tomoe nage age 11-13
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Tomoe Nage·Fédération Malagasy de Judo
Tomoe Nage
SubFamily巴投げ(Tomoe Nage)
TraditionalTranslation: circle throw
Overview
Tomoe Nage, the circle throw or stomach throw, is one of judo's most iconic sacrifice techniques, in which tori falls backward, places a foot on uke's lower abdomen or hip, and uses a circular pulling motion combined with leg extension to launch uke directly overhead in a somersaulting arc. [1],[2] The name 'tomoe' refers to the circular trajectory uke follows during the throw. [1] Tomoe nage is classified as a ma sutemi waza in the Kodokan gokyo and is widely practised across judo, BJJ, and sambo. [2],[3] The technique is a high-percentage counter-throw against opponents who push forward aggressively, as their own momentum is redirected vertically. [3],[4]
History & Origin
Tomoe nage has been part of the Kodokan curriculum since its inception and features prominently in the 1895 gokyo no waza. [1] The technique became a signature move in international judo competition and later gained widespread popularity in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a guard-pull-to-sweep entry. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Tomoe nage is a high-frequency technique in IJF competition, particularly among lighter weight competitors. [1]
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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
TOMOE NAGE JUDO
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Tomoe Nage·FEU BJJ
A MELHOR FORMA DE ENSINAR UM TÉCNICA DE TOMOE NAGE TOMA PÉ NA ORELHA SAIBA MAIS EM https://www.feubjj.com.br/ https://…
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Ma-Sutemi-Waza; tori falls backward pulling uke over; spinal compression risk
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
✓Tomoe nage (circle throw) places the foot on uke's hip or abdomen and rolls them overhead in a circular arc (Kano, Kodokan Judo, 1986)
✓Pull uke forward and upward as you sit down — your arms and the planted foot work together
✓Place the ball of your foot on uke's hip crease or lower abdomen — not the stomach (too high) or thigh (too low)
✓Fall backward while extending the throwing leg to launch uke over you in an arc
✓Keep pulling with both hands throughout — the grips guide uke's trajectory over your head
✓Tomoe nage is one of the most spectacular throws in judo and translates directly to BJJ guard pulls with a throw attempt
✓In MMA and no-gi, the butterfly guard sweep uses identical mechanics to tomoe nage
Common Mistakes
!Placing the foot on uke's stomach instead of the hip crease — too high means less mechanical advantage
!Sitting down without pulling uke forward — they simply stand over you
!Releasing the grips during the roll — you lose all control of uke's trajectory
!Not extending the throwing leg fully — the leg must straighten to launch uke over
!Falling to the side instead of straight back — tomoe nage requires a direct backward fall
!Not committing to the full backward roll — hesitation leaves you flat on your back with uke on top
!Attempting when uke is pulling backward — tomoe nage requires forward momentum from uke
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
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
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
Notes
Tomoe nage (circle throw/stomach throw) appears in 9 passages across 6 books. A sacrifice throw where the attacker places a foot on the opponent's stomach and rolls backward, launching them overhead. Spectacularly effective when timed correctly — a favorite of judo showmen. (Kano, Kodokan Judo; multiple book references)
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I practice the footwork entry for tomoe nage?
The entry should be realistic and accurate—jump in and place your foot precisely on your opponent's stomach rather than just collapsing. The Fédération Malagasy de Judo emphasizes that proper foot placement is as significant as the throwing motion itself.
What's the key to executing tomoe nage with proper technique?
Focus on using your opponent's weight against them rather than relying on force. The Fédération Malagasy de Judo recommends rolling yourself down gradually and taking time with the technique to develop this weight-transfer principle.
How does the Tomoe Nage work?
Tomoe Nage, the circle throw or stomach throw, is one of judo's most iconic sacrifice techniques, in which tori falls backward, places a foot on uke's lower abdomen or hip, and uses a circular pulling motion combined with leg extension to launch uke directly overhead in a somersaulting arc. The name 'tomoe' refers to the circular trajectory uke follows during the throw.
Where does the Tomoe Nage come from?
Tomoe nage has been part of the Kodokan curriculum since its inception and features prominently in the 1895 gokyo no waza. The technique became a signature move in international judo competition and later gained widespread popularity in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a guard-pull-to-sweep entry.
Is the Tomoe 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 Tomoe Nage?
Danger rating 6/10. High — Ma-Sutemi-Waza; tori falls backward pulling uke over; spinal compression risk
How do I set up the Tomoe Nage?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake) → Fall (Sutemi).
How do I defend against the Tomoe 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 Tomoe 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 Tomoe Nage in competition?
Tomoe nage is a high-frequency technique in IJF competition, particularly among lighter weight competitors.
What are common mistakes when doing the Tomoe Nage?
Top errors to watch for: Placing the foot on uke's stomach instead of the hip crease — too high means less mechanical advantage / Sitting down without pulling uke forward — they simply stand over you / Releasing the grips during the roll — you lose all control of uke's trajectory / Not extending the throwing leg fully — the leg must straighten to launch uke over.
What are other names for the Tomoe Nage?
The Tomoe Nage is also known as Circle Throw, Stomach Throw, Tomoe Nage, Overhead Throw, Brosok Cherez Golovu (бросок через голову).