect whilst competing in the 100KG bracket. Interestingly, this technique is also found in Shotokan karate as one of its throws.
Starting the Koshi Guruma
As ever, the Koshi Guruma begins by setting up traditional Judo grips from the typical Judo stance. This means using both hands to get a collar and elbow grip. It is worth noting that from the very beginning to the finish, the elbow grip should be maintained at all times. After getting these grips, the next step is to close the distance and pivot to create an angle.
Of course, closing the distance is easier said than done. Often you will need to use the concept of kuzushi to remove the balance of your opponent and force them to make mistakes. If you are well-versed in most hip throws, then you will understand this movement. Like many hip throws, the entry is often the same. It is the ending of the Koshi Guruma that is unique and different when compared to other hip throws.
Whilst up close, you then want to pivot to get your back facing away from the opponent. Remember, when pivoting you are mostly moving your feet instead of your legs. Once in this position, you should start using both hands. The elbow grip should drag the opponent’s arm across your body. This is done to off-balance them and re-distribute their weight in your favor. Secondly, you want to let go of the collar grip and shoot this over their head. This should mimic a headlock position as if doing a schoolyard bully pose. However, you shouldn’t try to grip onto the gi or fully lock the head. As much as anything, the idea of this is to keep the head low which kills the posture. After this, you should be ready to complete and finish the throw.
Finishing the Koshi Guruma
At this point, your upper-body grips should be firmly set and ready for use. The next point of the throw is to drop your hips below the opponent’s hips and load their body onto your backside. With this in place, you can then elevate the opponent’s feet completely off the floor and finish the throw. Remember, as soon as the feet leave the ground, you should then do the wheel motion with your grips. This means pulling the elbow in towards you, whilst punching your headlock-like arm away from your body and towards the ground.
There are several ways to finalize the throw. This can be done by simply tipping the opponent to the floor and hovering over them, hopefully achieving an Ippon. From here, if you have a strong enough grip on the elbow, you can even spin to a juji gatame if required to finish the opponent with an armbar. Some people finish by jumping in mid-air whilst the opponent is falling to the ground. This often adds more power to the throw and if done correctly should end in a pinning position such as the kesa gatame.
Why should you use the Koshi Guruma?
As Judo is fluid, this means there are certain moves that will suit certain body types. In other words, there should always be something for everyone. In the introduction, we spoke about how the Koshi Guruma is slightly different from the Uki Goshi. Basically, the main difference being the arm placement from the armpit to the neck. As a general rule, placing your arm under the armpit is ideal for physically smaller Judoka’s, whilst placing your hand over the neck is suited for taller Judoka’s.
The reason for this is that it may be physically awkward to place your arm under an armpit, as opposed to putting it around the head. This placement may feel more natural for taller Judo practitioners which results in an easier throw as a result. Of course, this is a personal preference, but as a generalization, the Koshi Guruma is typically suited towards taller practitioners with long arms.
Problems with the Koshi Guruma
Once the Koshi Guruma has been established, there is one common problem that many Judoka will encounter. This is simply not being explosive enough. Looking back at Karl-Richard Frey, he was so successful with the throw due to his speed and drive. Sadly, not everyone is as explosive when using the Koshi Guruma which can easily lead to failure.
In short, it is not ideal to wait around with an opponent on your back. Once there, you cannot be slow and must be aggressive. Sometimes, beginners struggle with coordination at this point. This means they either don’t use their hips enough to lift the opponent, or they don’t use the wheel movement with their arms to tilt the opponent. Remember, you have to use both your upper and lower body in unison, otherwise, the move won’t work.
Another big issue surrounding most hip throw techniques is closing the distance. Often, hip throws will fail before they even begin due to being shunned away from the close-range. In other words, you really need to get up and close, otherwise there is no way for your hips to connect. Whilst this may sound obvious, some people struggle with this so you may need to set up feints to force the opponent into panicking or giving away time and space which you can capitalize on.
