Judo Throws: The Complete Guide to Every Throwing Technique in the Kodokan System

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Judo is the art of throwing. Every judo match begins standing, and the most decisive way to win is to throw the opponent flat on their back with force and control — ippon, the perfect throw, the one-point victory that ends the match instantly. No other martial art has refined the science of throwing to the same depth.

The Kodokan — judo's founding institution established by Jigoro Kano in 1882 — recognises 67 official throwing techniques (nage waza), organised into five groups: hand techniques, hip techniques, foot and leg techniques, rear sacrifice techniques, and side sacrifice techniques. These 67 throws form one of the most complete and systematic technical catalogues in all of martial arts.

But 67 is just the official count. When you include the variations, combinations, counters, and adaptations used in modern competition, the number expands dramatically. Fight Encyclopedia currently catalogues 174 throwing techniques across judo, wrestling, sambo, shuai jiao, and other throwing arts — all organised in a unified taxonomy that shows how each throw relates to its family and its equivalents across disciplines.

This guide covers the four major families of judo throws, the most important techniques in each, how they are used in competition, and how the judo throwing system translates to MMA and other martial arts.

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Jigoro Kano classified all throwing techniques into two broad categories: standing techniques (tachi waza) and sacrifice techniques (sutemi waza). Standing techniques are further divided by which body part does the primary work. The result is four families that every judoka must master:

Te Waza — Hand Techniques

Hand technique throws use the arms and hands as the primary throwing mechanism. The thrower lifts, pulls, or wheels the opponent using arm strength and body rotation rather than hip or leg contact.

Key techniques:

• Seoi Nage (shoulder throw) — the most popular throw in judo competition worldwide. The thrower turns in, loads the opponent onto the back/shoulder, and projects forward. Seoi nage accounts for more ippon scores in Olympic judo than any other single technique.
• Tai Otoshi (body drop) — a hand throw where the thrower extends a blocking leg while pulling the opponent over it. No hip contact — pure hand and body rotation power.
• Kata Guruma (fireman's carry) — the thrower loads the opponent across the shoulders. Currently restricted in IJF competition (leg grabs banned in 2010), but still one of the most devastating throws when legal.
• Uki Otoshi (floating drop) — a timing throw that uses the opponent's forward momentum. No body contact — the thrower drops and pulls, letting gravity and momentum do the work.

Te waza throws favour fighters with strong grip fighting (kumi kata) and explosive upper body rotation. Shorter fighters often specialise in seoi nage because they can get underneath taller opponents.

Koshi Waza — Hip Techniques

Hip technique throws use the thrower's hip as a fulcrum. The thrower turns in, makes hip-to-hip contact, and projects the opponent over the hip using a levering action. These are among the most powerful throws in judo because the hip is the body's strongest joint.

Key techniques:

• O Goshi (major hip throw) — the foundational hip throw. The thrower wraps the arm around the opponent's waist, makes hip contact, and lifts. It is the first throw taught in most judo dojos and the template for understanding all hip mechanics.
• Harai Goshi (sweeping hip throw) — combines a hip entry with a sweeping leg action. The thrower contacts with the hip and simultaneously sweeps the opponent's leg, creating a rotational force that is extremely difficult to defend.
• Uki Goshi (floating hip throw) — a lighter hip throw that uses rotation more than lifting power. Jigoro Kano himself favoured this technique.
• Koshi Guruma (hip wheel) — the thrower wraps the arm around the opponent's neck (not waist) and uses the hip as a wheel axis. Powerful but requires close distance.

Koshi waza throws require the thrower to turn their back to the opponent — a commitment that creates vulnerability if the entry fails. This risk-reward dynamic is fundamental to judo tactics.

Ashi Waza — Foot and Leg Techniques

Foot and leg technique throws use the legs and feet to sweep, reap, or block the opponent's legs. These techniques are often lower-risk than hip throws because the thrower does not need to turn their back completely.

Key techniques:

• O Soto Gari (major outer reap) — the thrower reaps the opponent's leg from the outside while driving them backward. One of the most powerful and common throws at all levels, from white belt to Olympic final.
• Uchi Mata (inner thigh throw) — the thrower sweeps the inner thigh while rotating. Uchi mata is statistically the highest-scoring throw in international judo competition — more world championship ippons have been won with uchi mata than any other technique.
• De Ashi Barai (advancing foot sweep) — a timing sweep that catches the opponent's foot as it moves forward. Requires perfect timing rather than power. Many judo masters consider de ashi barai the ultimate expression of judo's principle of maximum efficiency.
• Ko Uchi Gari (minor inner reap) — a small, quick reap of the opponent's foot. Used constantly as a setup and combination starter. Ko uchi gari into seoi nage is one of the most common two-throw combinations in judo.

Ashi waza throws are the backbone of judo combination attacks. A single sweep rarely scores ippon by itself — but a sweep that off-balances the opponent creates the opening for a hip or hand throw that does.

Sutemi Waza — Sacrifice Techniques

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Sacrifice throws require the thrower to give up their own standing position — falling to the ground to throw the opponent. They are divided into rear sacrifice (ma sutemi waza) and side sacrifice (yoko sutemi waza).

Key techniques:

• Tomoe Nage (circle throw) — the thrower falls backward, places a foot on the opponent's stomach, and uses the momentum to throw them overhead. The most recognisable sacrifice throw — frequently seen in martial arts films.
• Sumi Gaeshi (corner reversal) — a sacrifice throw using the butterfly hook (foot inside the thigh). Essential in modern competitive judo, particularly in transition from standing to ground.
• Tani Otoshi (valley drop) — the thrower drops to the side, blocking the opponent's leg and pulling them over. Effective as a counter-throw when the opponent attacks first.
• Ura Nage (rear throw) — a dramatic back arch throw where the thrower lifts the opponent and throws them backward over the head. High risk, high reward — when it lands clean, it is one of the most spectacular techniques in all of combat sports.

Sacrifice throws are high-level techniques. In competition, a failed sacrifice throw puts the thrower on the ground in a potentially disadvantageous position. But when timed correctly against an aggressive opponent, they are devastating counters.

Every judo throw — regardless of family — follows three phases that Jigoro Kano identified as fundamental:

1. Kuzushi (off-balancing) — Breaking the opponent's balance in the direction of the throw. Without kuzushi, no throw works against a resisting opponent. This is why judo grip fighting is so intense — the grip determines the direction of kuzushi.

2. Tsukuri (entry/fitting) — Moving the body into position for the throw. For a hip throw, this means turning and making hip contact. For a foot sweep, this means positioning the sweeping foot. The entry must happen in the instant the opponent is off-balance.

3. Kake (execution) — The final explosive action that completes the throw. The lift, the reap, the sweep, the rotation. Kake without proper kuzushi and tsukuri is just muscling — it works against weaker opponents but fails against equals.

These three phases apply to throws in every martial art, not just judo. A wrestling double leg follows the same pattern: snap the head down (kuzushi), change levels and penetrate (tsukuri), drive through and finish (kake). The judo framework gives language to a universal throwing principle.

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Statistics from the International Judo Federation (IJF) reveal which throws dominate at the highest level. The data comes from thousands of tagged contests at World Championships, Grand Slams, and Olympic Games:

Most successful throws by ippon rate (senior international level):

Gender differences: Men's judo favours power throws (uchi mata, harai goshi, o soto gari). Women's judo shows higher rates of seoi nage and sacrifice techniques — techniques that rely on timing and technique over raw strength.

Weight class patterns: Lighter weight classes see more seoi nage (smaller fighters turn under taller opponents). Heavier weight classes see more o soto gari and uchi mata (larger fighters use leverage and leg reach).

The judo throwing system is not isolated. The same biomechanical principles appear across combat sports under different names:

Wrestling: The judo O Soto Gari is the wrestling "outside trip." The judo Kata Guruma is the wrestling "fireman's carry." The judo Ura Nage is the wrestling "suplex." Wrestlers who study judo's throwing taxonomy discover they already know dozens of judo techniques — they just use different names.

Sambo: The Russian martial art of sambo inherited much of its throwing curriculum from judo (Vasili Oshchepkov, sambo's co-founder, was a Kodokan black belt). Browse the sambo throw section to see the overlap.

MMA: Judo throws are increasingly important in MMA. Ronda Rousey's O Goshi and Harai Goshi dominated women's MMA. Karo Parisyan's uchi mata and harai goshi made him one of the most exciting fighters in early UFC. Kayla Harrison uses the full judo throwing arsenal in PFL competition. The key adaptation for MMA: no gi means grips change from collar-and-sleeve to overhook, underhook, and body lock entries.

Shuai Jiao: Chinese wrestling (shuai jiao) developed independently from judo but arrived at many of the same solutions. The cross-art comparison in the encyclopedia shows how human biomechanics lead to convergent techniques regardless of cultural origin.

The Gokyo no Waza (five sets of techniques) is the Kodokan's official teaching curriculum — a structured progression from basic to advanced throws. Established in 1895 and revised in 1920 and 1982, the Gokyo represents one of the earliest attempts to create a systematic taxonomy of fighting techniques.

Dai Ikkyo (First Set): The foundational throws every beginner must learn — De Ashi Barai, Hiza Guruma, Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, Uki Goshi, O Soto Gari, O Goshi, Ouchi Gari, Seoi Nage. These eight throws teach the basic principles of off-balancing, entry, and execution.

Dai Nikyo (Second Set): Intermediate throws that build on the first set — Ko Soto Gari, Ko Uchi Gari, Koshi Guruma, Tsurikomi Goshi, Okuri Ashi Barai, Tai Otoshi, Harai Goshi, Uchi Mata. These introduce more complex timing and combination potential.

Dai Sankyo through Gokyo (Third through Fifth Sets): Increasingly advanced throws including sacrifice techniques, counter-throws, and specialty techniques that require years of practice to execute reliably.

This progressive structure — simple to complex, fundamental to specialised — is the model that Fight Encyclopedia uses for its own taxonomy. When you browse from Class → Group → Family → Species, you are following the same pedagogical logic that Kano established over a century ago.

If you are starting judo or want to add judo throws to your grappling game, here is a recommended learning path based on the Gokyo progression and modern competition data:

Months 1–3 (White Belt): Master three throws — one from each standing family:

• O Goshi (hip) — teaches hip mechanics and the turn-in entry
• O Soto Gari (leg) — teaches the reaping action and driving power
• Seoi Nage (hand) — teaches the shoulder throw entry and forward projection

Months 3–6: Add combination attacks:

• Ko Uchi Gari → Seoi Nage — the small inner reap to shoulder throw combination is the most fundamental two-attack sequence in judo
• Ouchi Gari → O Soto Gari — inner reap to outer reap, attacking opposite legs

Months 6–12: Add a sacrifice throw and a counter:

• Tomoe Nage (sacrifice) — teaches the principle of using the opponent's forward pressure against them
• Uchi Mata or Harai Goshi (power throw) — develop your "big throw" that becomes your signature technique

Year 2+: Study the counter-throw system. Every major throw has specific counters — O Soto Gari is countered by O Soto Gaeshi, Uchi Mata by Uchi Mata Sukashi. Understanding the counter system transforms your judo from attacking to tactical.

The full counter-throw system is mapped in the encyclopedia: browse any throw and follow the links to its counters and defences.

Even if you never compete in judo, understanding the throwing system makes you a better martial artist. Here is why:

For BJJ practitioners: Most BJJ matches start standing, and most BJJ players have weak takedowns. Learning three judo throws — seoi nage, o soto gari, and kouchi gari — gives you a standing game that most BJJ opponents cannot match. The throw also determines which ground position you land in, which determines your submission options.

For wrestlers: Judo's throwing taxonomy gives names and structures to techniques wrestlers already use intuitively. More importantly, judo's sacrifice throws and hip throws add dimensions that freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling do not emphasise. A wrestler who adds tomoe nage and sumi gaeshi to their arsenal becomes unpredictable.

For MMA fighters: The clinch is where judo throws live in MMA. Understanding the relationship between grip, off-balance, and throw entry translates directly to the overhook/underhook battle in MMA. Fighters who study judo's systematic approach to throwing — rather than learning random takedowns — develop a coherent standing grappling game.

Browse the complete throw taxonomy: All Throws | Ashi Waza | Te Waza | Koshi Waza | Sutemi Waza | Wrestling Throws

Explore more: Techniques A-Z | Martial Arts Directory

• The Guillotine Choke — the submission that punishes every failed takedown and throw attempt
• Chokes From the Back — what happens after a throw secures back control

How many judo throws are there?

The Kodokan recognises 67 official throwing techniques (nage waza), organised in five groups. However, when including variations, combinations, and adaptations used in competition, the number is much higher. Fight Encyclopedia catalogues 174 throwing techniques across judo, wrestling, sambo, and other throwing arts.

What is the most effective judo throw?

Statistically, uchi mata (inner thigh throw) scores more ippons at the international level than any other technique. Seoi nage (shoulder throw) is the most frequently attempted. The "best" throw depends on your body type, grip style, and opponents — there is no universally superior technique.

What are the five groups of judo throws?

The five groups are: Te Waza (hand techniques — seoi nage, tai otoshi), Koshi Waza (hip techniques — o goshi, harai goshi), Ashi Waza (foot/leg techniques — o soto gari, uchi mata), Ma Sutemi Waza (rear sacrifice — tomoe nage, ura nage), and Yoko Sutemi Waza (side sacrifice — tani otoshi, yoko otoshi).

What is the easiest judo throw for beginners?

O Goshi (major hip throw) is traditionally the first throw taught to beginners because it clearly demonstrates the three phases of kuzushi (off-balance), tsukuri (entry), and kake (execution). De Ashi Barai (foot sweep) is also excellent for beginners to develop timing.

Can judo throws be used in MMA?

Yes. Judo throws are increasingly effective in MMA. The main adaptation is grip — MMA has no gi, so judoka must use overhook, underhook, and body lock grips instead of collar-and-sleeve. Ronda Rousey, Karo Parisyan, and Kayla Harrison have all demonstrated high-level judo throws in professional MMA.

What is the difference between judo throws and wrestling throws?

Many techniques are identical under different names — O Soto Gari is the wrestling outside trip, Kata Guruma is the fireman's carry. The main difference is the starting grip: judo uses the gi (collar and sleeve), wrestling uses body contact (underhook, overhook, tie-ups). Judo also includes sacrifice throws, which are rare in wrestling.

What is ippon in judo?

Ippon is the highest score in judo — an instant win. It is awarded when a throw lands the opponent flat on their back with force, speed, and control. Ippon can also be scored by submission (choke or armbar) or by holding the opponent on their back for 20 seconds (osaekomi). The pursuit of ippon — the perfect technique — is the philosophical core of judo.