Historic Kata Guruma Picture (1932)
⛩️ Source
The photo comes from the German Federal Archives (Bundesarchiv) and is cataloged as Bild 102-13011. It depicts a street demonstration of Japanese martial arts in Tokyo, 1932, showing two practitioners in traditional gi executing a throwing technique. Although the image is classified and captioned as “Jiu-Jitsu,” this terminology reflects contemporary European usage: at the time, modern Kodokan Jūdō was still widely referred to as “Jiu-Jitsu” in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Based on the technique, posture, and historical context, the scene most likely represents judo practice rather than classical koryū jūjutsu. The photograph thus captures both the practice of early modern judo and its public presentation, reflecting early 20th-century European interest in Japanese martial culture.
🔖 Technique Notes
The technique depicted in this picture is most likely Kata Guruma. Uke’s legs are lifted off the ground and his torso appears to have been supported on Tori’s left shoulder. Moreover, it seems like he is being flipped over, falling in the characteristic circular, wheel-like motion typical of Kata Guruma.
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