How to Yeet Someone Like a Pro: The Secret Judo Vocabulary You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know

Alright, dojo fam, gather round. Let’s talk about Judo vocabulary. I know what you’re thinking, “Yay, Japanese words… my brain can’t wait to fail this quiz.” But hold your horses, because these words aren’t just vocab, they’re cheat codes. Learn them, and you’ll start tossing people around like you’ve got GameShark enabled. (Millennial reference, I know. Ask your older cousin.)

(This game is down-right fierce)

We’re talking about three magic words: Kuzushi, Tsukuri, Kake. Not a new sushi roll, not a Final Fantasy spell, but the holy trinity of “how to make someone’s spine say hello to the mat.”

Kuzushi: The Sneaky Setup

Kuzushi literally means “balance breaking.” But don’t picture hulk-smash. It’s more like the slick move where you pretend you’re going in for a hug and your opponent ends up on their heels wondering if they missed rehearsal.

Ever trip on your own shoelace in public and try to play it off like you were totally about to break into a dance move? That’s kuzushi. You didn’t fall, you were just “initiating momentum transfer.”

Key tip: If you skip kuzushi, you’re basically trying to knock down a vending machine by pushing it with your forehead. Spoiler: you’ll lose.

Tsukuri: The Awkward Close-In

Now that they’re off balance, time to get intimate. Tsukuri means “positioning,” which sounds boring, but it’s basically the Judo version of “Netflix and chill.” You move in, hips first, no hesitation.

Imagine chess. You can’t win without getting your pieces in the right spot. Same with Judo. Except your “piece” is your butt, and if it’s not in the right place, nothing’s happening.

👉 Key tip: If your throw feels like two raccoons fighting in a trash can, your tsukuri is off.

Kake: The Big Finish

Finally, the fun part. Kake means “execution” or “the finale.” It’s when all the foreplay pays off and you launch your opponent into a brief but meaningful relationship with the mat.

Think fireworks. The fuse burns, tension builds, then BOOM. That’s kake. If kuzushi is the setup and tsukuri is the entry, kake is the mic drop.

👉 Key tip: Don’t half-commit. Nobody likes a “meh” kake. (Yes, you can say that in front of grandma. She’ll giggle.)

Putting It Together: The Judo Playlist

Kuzushi is your opener track, tsukuri is the bassline, and kake is the drop. Skip one, and your throw is a bad remix. Nail them, and you’re basically the DJ Khaled of martial arts. “Another one!”

Beyond the Mat: Judo as a Life Strategy

Here’s the part they don’t tell you at white belt. Judo isn’t just about throws, it’s about life throws. These three steps — Kuzushi, Tsukuri, Kake — show up everywhere.

·         Kuzushi (breaking balance):

Think dating. You don’t walk up to someone and say, “Hey, want to marry me?” You start with a joke, a compliment, or a random conversation about dogs. That’s kuzushi. You tilt the balance. You disrupt the normal pattern so they lean in.

Or look at investing. Ever bought a stock right after bad news tanked the price? That’s kuzushi too. You wait until the balance breaks, then you’re ready.

·         Tsukuri (positioning):

Job interviews. You’ve got the recruiter’s attention (balance broken). Now you slide in with the resume, the stories, the vibe. That’s positioning yourself in the perfect spot to seal the deal.

Or parenting. Your kid is mid-tantrum. You don’t argue head-on. You kneel, soften your tone, slide into their world. Tsukuri. You put yourself in the position to actually land the “throw” (a.k.a. bedtime).

·         Kake (execution):

Now comes the moment. Asking for the raise. Hitting “buy” on the trade. Going in for the kiss. Or yes, finally getting your kid into pajamas after a 40-minute negotiation about why socks can’t stay on overnight. That’s the throw. You commit. No hesitation.

👉 The principle doesn’t change. Disrupt the balance, position yourself, then finish. That’s Judo. That’s life.

Your Turn

Next time you step on the tatami, don’t just think “throw.” Think Kuzushi. Tsukuri. Kake. Break balance. Slide in. Drop the mic.

But also try it in real life. Want that raise? Kuzushi: tilt the convo in your favor. Tsukuri: position your achievements. Kake: shut up and ask for it.

So here’s my challenge. Comment below: what’s your favorite throw, and what’s your best “kuzushi moment” in real life? Maybe it was Judo, maybe it was dating, maybe it was convincing your kid broccoli is “tiny trees of power.”

Let’s swap war stories. Bonus points if they’re funny, because this is Judo, not geometry class.

“These hips don’t lie.” – Tsukuri Tsukri