Basingstoke MMA Martial Arts - Sacrifice throw and groundwork tutorial
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Sacrifice Arm Throw·Basingstoke Martial Arts
Short Instructional clip on sacrifice throws and follow up groundwork techniques. If you are interested in Combat Ju Ji…
Sacrifice Arm Throw
Family捨身手技(Sutemi Te-waza)
TraditionalTranslation: sacrifice arm throw
Overview
The Sacrifice Arm Throw family covers te-waza techniques in which the thrower sacrifices their own standing position, falling or dropping to the mat while using the arms to drive the opponent into a throw. [1] These techniques combine the arm-driven mechanics of te-waza with the body-sacrifice principle of sutemi-waza, creating throws where the thrower's falling body weight amplifies the arm action. [1],[2] Yama-arashi (mountain storm) is the primary technique in this family, a devastating throw that uses a powerful lapel grip and body drop to project the opponent. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Sacrifice arm throws occupy a unique position in judo's classification, combining elements of hand technique and sacrifice technique. [1] Yama-arashi in particular holds a special place in judo history as the technique used by Shiro Saigo, one of the Kodokan's earliest and most famous students. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Sacrifice arm throws bridge the te-waza and sutemi-waza categories in judo, combining hand technique principles with sacrifice mechanics. [1]
Competition Record
Sacrifice arm throws are seen in IJF competition and sambo events. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Pulling and lifting with the arms to load the opponent over the shoulder or upper back
Joints Involved — Attacker's shoulders (loading point), elbows (pulling action), hips (turning under the opponent)
Force Vector — Forward and downward rotation — the pulling arm creates circular momentum while the body turns underneath
Kuzushi (Off-balancing) — Forward — breaking the opponent's balance forward over their toes allows the turning entry
Position & Entry
From judo grip — Break opponent's balance in the intended direction, place foot on their hip or thigh, fall backward while pulling them over
From clinch — During a grip exchange, sacrifice balance by falling deliberately while using body weight to project the opponent
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Sacrifice version adds tori's falling body weight to arm throw mechanics
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IJF — Legal throwing technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— UWW — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— Unified MMA — Legal throwing technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Sacrifice arm throws combine a falling sacrifice with an arm-based throwing mechanism
✓Fall to the ground while pulling the opponent over or past you using strong arm action
✓These throws sacrifice your standing position but gain a powerful throwing angle from the ground
✓The fall must be committed — hesitation means you end up on the ground without throwing the opponent
✓Yama arashi (mountain storm) is the primary sacrifice arm throw in the Kodokan classification
✓Sacrifice arm throws work well as unexpected attacks when the opponent is firmly resisting all standing throws
✓The falling motion adds your bodyweight to the pulling action, creating force that standing throws cannot match
Common Mistakes
!Falling without pulling the opponent — you end up on the ground with the opponent standing over you
!Half-committing to the sacrifice — partial falls result in weak throws and lost position
!Not maintaining grip control during the fall — the grips are the only connection to the opponent
!Falling backward onto the opponent instead of pulling them past or over you
!Using sacrifice arm throws when standing throws are available — only sacrifice when necessary
!Not practising the fall and recovery — sacrifice throws require safe breakfall ability
!Attempting sacrifice arm throws against an opponent who is moving away — they work best against forward pressure
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) — establish the controlling grips needed for the throw
2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — break the opponent's balance in the throwing direction
3Entry (Tsukuri) — position the body for the throw by turning, stepping, or loading
4Execution (Kake) — complete the throwing action with full commitment and follow-through
5Fall (Sutemi) — commit body weight to the ground to generate throwing force
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
Traditional Judo throwing technique terminology (Kodokan Institute)
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
Traditional Judo throwing technique terminology (Kodokan Institute)
Community
Athletics
Requires
commitment, timing, body weight manipulation, falling skill
Favours
heavier build (body weight drives the throw), good ukemi
Key muscles
core rotators, hip flexors, abdominals
Sub-techniques
Notes
Sacrifice arm throws combine the arm throw mechanic with the attacker falling to the ground — higher commitment but harder to defend. In judo, sacrifice throws (sutemi-waza) are considered advanced techniques because the attacker gives up their base. (Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I control my opponent's position after landing a sacrifice arm throw?
Depending on how you want to finish, you can keep your leg positioned to end up in mount position, or adjust to a half guard position depending on your preference and what works best in the moment.
What should I focus on when first learning the sacrifice arm throw?
Start by getting the positioning right from the beginning, focusing on driving through the back leg, and if you can't see properly from your initial angle, you can adjust your position and drive through the back leg again.
How does the Sacrifice Arm Throw work?
The Sacrifice Arm Throw family covers te-waza techniques in which the thrower sacrifices their own standing position, falling or dropping to the mat while using the arms to drive the opponent into a throw. These techniques combine the arm-driven mechanics of te-waza with the body-sacrifice principle of sutemi-waza, creating throws where the thrower's falling body weight amplifies the arm action.
Where does the Sacrifice Arm Throw come from?
Sacrifice arm throws occupy a unique position in judo's classification, combining elements of hand technique and sacrifice technique. Yama-arashi in particular holds a special place in judo history as the technique used by Shiro Saigo, one of the Kodokan's earliest and most famous students.
Is the Sacrifice Arm Throw legal in competition?
IJF: legal — Legal throwing technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: legal — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman; Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Sacrifice Arm Throw?
Danger rating 6/10. High — sacrifice version adds tori's falling body weight to arm throw mechanics
How do I set up the Sacrifice Arm Throw?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake) → Fall (Sutemi).
How do I defend against the Sacrifice Arm Throw?
Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration / Stiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry.
What are the variants of the Sacrifice Arm Throw?
Common variants: Rear sacrifice (falling backward while pulling the opponent over); Side sacrifice (falling to the side to project the opponent laterally); Rolling sacrifice (combining a roll with the sacrifice throw for rotation); Counter sacrifice (using the opponent's forward pressure as the driving force).
How effective is the Sacrifice Arm Throw in competition?
Sacrifice arm throws are seen in IJF competition and sambo events.
What are common mistakes when doing the Sacrifice Arm Throw?
Top errors to watch for: Falling without pulling the opponent — you end up on the ground with the opponent standing over you / Half-committing to the sacrifice — partial falls result in weak throws and lost position / Not maintaining grip control during the fall — the grips are the only connection to the opponent / Falling backward onto the opponent instead of pulling them past or over you.
What are other names for the Sacrifice Arm Throw?
The Sacrifice Arm Throw is also known as Sutemi Te-waza, Sacrifice hand throws, Self-falling arm throws.