Haga’s Hop-in Uchimata

There are many different types of uchimatas. The most common one is typically referred to as the “catch-up” uchimata where tori’s lead (attacking) leg takes a deep step in between uke’s leg and then the supporting (driving) leg catches up as the lead leg starts to lift. This is the approach used by uchimata specialists such as Kosei Inoue, Shohei Ono and Joshiro Maruyama.

A less common but arguably more dynamic version is called the “hop-in” uchimata whereby the entry involves inserting tori’s lead leg in between uke’s legs without having it touch the mat. Tori literally hops into the technique.

This is the approach used by former World Champion Ryunosuke Haga. In his initial years competing internationally, he would just hop into the attack and throw his opponents.

At the 2015 Tokyo Grand Slam, Haga introduce a slight twist to his hop-in uchimata. Just prior to making his entry, he would do a little swinging action with his lead leg, and without placing the leg on the mat, he would then insert it in between uke’s legs to launch him into the air. That additional swinging action gave more momentum to his uchimata, resulting in an even more dynamic throw.

In the ensuing years until his retirement, Haga would often use that swinging action to do his hop-in uchimata. But not always. Sometimes he would just go straight into the attack without the swinging action. But whenever he did do the swinging action, it would always thrill the crowd because of the tremendous heights he would achieve.

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