Drop seoi nage, seoi otoshi (背負落), is the judo shoulder throw done by dropping onto one or both knees under your partner and pulling them over. In judo it is the dropping shoulder throw; in BJJ it is a common gi throw.
- Japanese name: seoi otoshi, 背負落. The judoinfo.com te-waza page translates it as Shoulder Drop.
- Kodokan classification: te-waza, a hand technique. The Gokyo no Waza listed on judoinfo.com places it in the Habukareta Waza, the techniques from the 1895 gokyo restored to the Kodokan list.
- In BJJ: the drop version is popular because it works against a bent-over, defensive partner and lands you in a position to pass. Read Judo for BJJ Players for how judo throws carry over.
What is drop seoi nage?
The Kodokan defines seoi otoshi as a technique to pull down and throw the opponent by breaking his balance forward and falling on one of the knees or both while carrying him on the back. Everything from the standing seoi nage stays the same; the lift from the legs is replaced by the drop of your body weight.
Most people do it as a drop ippon seoi nage, with the partner's arm trapped over the shoulder, or as a drop morote seoi nage with the lapel grip kept. Either way the Kodokan files it under seoi otoshi.
How do you do drop seoi nage?
The steps below follow the Kodokan definition, right-handed; mirror everything for the left.
- Break the balance forward. Pull hard with the sleeve hand so your partner's weight is on their toes and their chest comes toward you.
- Turn in. Step your right foot across in front of their right foot and spin so your back faces their chest, as for the standing throw.
- Drop. Fall onto both knees, or the right knee alone, directly under their centre of gravity. Your knees go between or just outside their feet, with your back still touching their chest.
- Carry them on your back. Keep the sleeve pull and the elbow or arm trap tight; their body should fold over your back as you drop.
- Pull down and throw. Drive forward and down from the knees, pulling the sleeve to the mat so they rotate over your shoulder and land on their back.
The common mistake is dropping too far from the partner, so you kneel in front of them with nothing on your back; that is a free back-take for them. Drop under, never in front. Protect your knees: drop onto the mat with the shin, never the kneecap first, and keep the drops to a sensible number in a session. Our judo training gear covers the kit for throwing practice.
Video: KODOKAN official channel
Is drop seoi nage legal in judo?
Yes, in its standard form. The IJF Sport and Organisation Rules name seoi nage among the throws where diving forward head first onto the mat is hansoku-make. In cadet events, under 18, a reverse seoi nage that leaves the partner no chance to break their fall scores nothing and draws a shido.
Sources
- Kodokan defines seoi otoshi, Kodokan Judo Institute
- Judoinfo.com te-waza page, JudoInfo
- Gokyo no Waza listed on judoinfo.com, JudoInfo
- IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation
Related terms
Seoi nage (shoulder throw), Tai otoshi (body drop), Off-balancing, Hand techniques, Guard passing.