Waza Book

    Search every technique, Japanese word, grade, guide and combination.

    Browse instead: all techniques A to Z or the glossary

    Sukui-nage

    掬投 · すくいなげ · scooping throw · said soo-KOO-ee NAH-geh

    About this techniqueJump to step by stepPlain text version

    Barred in competition

    Demonstrations

    Videos are ordered by provider, and the player shows the first. Choose your own order.

    Seen a better demonstration? Suggest a video

    The IJF publishes an animation of Sukui-nage: watch it on judo.ijf.org.

    Where this technique is not allowed

    Penalised in competition in its classical form, which scoops uke's legs from behind: current IJF rules give a shido for taking the legs with the hands or arms. What is penalised is the contact with the legs rather than the throw. Nothing changes outside contest, and the BJA sets it as a 5th Dan fundamental skill.

    Under contest rules

    Shido. Scooping the legs with the arms draws a shido. The penalty follows the contact with the legs rather than the direction of the throw.

    Sport and Organisation Rules of the International Judo Federation: refereeing rules, 2026 edition, Article 18.1.2.

    Still taught, demonstrated and examined, so it is written up in full here. The restriction above is a contest rule, not a reason to skip it. See the prohibited techniques list.

    About this technique

    Tori steps behind or across uke, scoops both legs or the trunk with the arms, and throws uke backwards without using the lapels.

    Suggest an edit to About this technique for Sukui-nage

    A technique to uplift and throw down the opponent by breaking his balance backward while stepping behind him and holding both of his thighs from the front side with both hands or another technique to uplift the opponent’s one of thighs and throw him down by inserting the hand between his legs.
    The Kodokan's definition

    Key points

    1. Get your hips behind or across uke before you scoop
    2. Scoop at thigh height, lifting with legs and hips
    3. Turn uke over your hip line as you lift

    Suggest an edit to Key points for Sukui-nage

    Te-waza (hand techniques) · Gokyo 4th set

    At a glance

    , classification, Gokyo set, Kodokan number, contest rules, grades that require it
    What it is
    Nage-waza (throwing techniques), Te-waza (hand techniques).
    Gokyo
    4th set (Dai-yonkyo).
    Kodokan number
    106 (SUK).
    Contest rules
    Shido. Scooping the legs with the arms draws a shido. The penalty follows the contact with the legs rather than the direction of the throw.
    Required for

    Step by step

    These steps describe the standard right-handed form without relying on the video.

    1. Move past your partner's right side so your chest comes to their side or slightly behind them, releasing the standard grips.
    2. Bend your knees and wrap both arms around their thighs, one arm in front, one behind, palms clasping or pressing flat.
    3. Draw their thighs tight to your chest and lift with your legs, scooping them from the mat.
    4. Turn your hips so their body tips backwards over your arms, their legs rising as their shoulders go back.
    5. Lower them onto their back in front of you, controlling the descent with your arms all the way down: this is a lift and a placement, not a drop.

    Suggest an edit to Step by step for Sukui-nage

    Receiving it

    Arms wrap your thighs from the side or behind and your feet leave the floor: you are scooped, tipped backwards, and for a moment fully carried. There is little you can do mid-air except stay compact and keep your chin tucked. A good partner places you down; as your back arrives, slap with whichever arm is free.

    Suggest an edit to Receiving it for Sukui-nage

    VI judo notes

    Barred in contest in the classical form because it takes the legs, but drilled all the same. Both standard grips go, leaving you working from body contact alone: come past their side chest first, and find the thighs by sliding your arms down their body rather than reaching. Lower them the whole way with your arms, since neither of you can see where they are going.

    Suggest an edit to VI judo notes for Sukui-nage

    In competition

    , how often it scores at IJF level, and two contests where it worked

    Senior IJF competition, 2020 to 2026, from 73,099 contests. Counts scores, not attempts.

    Loading…

    Grips that lead to it

    In combinations, counters and transitions

    , 1 awaiting review

    1 more pair involving it is recorded and awaiting review before it gets a page. A video that shows one of them is what gets it reviewed: suggest one.

    None recorded yet. Nobody has written down a counter to Sukui-nage, or a combination it belongs to. You can suggest one.

    Reference pages elsewhere

    Plain text version of this page: no markup and no navigation, for a braille display, a printout, or an offline copy. Any page address here takes .txt the same way.