Soto-makikomi (outer wraparound) is a side sacrifice throw from the fourth group of the gokyo. Tori lets go of the lapel, traps uke's right arm under his armpit and spins as he drops. Uke is wound around tori's body all the way to the mat.
Is soto-makikomi only for heavyweights?
People often link it to the heavy divisions, because body weight does all the work at the end of the throw. A 100 kg tori who wraps well is indeed hard to stop. But the technique rests on the rotation and the arm trap first, and neither depends on size.
In the gokyo, it sits in the fourth group alongside hane-makikomi. Both are sutemi-waza within nage-waza. Hane-makikomi adds a springing action of the leg. Soto-makikomi does without it.
Kuzushi: pull uke to his front right
For a right-hander, uke has to be drawn toward his front right corner. The hikite pulls his right sleeve up and toward you, as in a harai-goshi entry. Uke comes up onto the ball of his right foot.
Only then does your right hand release the lapel.
How to do soto-makikomi
Your right arm comes over uke's right arm and clamps it against your side. His arm is trapped under your armpit. Your left hand keeps hold of the sleeve.
Pivot on your left foot as you bring your right foot outside his right foot. Your back presses against his chest.
Keep turning to the left as you go down. Your right arm points to the mat and your eyes follow it. Uke has no arm left to post with, so he wraps around you. You land on your left side, with uke on his back in front of you or partly under your weight.
Tori lands on his side. Never dive head first toward the mat. IJF referees penalize head diving severely, and the hansoku-make rules apply. Above all, it is a matter of protecting the neck.
Mistakes that ruin the throw
- Releasing the lapel too early, before the off-balance. Uke feels the change and straightens up.
- Not trapping the arm. Uke pulls it free, posts his hand and lands on all fours.
- Falling straight forward. With no rotation you crush uke instead of turning him, and he does not land on his back.
- Looking at uke instead of the mat. Your head blocks the rotation.
Useful combinations
Soto-makikomi often works as a second attack. Your harai-goshi or o-goshi gets blocked because uke dropped his hips. You already have your back to him, with his right arm within reach. Free the tsurite, wrap the arm and keep turning.
It also works against an opponent who holds your lapel hard to keep you at a distance. That straight arm is exactly the one you will wrap.
Defending and countering
The best defense is not to give your arm. Bending the elbow and keeping it tight to the body stops the wrap. If the entry is already in, uke can step forward and follow the rotation to land on his front. A fast opponent counters with ura-nage before you drop, by grabbing you from behind.
Soto-makikomi in BJJ
The technique exists in Brazilian jiu-jitsu but you see it less. You finish on your side with your back half exposed, and the opponent can go for the back as soon as you land. In judo, ippon ends the match. In BJJ, the fight continues from there.
Training it safely
First drill the rotation alone, standing, with no fall and the arm wrapped. Then move to a crash pad and ask uke for a standard forward breakfall. The full sacrifice in randori only comes once landing on your side is automatic. We advise against showing it to white belts, as almost all of them dive head first.