Aikido: Ude Garami/Juji Nage
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Juji Nage
SubFamily十字投げ(Jūji-nage)
TraditionalTranslation: cross throw / X throw
Overview
Juji Nage (literally 'cross throw' or 'X throw', from juji 十字 — the kanji shape of the cross) is an aikido throw in which the aikidoka crosses the opponent's arms over each other and then off-balances them through the structural failure that the crossed-arms position creates. [1],[2] The cross can be created in two main ways: by drawing one of the opponent's arms across their own body to meet the other, or by stepping under one arm to cross it over the other from below. [1],[3] Once the arms are crossed, the opponent's structure is fundamentally compromised — they cannot use both arms independently to recover, and their centre is exposed. [2],[4] The aikidoka then projects them through the cross by either driving forward (a forward sacrifice variant) or by stepping back and pulling them through (a backward variant). [3] Juji nage is taught at intermediate-to-advanced levels because it requires careful timing and a clean entry — premature crossing without off-balance produces a tangled position rather than a clean throw. [1],[2] The throw is closely related to Daito-ryu's juji-garami (cross-entanglement) techniques. [3],[4]
Juji-nageJPJūji-nageJPJuji NageJPCross ThrowBoxingX ThrowCrossing-Arms Throw十字投JP
History & Origin
Juji nage was systematised by Morihei Ueshiba and his senior students during the 1930s-1950s, derived from juji-garami (cross-entanglement) techniques in Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu under Sokaku Takeda. [1],[2] The 'cross' or 'X' naming references both the kanji shape of juji (十字) and the visual cross that the opponent's arms form during the throw. [1],[3] The throw is documented in standard aikido textbooks from at least Kisshomaru Ueshiba's 1957 Aikido onward and appears in all major lineage curricula. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Juji nage is among the harder aikido throws to apply against committed resistance because it requires both of uke's arms to be within reach simultaneously. [1] In cooperative practice it is reliable and visually clean. [2] In competitive Tomiki / Shodokan formats it appears occasionally in toshu-randori. [3] The closely-related juji-garami arm-entanglement (used as a submission rather than a throw) is occasionally seen in MMA and BJJ. [3],[4]
Lineage
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Crossing the opponent's arms into a juji (X) shape, then driving them through the structural failure point this creates
Joints Involved — Both of opponent's wrists (initial contact), elbows (crossing alignment), shoulders (compromised positions); thrower's hands (controlling both wrists), hips (centre lead)
Force Vector — Crossing — the two arms are drawn into intersecting paths, then driven through together; the projection is forward or backward depending on entry
Aiki Principle — The opponent's two arms become one tangled structure — by crossing them, the aikidoka takes both away from independent use; the opponent can only move as a single unit, which removes their ability to recover from off-balance
Position & Entry
From two-hand grab (ryote-dori) — Cross uke's arms by drawing one across their body to meet the other; project forward through the cross
From single wrist grab (katate-dori) — Catch uke's free hand mid-strike or mid-grab attempt; cross the two arms
From a strike (yokomen-uchi) — Catch the striking arm, draw the free arm across to cross with it
Variants
Forward juji-nage — Cross uke's arms then project forward through the cross
Backward juji-nage — Cross then step back and pull uke through
Suwari-waza juji-nage — Kneeling form (formal training)
Standing-and-kneeling (hanmi-handachi) — Thrower kneeling, uke standing
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Crossed-arm positions can stress the elbows or shoulders if the projection is not aligned; insufficient ukemi (uke must roll forward over their own crossed arms) creates risk. The throw is typically practiced slowly with cooperative ukemi
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal as throw
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal as standing throw
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFCOMPETITIVE— Tomiki / Shodokan — Scored in toshu-randori {src:Shodokan...
Training Notes
✓Juji nage requires both uke's arms within reach — typically drilled from grabs that involve both hands or from a strike where the second hand can be caught
✓Practice the cross slowly first — the timing of bringing the arms together matters more than the speed of the projection
✓Pair training: drill forward roll-out from a crossed-arm position before practicing at speed
✓The cross must form WITH simultaneous off-balance — crossing uke's arms while they are still balanced produces a tangle, not a throw
✓Saito's Traditional Aikido vol. 1 has the canonical Iwama form; Shioda's Total Aikido has the Yoshinkan compact form
Common Mistakes
!Crossing the arms before off-balancing — produces a tangle, not a throw
!Forgetting to step off-line — the cross plus an off-line step is what creates the projection vector
!Crossing the arms too high or too low — the cross point should be at chest height for clean projection
!Trying to muscle through the cross — the throw works on structural compromise, not on force
!Insufficient ukemi training — uke must be able to roll forward over crossed arms safely
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Receive Two-Hand Grab or Bilateral Threat
2Step Off-line
3Cross Uke's Arms (One Drawn Across to Meet the Other)
4Project Through the Cross
5Recover Centre
Sources & References
Primary Source
Aikido (Kisshomaru Ueshiba, 1957)
1BookMorihei Ueshiba, Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido (1991, posthumous)
Description sources — [1] Aikido (K. Ueshiba 1957); [2] Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Conversations (Pranin); [3] Total Aikido (Shioda); [4] Traditional Aikido Vol 1 (Saito)
2BookKisshomaru Ueshiba, Aikido (1957)
Lineage sources — [1] Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Conversations (Pranin); [2] Aikido (K. Ueshiba 1957); [3] Traditional Aikido (Saito)
3BookGozo Shioda, Total Aikido: The Master Course (1996)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Aikikai pedagogy; [2] Tomiki/Shodokan competition records; [3] modern critique (Aikido Journal); [4] BJJ juji-garami applications
4BookMorihiro Saito, Traditional Aikido Vol 1: Basic Techniques (1973)
5BookStanley Pranin, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Conversations With Daito-ryu Masters (1996)
6SyllabusAikido Terminology
Aikido technique naming conventions
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
8OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
9CitationMorihei Ueshiba, Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido (1991, posthumous)
Description sources — [1] Aikido (K. Ueshiba 1957); [2] Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Conversations (Pranin); [3] Total Aikido (Shioda); [4] Traditional Aikido Vol 1 (Saito)
10CitationKisshomaru Ueshiba, Aikido (1957)
Lineage sources — [1] Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Conversations (Pranin); [2] Aikido (K. Ueshiba 1957); [3] Traditional Aikido (Saito)
11CitationGozo Shioda, Total Aikido: The Master Course (1996)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Aikikai pedagogy; [2] Tomiki/Shodokan competition records; [3] modern critique (Aikido Journal); [4] BJJ juji-garami applications
12CitationMorihiro Saito, Traditional Aikido Vol 1: Basic Techniques (1973)
13CitationStanley Pranin, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Conversations With Daito-ryu Masters (1996)
Community
Athletics
Requires
bilateral hand coordination, sensitivity to both wrists simultaneously, hip mobility
Key muscles
forearms (dual grip), lats (drawing arms together), hip rotators (off-line step), core (bilateral coordination)
Notes
Juji Nage (cross throw / X throw) — opponent's arms are crossed into a juji (十字) shape, then projected through the cross. Closely related to Daito-ryu's juji-garami arm-entanglement. The cross must form simultaneously with off-balance — crossing balanced arms produces a tangle, not a throw.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Juji Nage work?
Juji Nage (literally 'cross throw' or 'X throw', from juji 十字 — the kanji shape of the cross) is an aikido throw in which the aikidoka crosses the opponent's arms over each other and then off-balances them through the structural failure that the crossed-arms position creates. The cross can be created in two main ways: by drawing one of the opponent's arms across their own body to meet the other, or by stepping under one arm to cross it over the other from below.
Where does the Juji Nage come from?
Juji nage was systematised by Morihei Ueshiba and his senior students during the 1930s-1950s, derived from juji-garami (cross-entanglement) techniques in Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu under Sokaku Takeda. The 'cross' or 'X' naming references both the kanji shape of juji (十字) and the visual cross that the opponent's arms form during the throw.
Is the Juji Nage legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal as throw; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal as standing throw
How dangerous is the Juji Nage?
Danger rating 5/10. Moderate — crossed-arm positions can stress the elbows or shoulders if the projection is not aligned; insufficient ukemi (uke must roll forward over their own crossed arms) creates risk. The throw is typically practiced slowly with cooperative ukemi
How do I set up the Juji Nage?
The standard setup chain: Receive Two-Hand Grab or Bilateral Threat → Step Off-line → Cross Uke's Arms (One Drawn Across to Meet the Other) → Project Through the Cross → Recover Centre.
How do I defend against the Juji Nage?
Standard counters include: Refuse the second hand — keep one hand back and out of reach to prevent the cross from forming / Pull arms apart at the moment of crossing — interrupt the structural failure before it forms / Drop the centre of gravity — make the off-line step less effective / Stable grappling base.
What are the variants of the Juji Nage?
Common variants: Forward juji-nage (Cross uke's arms then project forward through the cross); Backward juji-nage (Cross then step back and pull uke through); Suwari-waza juji-nage (Kneeling form (formal training)); Standing-and-kneeling (hanmi-handachi) (Thrower kneeling, uke standing).
How effective is the Juji Nage in competition?
Appears occasionally in Tomiki / Shodokan toshu-randori. Generally non-competitive in Aikikai and Yoshinkan.
What are common mistakes when doing the Juji Nage?
Top errors to watch for: Crossing the arms before off-balancing — produces a tangle, not a throw / Forgetting to step off-line — the cross plus an off-line step is what creates the projection vector / Crossing the arms too high or too low — the cross point should be at chest height for clean projection / Trying to muscle through the cross — the throw works on structural compromise, not on force.
What are other names for the Juji Nage?
The Juji Nage is also known as Juji-nage, Jūji-nage, Juji Nage, Cross Throw, X Throw.