Katame-Waza

What is Katame-Waza?

"Katame-Waza" refers to the grappling or groundwork techniques in Judo. In Japanese, "katame" means "to hold down" or "to control," and "waza" means "technique." These techniques are focused on controlling and subduing an opponent on the ground, and they are an essential part of Judo training and competition.

Katame-Waza can be categorized into three main types:

1. Osaekomi-Waza (Pinning Techniques): Techniques used to pin an opponent to the ground, preventing them from moving or escaping. The goal is to hold the opponent down for a specific period, typically 20 seconds in competition, to score a point. Examples include:
   • Kesa-Gatame (scarf hold)
   • Yoko-Shiho-Gatame (side four-corner hold)
   • Kami-Shiho-Gatame (upper four-corner hold)
2. Shime-Waza (Strangulation Techniques): Techniques that involve applying pressure to the opponent's neck or throat to induce a submission through choking or strangulation. These techniques can be applied using the hands, arms, legs, or the opponent's gi (uniform). Examples include:
   • Hadaka-Jime (naked choke)
   • Okuri-Eri-Jime (sliding collar choke)
   • Kata-Ha-Jime (single-wing choke)
3. Kansetsu-Waza (Joint Locking Techniques): Techniques that involve manipulating the opponent's joints, particularly the elbows, to cause pain or force a submission. These techniques require precise control and leverage to be effective. Examples include:
   • Juji-Gatame (cross arm lock)
   • Ude-Garami (entangled arm lock)
   • Ude-Hishigi-Hiza-Gatame (knee arm lock)

Katame-Waza is crucial for controlling an opponent and achieving victory in Judo matches. Practitioners spend significant time developing these techniques to ensure they can effectively transition from standing techniques (Nage-Waza) to groundwork and maintain control over their opponents. Mastery of Katame-Waza is essential for a well-rounded Judo skill set.

Related Article: Judo: The Gentle Way of Overcoming Opponents