Tomoe Nage

What This Is

Tomoe nage — the stomach throw, sometimes called the circle throw — is a sacrifice throw in which the attacker falls backward, plants a foot on the opponent’s hip or lower abdomen, and uses leg extension combined with upper-body pull to launch the opponent overhead in a circular arc. It is one of the most spectacular judo throws and a recurring high-percentage entry in MMA from the front body lock or double collar tie.

The throw belongs to the sacrifice (sutemi-waza) family alongside sumi gaeshi and the lateral drop, but is distinguished by the foot-on-hip lever — the contact point is the sole of the foot rather than a shin or hip insertion. The foot creates a long lever arm that converts a small leg extension into a large rotation of the opponent’s body.

Safety — Cervical Spine Risk

Tomoe nage carries elevated landing risk for the opponent. The throw projects the opponent in a near-vertical arc; if they fail to ukemi correctly — most commonly by tucking the chin late or trying to post the hand — the landing can load the head and cervical spine before the rest of the body. Cervical compression injuries are the documented risk profile for this throw and a primary reason it appears restricted or banned in some grappling rulesets.

Drill only with partners who have practised the breakfall for this throw direction (a forward roll over the attacker, landing on the back). Train at sub-competition speed with an experienced instructor present until both players can complete the cycle safely. Do not drill tomoe nage live without the breakfall established. See the cervical spine throws health page for the broader injury context across the throw family.

The Invariant in Action

Throw Mechanics

The Forward Pull

The throw begins by pulling the opponent forward into the attacker. From the double collar tie or body lock, the attacker pulls the head and chest down across their own centreline. This forward load brings the opponent’s hips into reach of the planting foot and shifts their weight forward over their toes. The pull must be sustained — an aborted pull lets the opponent retreat before the plant.

The Drop

As the kuzushi lands, the attacker drops backward to the mat — sitting between the opponent’s feet rather than backing away from them. The drop and the foot plant are simultaneous: the seat lands, the planting foot rises into contact with the opponent’s hip. A late drop allows the opponent to step over the planting foot; an early drop loses the kuzushi.

The Foot Plant

The planting foot contacts the opponent’s hip on the same side as the upper-body pull — typically the inside of the hip flexor or just below the front of the hip bone. The foot is flexed (toes up) so the ball of the foot drives upward through the hip. Foot-on-stomach (above the hip, on the abdomen) is a less reliable variant — useful when the hip cannot be reached but mechanically inferior because the lever angle is steeper.

The Extension and Rotation

The leg extension drives the opponent’s hip upward while the upper-body pull continues to draw the head down — the simultaneous up-on-hip and down-on-head creates the rotation. The opponent travels in a circular arc over the attacker. The pulling hands must release at the apex of the rotation so the opponent can complete the breakfall; holding through the landing is what creates cervical risk.

No-Gi Grip Entries

Double Collar Tie — Primary No-Gi Entry

Both hands behind the opponent’s neck. The downward pull is direct and bilateral — the strongest no-gi configuration for the forward kuzushi tomoe nage requires. The double collar tie also positions the head over the attacker’s planting foot, which is the geometric requirement for the rotation to track. See: Double Collar Tie.

Front Body Lock

Hands locked low on the opponent’s back or hips. The body lock structure pulls the entire torso forward as a unit and travels with the attacker into the drop. The foot plant location must be selected with the body lock height in mind — a low body lock pulls the hips closer, reducing the foot-plant range. See: Front Body Lock.

Russian Tie / 2-on-1

Available as an entry but mechanically less direct — the 2-on-1 controls one arm rather than the head, so the forward kuzushi must be created by driving the controlled arm across the body. Used most often as a counter to an opponent who is posting hard on the Russian tie; the post creates the forward weight that tomoe nage exploits. See: Russian Tie.

Post-Throw Position

Tomoe nage projects the opponent past the attacker. The natural follow-through carries the attacker through a backward roll into mount or top control adjacent — the attacker’s momentum continues the rotation that began with the throw. If the roll-through is not committed, the attacker lands flat on their back with the opponent on the mat past their head and the position resets to neutral or open guard.

The committed finish converts the throw into a top position. Drill the roll-through as part of the throw, not as a separate decision: the seat lands, the foot extends, the body continues over to top. A tomoe nage that finishes neutrally has not completed the technique; the roll-through is the difference between a sacrifice that scores and a sacrifice that wastes the kuzushi.

Common Errors

Drilling Notes

• Breakfall first. Before any tomoe nage drilling, both players must demonstrate the forward-roll ukemi from a soft assisted launch (no hip plant — just an assisted forward fall over a partner’s seated body). The breakfall is the prerequisite, not a parallel skill.
• Static foot plant. Partner standing, attacker seated with the foot already in position on the hip. Confirm the contact point and the ankle angle without rotating. 20 reps per side.
• Slow throw to apex. Cooperative partner, slow tempo. Drill the pull-drop-plant-extend sequence to the apex of the rotation only — do not complete the throw. The drill builds the timing without the landing risk.
• Full throw with experienced partner. Only after the breakfall is automatic and the slow throw mechanics are clean. Partner must be specifically experienced in tomoe nage ukemi. Do not drill full throw with novice partners.

Ability Level Guidance

Also Known As

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