My Yudo Life: Foundations in Korean Style Judo

Judo/Yudo (유도). It keeps my heart beating.

After 20+ years of training with KwanJangNim Shin, I found myself rediscovering the art in many aspects each time that I train.

Though heavily reliant on throwing techniques, Yudo is also known for its sport-specific style of ground fighting, or Newaza. Korea has the blueprint for success and a solid track record of bringing their players to the pinnacle of the game.

Korean Style Judo

Without question, Korean style Judo, called Yudo in Korean, played a major role in my overall experience. Both North and South Korea have a rich history in this grappling sport. With Korea’s moderate geographical size and population, the constant production of world-class talent makes it impossible to not enjoy exposure to high-level training.

For the sake of this article, and fellow judokas out there, we will refer to the attacker and defender as we commonly know as tori (attacker) and uke (defender).

 The purpose of this article is not to present the minutia of the throws, but rather to highlight the points where each technique name was derived. In this way, we can explain how the Korean terminology is reflective of the essentials of the associated Japanese terms.

 Are you ready? 시작! (Start!)

 Seoi Nage: Shoulder Throw (업어치기 = eo-beo- chi-gi)

This is a basic, standard shoulder throw like in the movies. Tori pulls uke onto their right shoulder by pulling their right sleeve. Simultaneously, tori turns around so their back is facing uke. Tori’s right hip blocks uke’s right hip. Tori then lifts uke off the ground with their shoulder and throws them onto their back.

업어치기: This is two verbs put together. 업다 means “to carry on one’s back”.

치다 means “to hit, strike, or punch” or throw in judo’s case.

The verb 업다 is a way to describe a piggy-back ride in Korean. However, this one’s a bit different. You’re going to use that piggy-back ride (업다) to strike (throw) your opponent (치다). Sounds fun, doesn’t it?!

Ko Uchi Gari: Minor Inner Reap (안뒤축후리기 = an-dwi- chug-hu- ri-gi)

Tori uses their right foot to catch uke’s right foot as they are stepping forward. Tori sweeps uke’s foot forward and out from underneath them. Again, like cutting their leg out from beneath them.

안: inside or inner

뒤축: heel

후리기 is from the verb 후리다, which means “to cut down”.

You will use your inner heel, or instep, (안위축) to cut down (후리기) uke’s advancing leg out from underneath them. Also, you want to cup uke’s heel with your instep for best execution. Again, referencing (안위축).

Harai Goshi: Sweeping Hip Throw (허리후리기 = heo-ri- hu-ri- gi)

Tori pulls uke to them and places the back of their right leg across uke’s right leg. Tori’s right hip is also across uke’s right hip. Tori sweeps their leg back in a reaping or “cutting” motion taking out uke’s legs from beneath them and they land on their back.

허리: waist, the small of one’s back

후리기 is from the verb 후리다. This verb is commonly known as “to seduce” in Korean, but it has a different meaning here. It means to “cut down”, similar to cutting down grass with a sickle. Therefore, this move is to cut someone down (후리기) using your waist/hip when they are at the small of your back (허리). 

O Goshi: Major Hip Throw (허리껴치기 = heo-ri- kkyeo-chi- gi)

Tori’s right arm goes around uke’s waist. Tori turns and steps across uke’s body while pulling them onto their back. Tori’s right hip will block uke’s right hip fully. Tori then rolls uke over their hip and onto their back. Think very basic hip toss.

허리: back

껴 is short for the verb 끼우다, which means “to put” or “to insert”

치기: This comes from the verb 치다, meaning “to hit, strike, or punch”, or to throw in judo’s case The 허리껴치기 starts with 허리, so you know your opponent will be at your back. You’ll insert (겨) your right hip across their right hip, and “strike” by rolling him over (치다).

 O Soto Gari: Major Outer Reap (밭다리후리기 = bat-da- ri-hu- ri-gi)

Tori steps with their left foot to uke’s right side (to the outside of uke’s legs, not between them). Tori’s right leg then lifts up and then swings backwards, reaping or cutting uke’s right leg out from underneath them. As tori cuts (reaps) backwards, they push uke backwards and onto their back.

밭: outside or outer

다리: leg

후리기 is from the verb 후리다, which means “to cut down”. You will cut or reap your opponent’s right leg from the outside, which explains the “outside leg” (밭다리) part. Then you’ll “cut down” your opponent by reaping their leg out from under them.

Tai Otoshi: Body Drop (빗당겨치기 = bit-dang- gyeo-chi- gi)

By virtue of the name of this technique, tori is not throwing uke per se. First, tori off-balances uke by pushing them sideways to their right. Tori then steps their right leg all the way across uke’s right leg. When tori steps their leg across, they block uke’s leg and then pull them causing uke to trip and fall over tori’s leg. This is why it’s called a body drop. Uke actually trips over tori’s leg and drops in that very spot. Make sense?

빗: sideways or crooked

당겨: From the verb 당기다, which means to pull.

치기: This comes from the verb 치다, meaning “to hit, strike, or punch” or throw in judo’s case. If we separate out the words for 빗당겨치기, it means “sideways pull strike”. You push your opponent off-balance in a “sideways” manner. You complete the throw or “strike” (치기) by “pulling” (당겨) uke over your extended leg now that they are off-balanced.

Tsurikomi Goshi: Lifting and pulling hip throw (허리채기 = heo-ri- chae-gi)

Tori’s back is to uke’s back. Tori’s right hip is blocking uke’s right hip. Tori’s right hand collar grip lifts upward and pulls forward at the same time as they crouch down. This makes uke lose balance high above tori and uke falls forward and onto their back.

허리: back

채다: This means to “snatch (away)”, as in a thief stealing someone’s purse.

This throw starts with 허리 (back), so you know that your opponent will be at your back. You’re going to grab them by the collar and “snatch” him upward while pulling forward. They lose their balance and fall over you.

Uchi Mata: Inner Thigh Throw (허벅다리걸기 = heo-beok- da-ri- geol-gi)

Tori’s back is facing uke. Tori’s right leg goes between uke’s legs as it kicks backwards and upward as a horse would kick. Tori leg is hitting uke’s inner thigh lifting them off the ground as they kick backwards, hence, inner thigh throw.

허벅다리: thigh

걸기: This comes from the verb 걸다, which has many meanings. In this case, it means “to trip” or throw. You’re going to attack your opponent’s inner “thigh” (허벅다리) to “trip” (걸기) or throw them.

O Uchi Gari: Major Inner Reap (안다리후리기 = an-da- ri-hu- ri-gi)

Tori’s right leg goes between uke’s legs and sweeps their left leg in a hooking motion. Simultaneously, tori pushes uke backwards and onto their back. Again, tori is using a reaping or cutting motion to sweep uke’s leg out from under them.

안: inside or inner

다리: leg

후리기 is from the verb 후리다, which means “to cut down”.

Are you beginning to see a pattern here? This one is similar to the 밭다리후리기, except you’re going to put your leg between your opponent’s leg from the inside

(안).

Okuri Ashi Harai: Sliding Foot Sweep (모두걸기 = mo-du- geol-gi)

As tori and uke move sideways together, like two people dancing or skipping sideways, tori sweeps both of uke’s feet out from underneath them. Tori pushes one of uke’s feet into the other so both are swept.

모두: all

걸기: This comes from the verb 걸다, which has many meanings. In this case, it means “to trip”. You can think of this one as “all trip” (모두 + 걸기). The 모두 part comes from the fact that you’re sweeping “both” (all) of your opponents feet out from under them.

 Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi: lifting pulling ankle block (발목받치기 = bal-mok-

bad-chi- gi)

Tori pulls uke forward causing them to advance their right foot forward. This advancing foot is now supporting uke’s weight as their momentum carries them forward. Tori first blocks uke’s advancing foot (at the ankle) with their left foot, then lifts and pulls uke’s sleeve over their own blocked foot/ankle which causes them to trip forward.

발목: ankle

받치기: This comes from the verb 받치다, which means “to support”, as in holding something up. Here, uke’s foot that stepped forward is now their “supporting” leg where their balance lies. With this judo throw, you are using your left foot instep to block your opponent’s right ankle (발목) as they are stepping forward. Then, you’re going to pull them over their “supporting” (받치기) leg so they fall forward.

Uki Goshi: Floating hip throw (허리띄기 = heo-ri- ddui-gi)

Similar to O Goshi but tori does not roll uke over their hip for uki goshi. Tori twists or swings uke around in a circular, rotating motion. The hip placement and movement in this judo throw causes uke to swing around tori’s waist, similar to the way a hula hoop rotates around your waist. Tori places their hip a bit more than halfway between uke’s hips, as opposed to fully across as in O Goshi. This allows tori’s hip to act as a fulcrum to pop uke off the ground.

허리: back

띄기: This word comes from the verb 띄우다, which means “to fly, float, or launch (something)”

허리띄기 begins with the word 허리, so your opponent will be at your back. After you pull them onto your hip, you’re going to launch or float (띄기) your opponent off the ground and around your waist, and drop them on their back.

Judo is a highly technical game.

The ability to throw a resisting opponent takes a great deal of practice and know-how. This is why there are 67 throws currently included in the judo curriculum. Understanding the fundamental components of each judo throw, as indicated by their names, will help you to master their effectiveness.

 And don’t forget there is the whole ground-fighting aspect of judo as well! Hopefully this article helped you to understand (or learn) judo a little better. Also, I hope it helped you understand the Korean terms for judo throws, and how to remember them. You should have no problem knowing how to say “piggyback” now.