The Gokyo no Waza (五教の技)—literally "the five sets of techniques"—is the classical Kodokan syllabus of forty throwing techniques, organized into five groups of eight. First arranged in 1895 and given its lasting form in 1920, it is the teaching ladder generations of judoka have climbed, moving from the simplest, safest throws to the most advanced sacrifice techniques.

What is the Gokyo?

Where the modern Kodokan classification you'll find in our Techniques section sorts throws by the part of the body that does the work (hand, hip, foot, sacrifice), the Gokyo sorts them by the order in which they should be learned. It is a curriculum, not a catalogue. Each group (kyo, 教) is a step: the throws within it share a similar level of difficulty and prepare the body and mind for the group that follows.

The forty throws of the Gokyo are a subset of the full Kodokan list. In 1982 the Kodokan added the Shinmeisho no Waza ("newly accepted techniques") and reinstated eight older throws, growing the recognized syllabus to the larger list used today. But the original five groups remain the backbone of how throwing is taught around the world.

How to read this page: each throw below links to its video demonstration in the Techniques section. Click any name to watch it.

The Five Groups

第一教

Dai Ikkyo — First Group

The foundation. These eight throws are the first most beginners learn—large, stable techniques that teach kuzushi (balance-breaking), tsukuri (entry) and safe ukemi for the partner being thrown.

  1. 出足払De-ashi-haraiForward foot sweep
  2. 膝車Hiza-gurumaKnee wheel
  3. 支釣込足Sasae-tsurikomi-ashiPropping drawing ankle
  4. 浮腰Uki-goshiFloating hip
  5. 大外刈O-soto-gariLarge outer reap
  6. 大腰O-goshiLarge hip throw
  7. 大内刈O-uchi-gariLarge inner reap
  8. 背負投Seoi-nageShoulder throw
第二教

Dai Nikyo — Second Group

Building on the first group, these throws demand sharper timing and more refined footwork. Several—Tai-otoshi, Harai-goshi, Uchi-mata—become competition favourites for the rest of a judoka's career.

  1. 小外刈Ko-soto-gariSmall outer reap
  2. 小内刈Ko-uchi-gariSmall inner reap
  3. 腰車Koshi-gurumaHip wheel
  4. 釣込腰Tsurikomi-goshiLift-pull hip throw
  5. 送足払Okuri-ashi-haraiSliding foot sweep
  6. 体落Tai-otoshiBody drop
  7. 払腰Harai-goshiSweeping hip throw
  8. 内股Uchi-mataInner thigh throw
第三教

Dai Sankyo — Third Group

The third group introduces more dynamic actions and the first sacrifice throw, Tomoe-nage. Power and commitment matter more here; the margin for hesitation shrinks.

  1. 小外掛Ko-soto-gakeSmall outer hook
  2. 釣腰Tsuri-goshiLifting hip throw
  3. 横落Yoko-otoshiSide drop
  4. 足車Ashi-gurumaLeg wheel
  5. 跳腰Hane-goshiSpring hip throw
  6. 払釣込足Harai-tsurikomi-ashiSweeping lift-pull foot
  7. 巴投Tomoe-nageCircle throw
  8. 肩車Kata-gurumaShoulder wheel
第四教

Dai Yonkyo — Fourth Group

Now the sacrifice throws (sutemi-waza) arrive in earnest, alongside wrap-around throws (makikomi). Tori begins to give up their own balance deliberately to throw the partner.

  1. 隅返Sumi-gaeshiCorner throw
  2. 谷落Tani-otoshiValley drop
  3. 跳巻込Hane-makikomiSpring wraparound
  4. 掬投Sukui-nageScoop throw
  5. 移腰Utsuri-goshiHip transfer
  6. 大車O-gurumaLarge wheel
  7. 外巻込Soto-makikomiOuter wraparound
  8. 浮落Uki-otoshiFloating drop
第五教

Dai Gokyo — Fifth Group

The final group is the most advanced: large-amplitude sacrifice throws and counters that require complete confidence in your ukemi and total commitment to the technique.

  1. 大外車O-soto-gurumaLarge outer wheel
  2. 浮技Uki-wazaFloating technique
  3. 横分Yoko-wakareSide separation
  4. 横車Yoko-gurumaSide wheel
  5. 後腰Ushiro-goshiRear hip throw
  6. 裏投Ura-nageRear throw
  7. 隅落Sumi-otoshiCorner drop
  8. 横掛Yoko-gakeSide hook

"Walk a single path, becoming neither cocky with victory nor broken with defeat."

— Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo

Why Learn in This Order?

Kano arranged the Gokyo so that each group prepares you for the next. The first throws are wide and forgiving, giving uke time to break-fall while tori learns the rhythm of kuzushi–tsukuri–kake. By the fourth and fifth groups, you are throwing yourself to the mat to throw your partner—something only possible once your ukemi and your timing are trustworthy.

The Gokyo and Your Belt

Most national grading syllabi map the kyu belts onto the Gokyo groups: white and yellow belts work through Dai Ikkyo, orange and green through the second and third groups, and the sacrifice-heavy fourth and fifth groups belong to blue, brown and beyond. Check your federation's exact requirements on our Belt Tests page, but wherever you are, the Gokyo tells you what comes next.

Conclusion

The Gokyo no Waza is more than a list to memorize—it is a map of the throwing art, drawn by Judo's founder, that turns forty separate techniques into a single coherent journey. Learn the groups in order, return to the earlier throws often, and the deeper logic of Judo's standing techniques will reveal itself.