Kata Guruma

Kata-guruma, the shoulder wheel. This technique evolves from 'the fireman's carry' which can be seen in European wrestling. According to Mark Law's The Pyjama Game - A journey into Judo:

"Kano found that when it came to free fighting practice, randori, he could cope with most of the students (at Fukada's Ju-jitsu Dojo). But there was one, Fukushima, who was thirty kilos heaviuer than Kano and whom he could never throw. Kano's approach to learning was never passive. He sought the help of a retired sumo wrestler working in the university canteen who taught him some throws, but none of these had any effect on Fukushima. Then, as he scoured the library for a solution, he found in a book about western styles of wrestling something that he thought might work. He first practised it on a friend in secret, then refined it on some of the other students. When he was confident, he asked Fukushima for a practice. It is recorded that the dojo shook when the big man hit the mat. In the West throw is known colloquially as the fireman's carry; Kano named it kata-guruma"

When entering the technique, ensure that your hikite is turned palm upwards underneath the uke's sleeve so that your little finger is away from your partner. You then need to take hold of your uke's trouser leg at the ankle, your head below uke's belt (to ensure that you are below uke's centre of balance) arms stretched apart. Try not to lean forward as this would put uneccesary pressure on your back. Lift your partner above your head. To throw simply pull your hikite towards the floor. If you can pull your leg in, this helps to drop your opponent.

This throw was given ippon for a long time if the opponent was held aloft - this was due to some throwing forwards and hurting their own neck. This is no longer the case.