膝車 Hiza-guruma knee wheel

Hiza-guruma in detail

Reference video

Classification

Hiza-guruma (膝車, "knee wheel") is the second throw of the first group (Dai Ikkyo) of the Kodokan Gokyo. It belongs to the foot techniques (ashi-waza). Like De-ashi-harai it works with timing rather than strength, but instead of sweeping the foot away, Tori stops Uke's knee and turns the whole body around it. It is a close relative of Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi, which blocks the ankle instead of the knee.

Principle

Uke is drawn forward to the right front corner and steps in with the right foot. Tori blocks that leg at the knee, so it becomes a fixed axle. Tori's turn and both hands then rotate Uke's upper body around this axle like a wheel: Uke can't step forward to recover, tips over the knee head-first, rolls over the right shoulder and lands on the back.

Grips (kumikata)

The animation shows two right-handed judoka in ai-yotsu: both stand in migi shizentai (right foot forward) and grip the same way – right hand on the partner's left lapel, left hand on the partner's right sleeve.

• Left hand (hikite): the outside of Uke's right sleeve at the elbow. It draws Uke forward and then pulls the sleeve down.
• Right hand (tsurite): Uke's left lapel. It helps draw Uke forward and then pulls up, so that both hands turn Uke like a steering wheel.

Step-by-step

1. Draw: take a small step back and draw Uke forward to the right front corner.
2. Open: as Uke steps in with the right foot, open your right foot outwards and start turning to the left.
3. Block: lift the left foot and place the sole on the outside of Uke's right kneecap, toes turned in, leg nearly straight.
4. Step out: as the sole meets the knee, slide the right foot a small step to the outside – it opens your hips and increases the rotation.
5. Turn: turn the upper body to the left; the left hand pulls the sleeve down and the right hand pulls the lapel up, like turning a steering wheel.
6. Hold: keep the block until Uke has tipped over the knee and rolls over the right shoulder.
7. Finish: stay upright on the right foot and keep the sleeve so that Uke lands under control on the back, slapping the mat with the left arm.

Key points to get right

These points are also shown as callouts in the animation at the moment they matter.

• Draw Uke to the right front corner. The weight has to come onto the advancing right leg – that is the leg you block.
• Sole on the outside of the kneecap, leg straight. A firm, straight leg makes the knee an axle; the sole spreads the pressure and protects Uke's knee.
• Step the right foot to the outside during the block. The small step opens your hips and turns the block into a wheel.
• Turn Uke over the knee like a steering wheel. Sleeve hand pulls down, lapel hand pulls up, while your upper body turns to the left.
• Hold the block until Uke tips over. If the foot comes away too early, Uke simply steps over it.
• Stay upright and keep the sleeve. A tall supporting leg gives a clean turn and a safe landing.

Variations and related techniques

• Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi: the same idea with the block at the ankle and a stronger lift-pull.
• Harai-tsurikomi-ashi: the foot sweeps the lower leg instead of blocking it.
• Hiza-guruma against a retreating Uke: block the knee of the leg that moves back last and turn Uke towards the rear corner.
• Competition form: often attacked from a sideways movement (Uke stepping across), with the block coming in very low and fast.

Combinations and counters

Set-ups: Ko-uchi-gari or a feint with De-ashi-harai make Uke step forward onto the leg you want to block; when Uke steps around the block, Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi or O-soto-gari can follow. Counters (kaeshi-waza): Uke can step over the blocking foot and counter with Hiza-guruma or Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi of their own, or sweep Tori's single supporting foot when Tori leans back or turns too slowly.

Safety for teaching

Uke rolls over the right shoulder and needs a reliable breakfall onto the back with a left-arm slap. Teach the block with the sole on the outside of the kneecap from the start – pressing on the front or the inside of the knee can injure it. Practise the turn first as uchi-komi with a light touch on the knee, then throw slowly; Tori keeps the sleeve and lifts slightly at the end.