How to do Ippon Seoi Nage
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Seoi Nage·Sampson Judo
How to do Ippon Seoi Nage - Here I am showing how to do a standard Ippon Seoi Nage. Its important that you get good shou…
Seoi Nage
SubFamily背負い投げ(Seoi Nage)
TraditionalTranslation: shoulder throw
Overview
Seoi Nage (back-carrying throw) is one of judo's most iconic and frequently used techniques, in which the thrower turns their back to the opponent, loads them onto the upper back or shoulder, and projects them forward over the shoulder. [1] The seoi-nage family includes multiple variants distinguished by their grip configuration: ippon seoi-nage (single-arm), morote seoi-nage (two-handed lapel), eri seoi-nage (collar grip), and seoi-otoshi (the dropping version). [1],[2] All variants share the fundamental mechanic of turning in, loading, and projecting, with the differences lying in how the throwing arm controls the opponent. [2],[3] Statistical analyses of judo competition data consistently place seoi-nage variants among the two or three most commonly scored throws at World Championships and Olympic Games. [3]
History & Origin
Seoi nage was included in the original 1895 Kodokan gokyo and has been one of the most popular throws in judo since the art's founding. [1] The technique is particularly favoured by lighter-weight judoka who use speed, rotation, and low entry to overcome larger opponents. [2] Champions such as Toshihiko Koga, Tadahiro Nomura, and Shohei Ono have built their competitive careers around devastating seoi-nage attacks. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Loading the opponent onto the hip and rotating them over it — the hip acts as the fulcrum
Joints Involved — Attacker's hip (fulcrum point), knees (deep bend for loading), core (rotation), opponent's centre of gravity (elevated)
Force Vector — Rotational — pulling and turning motion loads the opponent, then hip extension and rotation drives them over
Kuzushi (Off-balancing) — Forward and upward — breaking opponent's posture forward lifts their centre of gravity onto the attacker's hip
Position & Entry
From judo grip — Break the opponent's balance forward (kuzushi), turn in with hip below their centre of gravity, and rotate to throw
From clinch (overhook or underhook) — Secure inside position, turn the hips across the opponent's body, load and throw
Videos
Best of JUDO SEOI NAGE【背負投】
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Seoi Nage·Judo Art
Welcome to the new video about the best of judo seoi nage throws . In this video you could see morote-seoi-nage, drop se…
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Seoi-Nage family; high amplitude with rotation over tori's shoulder (Kano 1986)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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
✓Seoi nage (shoulder throw) is the parent technique for all shoulder-carry throws in judo
✓Grip the sleeve and lapel, step across with the lead foot, and pivot to face the same direction as the opponent
✓Drop the hips below the opponent's belt level and pull them onto your back
✓Straighten the legs to lift, then rotate forward to throw the opponent over your shoulder to the mat
✓The throwing hand (tsurite) drives upward under the opponent's armpit, and the pulling hand (hikite) controls the sleeve
✓Seoi nage can be performed standing (tachi waza) or as a drop version (dropping to one or both knees for a lower entry)
✓The key is speed of entry — the faster you turn and drop, the less time the opponent has to defend
Common Mistakes
!Not dropping the hips low enough — the number one reason seoi nage fails
!Turning only the shoulders without the hips — the entire body must rotate
!Not pulling the opponent forward before entering — kuzushi is essential for loading them onto your back
!Leaving the pulling hand (hikite) passive — it must actively pull the opponent over your shoulder
!Entering from too far away — you must close distance before the turn
!Bending forward at the waist, which raises the hips and makes the throw impossible
!Stopping mid-entry when you feel resistance instead of committing through the turn
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to executeBlock the Hip — post hand on the thrower's hip to prevent loadingStep Around — circle away from the throw direction to avoid being loadedGrip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configurationStiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry
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
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
hip rotation speed, core strength, lower back stability
Favours
strong hips and core, good flexibility for turning entry
Key muscles
hip rotators, core, quadriceps, latissimus dorsi
Sub-techniques
Eri Seoi Nage
GenusEri Seoi Nage (collar back-carrying throw) is a seoi-nage variant in which the thrower grips the opponent's collar or lapel deeply with the throwing hand, turns in, and throws the opponent over the shoulder using the collar grip as the primary control. [1] The deep collar grip provides a high control point near the opponent's neck, allowing the thrower to control posture and direction throughout the entry and throw. [1,2] Eri seoi-nage is particularly effective against taller opponents, as the high collar grip can be used to break their posture downward during the turn-in. [2,3]
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Ippon Seoi Nage
GenusIppon Seoi Nage (single-arm back-carrying throw) is the most widely practised seoi-nage variant, in which the thrower releases the lapel grip, reaches under the opponent's arm to secure it with the throwing arm, turns in, and throws the opponent over the shoulder using the trapped arm as the primary control point. [1] The 'ippon' (one-arm) designation refers to the single arm that secures the opponent's arm, distinguishing it from morote (two-handed) versions. [1,2] The technique requires explosive rotation, a deep entry under the opponent's centre of gravity, and powerful pulling action with the sleeve hand to complete the throw. [2,3]
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Morote Seoi Nage
GenusMorote Seoi Nage (two-handed back-carrying throw) is a seoi-nage variant in which the thrower maintains both lapel grips throughout the throw, turning in and loading the opponent across the upper back while pulling with both hands on the lapels or collar. [1] The 'morote' (two-handed) designation distinguishes this from ippon seoi-nage — both hands remain on the gi rather than one arm reaching under the opponent's arm. [1,2] The two-handed grip provides strong control of the opponent's upper body throughout the throw, though it requires the thrower to generate lifting force through hip and leg drive rather than the arm-trapping mechanism of ippon seoi-nage. [2,3]
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Seoi Otoshi
GenusSeoi Otoshi (back-carrying drop) is a variant of seoi-nage in which the thrower drops to both knees or a deep squat during the turn-in, using the dropping body weight to pull the opponent forward and over the lowered shoulder. [1] The 'otoshi' (drop) element creates a dramatic level change that loads the opponent heavily onto the thrower's back, and the falling action adds downward force that amplifies the arm pull. [1,2] Seoi-otoshi is often used against taller opponents or when the thrower cannot achieve sufficient rotation for a standing seoi-nage, as the drop allows a lower, deeper entry beneath the opponent's centre of gravity. [2,3]
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to break my opponent's balance before executing seoi nage?
According to Sampson Judo, you must never try to throw someone while they're flat-footed. Always bring them onto their toes or heels first as part of kazushi (breaking balance), and this must be done instantaneously as you step in, not as separate actions.
Where should I place my hands for seoi nage?
Sampson Judo emphasizes using a normal kumikata grip with fingers working inward just below the shoulder and at the chest level. For your second hand, hold just underneath the elbow rather than on top—this provides much more control and effectiveness.
How do I position my hips and feet when entering the throw?
Sampson Judo stresses that your hips must be just underneath your opponent's belt, not high. Keep your feet inside theirs with legs not wide apart or uneven, stay on your toes with heels off the mat, and maintain bent knees—this positioning is critical for proper dynamics and allows transitions later.
What's the correct direction for my opponent to travel during the throw?
According to Sampson Judo, your opponent needs to go over your head and land in front of you. If they land to the side, something has gone wrong with your technique execution.
How does the Seoi Nage work?
Seoi Nage (back-carrying throw) is one of judo's most iconic and frequently used techniques, in which the thrower turns their back to the opponent, loads them onto the upper back or shoulder, and projects them forward over the shoulder. The seoi-nage family includes multiple variants distinguished by their grip configuration: ippon seoi-nage (single-arm), morote seoi-nage (two-handed lapel), eri seoi-nage (collar grip), and seoi-otoshi (the dropping version).
Where does the Seoi Nage come from?
Seoi nage was included in the original 1895 Kodokan gokyo and has been one of the most popular throws in judo since the art's founding. The technique is particularly favoured by lighter-weight judoka who use speed, rotation, and low entry to overcome larger opponents.
Is the Seoi Nage 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 Seoi Nage?
Danger rating 6/10. High — Seoi-Nage family; high amplitude with rotation over tori's shoulder (Kano 1986)
How do I set up the Seoi Nage?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).
How do I defend against the Seoi Nage?
Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Block the Hip — post hand on the thrower's hip to prevent loading / Step Around — circle away from the throw direction to avoid being loaded / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the Seoi Nage?
Common variants: Standard hip throw (full turn-in with hip below the opponent's centre of gravity); No-gi hip throw (adapted without gi grips, using overhook and collar tie); Drop hip throw (dropping to one knee to lower the fulcrum point); Combination hip throw (chaining from a failed foot technique or hand technique).
How effective is the Seoi Nage in competition?
Seoi nage accounts for more ippon scores in IJF competition than any other single technique. Toshihiko Koga won Olympic gold (1992) and three World Championships using ippon seoi nage as his primary technique.
What are common mistakes when doing the Seoi Nage?
Top errors to watch for: Not dropping the hips low enough — the number one reason seoi nage fails / Turning only the shoulders without the hips — the entire body must rotate / Not pulling the opponent forward before entering — kuzushi is essential for loading them onto your back / Leaving the pulling hand (hikite) passive — it must actively pull the opponent over your shoulder.
What are other names for the Seoi Nage?
The Seoi Nage is also known as Back Carry Throw, Shoulder Throw, Seoi Nage, Brosok Cherez Spinu (бросок через спину).