IMAC Dojo Judo Curriculum · Level 3

Judo Level 3: Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame — Read the crosswise structure before the finish

Name: Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame — Video lesson 1
Uploaded: 2020-05-16T06:30:07-07:00
Description: An IMAC Dojo clip accompanying Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame. Use the observations and distinctions in this article to guide your viewing.

Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame controls an arm through a crosswise body arrangement and leg control of the upper arm. Begin with position and communication, not increasing elbow pressure.

Compiled by Phoenix — Co-founder of IMAC Dojo

Thaninpong Supapitakpong (Phoenix)Co-founder of IMAC Dojo

Updated 29 Sept 2026

Author: Thaninpong Supapitakpong (Phoenix)
Published: 29 Sept 2026
Last updated: 29 Sept 2026
Sources: 1
Reading time: 2 min

Short Answer

Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame controls an arm through a crosswise body arrangement and leg control of the upper arm. Begin with position and communication, not increasing elbow pressure.

Key Takeaways

Compare body direction with the partner’s arm before control begins.
Watch thigh control of the upper arm rather than only hands at the wrist.
Observe immediate stopping and release when the partner signals.

Often shortened to Juji Gatame in lessons, this long name becomes easier to understand when you look at the whole body before the hands.

In this article

What the name tells us

腕挫十字固, ude-hishigi-juji-gatame, is a joint technique. Juji means cross, providing a visual cue for the body’s crosswise relationship to the partner’s arm.

How the technique works

Kodokan describes both hands controlling the wrist and the thighs controlling the upper arm. This companion focuses on those relationships; the instructor checks actual joint alignment and distance.

Juji describes the crossing relationship of the bodies, while the full definition includes wrist control and the thighs controlling the upper arm. Observe shoulder, upper arm and wrist alignment before reading elbow extension. Watching only tori leaning back misses the controlling base.

What to watch in the clips

Compare body direction with the partner’s arm before control begins.
Watch thigh control of the upper arm rather than only hands at the wrist.
Observe immediate stopping and release when the partner signals.

A distinction worth noticing

Ude Garami uses an interlocking arm structure; Ude Hishigi Ude Gatame uses another arrangement involving arms and shoulder region. Calling every arm control Juji Gatame obscures what to observe.

The shortened name juji-gatame commonly refers to ude-hishigi-juji-gatame, not the juji-jime collar chokes that also use the word cross. Distinguishing gatame from jime helps direct research and questions to the correct category.

Taking the lesson back to practice

Check placement without joint pressure under an instructor. Avoid jerking or forcing an arm the partner is withdrawing. Agree on a stop signal and release immediately; pain is not a test of correctness.

The Level here refers to the IMAC Dojo curriculum. Use the article and clips to prepare questions and review them with your instructor. Practical training needs a suitable partner, space and controlled conditions.

Identify the controlled arm and torso positions in the clip without trying to reproduce full extension. Ask how shoulder movement changes the arm's line, and agree on a stopping signal before practice.