Japanese Roll with a Twist

The Japanese are fond of a turnover technique which is referred to by different names in different places. In the USA, it's hilariously referred to as the "Sushi Roll", probably because it's something so synonymous with the Japanese. And it's true that practically all Japanese players know how to do this technique, though it tends to be more popular among Japanese female players.

This doesn't mean European players don't do it. Olympic Champion Ole Bischof does a version of it, which is referred to as the Bischof Roll. And the late World Champion Craig Fallon has a version of it, aptly called the Fallon Roll.

You can call it many things but these are all basically the same thing. Tori grabs a hold of uke's belt and slides under uke in order to execute the turnover into osaekomi.

If you notice the way Yoshida did this roll at the recent Tokyo Grand Slam, she slipped her right arm through uke's belt in order to get a more secure grip on it. This approach was pioneered by Sugoi Uriarte of Spain.

And if you notice how Green did it, he not only slipped his right arm through uke's belt but he took hold of uke's jacket skirt as well. This is the way, Amandine Buchard of France likes to do it.

This approach of slipping the arm through uke's belt was not traditionally done by the Japanese but it seems these days the Japanese will not hesitate to borrow good ideas from the West.

It used to be that everybody wanted to imitate the Japanese. Now, it's a little bit the other way around. In the Tokyo Grand Slam, Soichiro Mukai did a very European-style side takedown for ippon. This is not a common technique in Japan, but it's starting to pick up.

All these are signs that judo is now truly a global sport.