Seoi nage (背負投) is the judo shoulder throw: you break your partner's balance forward, carry them on your back and throw them over your shoulder. Ippon seoi nage (一本背負投) is the one-arm version.
- Japanese name: seoi nage, 背負投; the one-arm version is ippon seoi nage, 一本背負投. The judoinfo.com te-waza page lists them as Two Hand Shoulder Throw and One Arm Shoulder Throw.
- Kodokan classification: te-waza, hand techniques. The Gokyo no Waza listed on judoinfo.com has seoi nage in Dai Ikkyo, the first group, and ippon seoi nage among the Shinmeisho no Waza.
- In BJJ: a common gi throw from collar-and-sleeve grips. Read Judo for BJJ Players for how judo throws carry over.
What is seoi nage in judo?
The Kodokan defines seoi nage as a technique to throw the opponent over the right shoulder by breaking his balance forward and inserting the right elbow underneath his right armpit to carry him on the back. For ippon seoi nage the right arm holds the opponent's right arm from the inside to carry him on the back.
How do you do seoi nage?
Right-handed, as the Kodokan describes it; mirror for the left.
- Break the balance forward. Pull the sleeve and lift with the lapel hand so their weight comes to their toes.
- Step in. Place your right foot in front of their right foot, pivot and bring your left foot back, so your back is to their chest with your knees bent and your hips lower than theirs.
- Insert the elbow. For seoi nage keep the lapel grip and drive your right elbow under their right armpit. For ippon seoi nage release the lapel and wrap their right arm with your right arm from the inside, trapping it over your shoulder.
- Carry them on your back. Pull the sleeve across your chest; their chest should be flat on your back with no gap.
- Throw over the shoulder. Straighten the legs, bend forward and pull the sleeve down and across so they rotate over your shoulder and land on their back.
The gap is the killer. If your hips are above theirs or your back is away from their chest, they can step around you or take your back. Get low, get the back flat against them, then lift. The trapped arm in ippon seoi nage loads your partner's elbow and shoulder, so apply slowly in drilling and never crank it. Our judo training gear covers the kit for drilling the entry.
Video: KODOKAN official channel
What are the variations of seoi nage?
Ippon seoi nage: the one-arm shoulder throw described above. Seoi otoshi: the Kodokan describes falling onto one or both knees while carrying the opponent on the back, the version BJJ players know as the drop seoi nage. Both are on the Kodokan list of techniques.
Video: KODOKAN official channel
Is seoi nage legal in judo competition?
Yes. The IJF Sport and Organisation Rules score a throw when it is a Kodokan classified technique or a recognised variation, and seoi nage is one, so a clean throw can score yuko, waza-ari or ippon.
The IJF rules name it among the throws where diving forward head first onto the mat is hansoku-make, so finish standing or on your side. In cadet events, under 18, a reverse seoi nage scores nothing and draws a shido, and using the head to throw or to defend is penalised.
In BJJ a throw counts as a takedown: 2 points under the IBJJF rules once your partner lands on the back, side or seat and you hold the top for three seconds.
Sources
- Kodokan defines seoi nage, 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
- IBJJF rules, IBJJF
Related terms
Drop seoi nage, Tai otoshi (body drop), Off-balancing, Pulling hand and lifting hand, Hand techniques, Grip fighting.