Tawara-gaeshi 俵返 (“Rice Bag Reversal”)

Category: Ma-sutemi-waza (rear sacrifice technique)
Translation: “Tawara” means a traditional rice straw sack, “gaeshi” means reversal. The name evokes the motion of flipping a heavy sack over.

Description

Tawara-gaeshi is a rear sacrifice counter used when uke bends deeply forward, often in an attempt to execute a lifting throw or during groundwork transitions.

Tori leans over uke’s back, wraps both arms tightly around the torso — much like embracing a rice bag — and pulls uke upward using their arms and body while falling backward. This causes uke to be lifted and flipped over tori’s head, landing on his back.

It’s a throw that relies heavily on timing and body contact, exploiting uke’s forward-leaning posture to turn their momentum against them.

Biomechanics of Tawara-gaeshi

• Type: Lever throw

• Support point (C): Created by tori’s back/torso under uke’s center of gravity.

• Force vectors:

  • F3: Legs/back drive uke upward.

  • F4: Arms wrap and pull uke tightly inward.

  • F1/F2: Hands and body maintain close grip and lift.

• A centrifugal force component is created as uke’s body is rotated in an arc over tori’s head.

• Requires tori to fully commit to the fall while maintaining tight control of uke’s core.

Did you know?

• The term “Tawara” refers to the classic straw-wrapped rice sacks once used for transport in Japan. The image of flipping such a sack backwards is exactly what this technique mimics.

• Tawara-gaeshi is a rare but spectacular throw, occasionally seen in Kata and older judo demonstrations, but seldom used in modern competition due to the complexity of timing.

• A close cousin of this throw is Daki-wakare, though the entry and execution differ — Tawara-gaeshi involves more lifting and centrally aligned body contact.