Uchi-Mata-Sukashi (hand technique)

The technique of Uchi-mata-sukashi is dodging Uke's Uchi-mata to make him off balance, then, throw him in that direction in a split second by the twisting of hands. Also, techniques similar to this technique.

(Type 1) Dodging Uke's right Uchi-mata by moving to the right to change Uchi-mata-kaeshi

Tori and Uke takes a right natural posture. Uke steps right, left backward to pull Tori's body forward. Then, stop his movement while pressuring Uke's body with both hands downward. Tori steps left, right forward, then, stops to raise his body upward to the secured posture.

At this moment, Uke reduces his pulling hands movement. With this reaction, Tori raises his body upward, then steps back his right foot slightly behind his left foot line. At that moment, Uke steps in his right foot in between Tori's feet, then, twists his body to the left halfway while pulling both hands to put Tori off-balance.

Then, he changes his supporting foot from right foot to left foot and swings his right leg powerfully between Tori's legs with Uchi-mata. Tori steps his left foot back behind his right foot to turn his body left halfway. Then, he dodges Uke's right leg swing. Uke loses his balance due to missing Tori's body in the swing and his weight falls onto his supporting left foot (picture 4).

Tori steps right foot forward and by dropping his hip and using Uke's swinging momentum, he breaks Uke's balance in the direction of Uke's left foot. Then, Tori pulls down his right hand and pushes Uke's elbow with his left hand and throws down. Uke falls forward in a big circular motion with his left toe as the spinning point (picture 5).

The key points of the techniques are as follows: When Tori pulls back his left foot, it is not a good defensive posture. If Uke tries Osotogari or other throws, Tori will likely be thrown due to his insecure position. It is important for Tori to train his instinct to forestall in case of Uke's Uchi-mata. At this time, Tori should turn his hip slightly instead of moving the body to the left to dodge. After dodging, Tori pulls his left foot close to his right foot. Then, steps his right foot forward to take a right defensive posture and twist him down. Sometimes, when Tori dodges Uke's Uchi-mata by stepping back his left foot, he, then, steps in his left foot to a left handed posture and throws him down. The stepping back and re-stepping his left foot forward happens when Tori barely escapes the Uchi-mata or when there is a distance between Uke and Tori (picture 7).

It is to late to dodge when Uke's right leg is between Tori's legs. In the case of Ken-ken Uchi-mata, Uke swings his right leg in slow motion. Therefore, it is difficult to dodge. Tori may respond as follows: Keiki Osawa, 9th dan, who was a specialist in Uchi-mata-sukashi, explained his unique body movement as follows. (Judo- published by Kodokan, December 1966) "When my opponent swings his Uchi-mata, I take my right foot one step forward, parallel to the opponent. Then, I bring my knees together to side step my opponent's swinging his right leg (picture 8).

Since my opponent misses his swing, his weight goes onto his supporting leg and loses his balance. At this opportunity, I use my body to put my opponent further off balance and complete the throw. If my opponent's left foot is still touching the mat, I change to Taiotoshi and throw him down. The key point of dodging: Like two trains passing each other at full speed. I step my right foot forward and bringing my knees together to prohibit my opponent from inserting his leg between my legs." Next case is not Uchi-mata-sukashi. After dodging Uke's Uchi-mata and by placing his left foot in front of Uke's left foot, Tori is in a crossed position, and by throwing with both hand pulling, it is called Taiotoshi.

(Type 2) Dodge Uke's Uchi-mata in between Tori's legs-Uchi-mata-sukashi

Uke takes right defensive posture to pull down Tori's upper body. Tori opens both legs and takes a defensive posture. He, then, attempts to raise upper body to return to a secured position. Uke slightly reduces his pulling motion and as Tori attempt to raise his body, Uke breaks Tori's balance by pulling forward and swings his right leg between Tori's legs to throw by Uchi-mata .

At the moment Tori raises his upper body to keep his balance, he, then, steps his right foot slightly forward to support his body. He, then, raises his left foot high to dodge Uke's swinging leg causing it to loose it's objective. Uke, then, spins by himself and falls sharply (picture 13, 14).

The key point is when Uke swings his right leg, Tori steps slightly forward to decrease the distance between himself and Uke, turn his body slightly left and raises his left foot high to dodge. If Tori receives Uke's swing directly in front of his body, it is difficult to dodge and Uke's Uchi-mata will succeed.

Next technique is not Uchi-mata-sukashi.

When Uke swings his leg for Uchi-mata, Tori, as his dodges the swing, steps his left foot, then his right foot in deeply. Uke's dodged right leg floats and his weight go to his left supporting foot and proceeds to lose his balance .

Tori pushes Uke down with both hands in the direction of Uke's left foot. In this technique, Tori turns his body to his right and moves behind Uke to dodge. The technique, Type 1, Tori turns his body to the left to dodge. The technique, Type 2, the dodging is done between the legs. Although there are these three methods to dodge, but in the case where the dodging is done by moving behind Uke, it is called Sumiotoshi. This technique was confirmed by Kodokan Waza Study Group Department in March 14, 1989.

Type 3) Difference between Uchi-mata-sukashi and Ukiotoshi

Uchi-mata-sukashi: Dodge Uke's Uchi-mata to off balance and throw in that direction.
Ukiotoshi: Float Uke's body forward to put off balance and pull (twist) down to throw. Before being named Uchi-mata-sukashi, it was called Ukiotoshi. Because of the dodging of the Uchi-mata, many opinions were expressed that to clearly define the difference, it should be changed to Uchi-mata-sukashi.

(Type 4) How Uchi-mata-sukashi has been named after many studies and discussion

When Kodokan Waza Study Group Department discussed the new names of the throwing techniques, they also studied the meaning of the Kanji (Chinese character), sukasu. All Judo techniques are expressed in the Kanji (Chinese characters). However, in the case of sukasu, there are so many meaning related to that word, it was decided to use the hiragana instead of the Kanji. Therefore, sukashi, is used only for Uchi-mata. If sukashi is used in other techniques, the throw is described or decided by the last throwing technique.

Condition of Sukashi (competition rule)

The first Kodokan Judo rule was established in 1900. According to the rule (section 7), the term of throwing techniques resulting in ippon are described as follows.

(a) Falling must not be intentional - falling by being thrown or falling by dodging
(b) Normally fall on his back
(c) Fall must have some speed and bounce

The above three points are still used in the present rules. Professor Jigoro Kano explained (a) in the judo magazine published in July 1916 as follows: "A tries to execute Tomoenage or Yokogake to B by sacrificing his body. If A throws B efficiently, there is no doubt A will win. But, if A's throw is not effective and B is in standing position, one might think that A has lost. However, in this case, A falls intentionally in order to throw B. Also, if A slips and falls while trying to throw B, and is not thrown or dodged by B, it is not an a legitimate throw." Before World War II, the referees had (a) foremost in their mind to define this concept.

Iwao Hirose, 5th Dan, lost by Uchi-mata-sukashi

There is an episode in reference to the dodging technique. According to Shinichi Oimatsu, 9th Dan, who witnessed Iwao Hirose, 5th Dan (later 9th Dan) loss to Yoshiaki Kuroda, 5th Dan (later 8th Dan) by Uchi-mata-sukashi. Hirose, 9th Dan, won the All-Japan Judo Championship in 1941. He won many prestigious tournaments and is a record holder and had a brilliant judo career. His favorite techniques were Ipponseoinage, Haraigoshi, and Tsurikomigoshi. "Either during 1937 or 1938, Iwao Hirose, 5th Dan, and Yoshiaki Kuroda, 5th Dan, competed in Kyoto. I'm not sure whether it was with Haraigoshi or Uchi-mata, Hirose pulled Kuroda to his back and swung his leg up to throw Kuroda. But, unfortunately, Kuroda wasn't there.

Therefore, Hirose missed his swing and fell by himself in a big spinning motion. At this time, Kuroda did not do anything, even dodging. But referee, Hajime Isogai, 10th Dan, who was Hirose's judo teacher, announced Ippon. Both players were stunned a little while with this call. After the tournament, Hirose asked his teacher as follows: 'For Ippon call, one must throw the opponent or dodge opponent's technique to throw him down, but, in this case, my opponent didn't do anything and I fell by myself accidentally. Therefore, I do not understand your call.' In replying to this question, Professor Isogae lectured Hirose as follows: 'You are 5th degree black belt in Judo, therefore, you can not allow any mistake.' Perhaps Professor Isogae knew the definition of dodging, but he wanted to teach a lesson to his favorite student." Now a days Judo has been developed as a competitive sport, therefore, many referees are neglecting or not understanding the meaning of dodge, and give points for any kind of falls. So, we must consider these problems and study the true meaning of judo techniques.