Katame-waza
固技 / 寝技
Collective name for immobilization techniques in judo: holds on the ground, chokes and joint locks. The Kodokan lists 32 of them in three groups.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Katame-waza (固技) means “immobilization techniques”: katame from the verb katameru, to harden, to fix, and waza, technique. In judo it forms the second major group alongside nage-waza, the throwing techniques. Since April 1, 2017, the Kodokan has listed 32 katame-waza techniques in three groups: osaekomi-waza, holding the opponent on the back on the ground (10 techniques), shime-waza, chokes (12), and kansetsu-waza, joint locks (10). All three can bring ippon in competition: a hold after twenty seconds, chokes and joint locks the moment the opponent submits or cannot continue.
In practice
Katame-waza is trained mainly on the ground in ne-waza randori, free practice in ground fighting. Ashi-garami is forbidden in competition, and do-jime, squeezing the trunk with the legs, is forbidden in both competition and randori. A fighter who wants to submit signals it by tapping the opponent or the mat.
Common mistakes and confusions
Katame-waza is often confused with ne-waza. Ne-waza (寝技) means ground fighting, that is, the situation in which the match takes place. Katame-waza is a group of techniques. A choke or a joint lock can also be applied standing, and then it is katame-waza but not ne-waza.
Relations to other terms
Narrower terms
A group of judo techniques in which the opponent is held on the back on the ground. Twenty seconds of uninterrupted holding means ippon in competition.
Kansetsu-waza関節技Joint-lock techniques in judo, jujutsu and aikido. In competitive judo only the elbow may be locked, and the Kodokan lists ten techniques.
Shime-waza絞技 / 締め技Choking techniques in judo and jujutsu. The Kodokan lists twelve, and in competition a choke ends with ippon when the opponent submits or loses consciousness.