IMAC Dojo Judo Curriculum · Level 7
Judo Level 7: Yoko Guruma — Read the entry before the side rotation
Yoko Guruma is a side sacrifice involving rotation in response to the partner’s technique. Direction change matters, not lifting and flinging away.
Compiled by Phoenix — Co-founder of IMAC Dojo
Thaninpong Supapitakpong (Phoenix)Co-founder of IMAC DojoUpdated 29 Sept 2026
- Author
- Thaninpong Supapitakpong (Phoenix)
- Published
- Last updated
- Sources
- 1
- Reading time
- 2 min
Short Answer
Yoko Guruma is a side sacrifice involving rotation in response to the partner’s technique. Direction change matters, not lifting and flinging away.
Key Takeaways
- Observe the response to the entry.
- Relate leg placement to torso rotation.
- Follow the partner’s landing direction.
Begin with the partner’s entry to understand the subsequent rotation and sacrifice.
In this article
What the name tells us
横車, yoko-guruma, combines side and wheel and belongs to side sacrifices.
How the technique works
Torso control and leg positioning connect with sideways rotation. Follow the entire path, not a frame resembling a rear lift.
Yoko-guruma responds to uke's entry with waist control, forward imbalance and a rotating side sacrifice in Kodokan's definition. Read uke's changed path after initiating the attack, not merely tori's own turn.
What to watch in the clips
- Observe the response to the entry.
- Relate leg placement to torso rotation.
- Follow the partner’s landing direction.
A distinction worth noticing
Ura Nage sacrifices backward; Yoko Guruma rotates sideways. O Guruma, despite guruma, is a foot technique.
Yoko-wakare places both feet outside uke's foot; yoko-gake acts at the outside ankle. Trace the leg route at the start of the descent to distinguish them rather than merging descriptions because all contain yoko.
Taking the lesson back to practice
Have the instructor arrange the response beforehand. Do not counter without agreement or force rotation through tangled legs or an unprepared base.
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.
Ask whether waist control continues through the descent and which space tori's leg passes through. Imitating rotation without prepared receiving is not a way to establish correct action.
Connect this with your next lesson
Yoko Guruma — Video lesson 1
An IMAC Dojo clip accompanying Yoko Guruma. Use the observations and distinctions in this article to guide your viewing.
Video published
Sources and further reading
- 横車 — 講道館 柔道 技名称一覧 — 講道館ReferenceAccessed 29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I watch the preceding entry?
Yes, to understand when direction changes.
Is it the same as Ura Nage?
No. Compare sideways and backward sacrifice.
Why not judge the lifting frame?
It does not show the full rotation and sacrifice.
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