Tomoe Nage

Tomoe Nage, known as the circle throw or stomach throw, is a dynamic sacrifice technique borrowed from judo that has found significant application in sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The technique involves dropping to your back while using foot placement on the opponent’s hip or abdomen to elevate and throw them overhead, typically transitioning directly into closed guard or other dominant positions. This technique is particularly effective in gi competition where grips are secure, and it has become a staple for guard pullers who want to combine offensive takedown scoring with immediate guard establishment. The circular motion that gives Tomoe Nage its name refers to the arc created as the opponent is thrown over your body. Modern BJJ has adapted this classical judo throw into a versatile entry system that can lead to sweeps, guard pulls, and submission setups. The technique’s effectiveness lies in its ability to use the opponent’s forward momentum and weight against them, requiring more timing and technical precision than raw strength.

Starting Position: Standing Position Ending Position: Closed Guard Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%

Key Principles

• Sacrifice your base to off-balance opponent using their forward momentum
• Place foot on hip or lower abdomen to create fulcrum for throw
• Maintain strong grip control throughout the throwing motion
• Fall straight back rather than sitting down to generate proper lifting angle
• Use hip and leg extension to complete the circular throwing arc
• Immediately transition to guard retention or submission attack upon landing
• Time the throw when opponent is committed to forward movement

Prerequisites

• Standing position with opponent at similar or slightly forward posture
• Strong collar and sleeve grips established (gi) or body lock control (no-gi)
• Opponent’s weight committed slightly forward or neutral stance
• Sufficient space to execute backward drop without obstruction
• Proper distance management - close enough to place foot on hip/abdomen
• Balance broken forward to prevent opponent’s defensive sprawl

Execution Steps

1. Establish grips: Secure a strong same-side collar grip with your right hand and control the opponent’s sleeve with your left hand. Pull down on the collar while pulling the sleeve across their centerline to break their posture forward and compromise their base. (Timing: Initial setup phase)
2. Break opponent’s balance forward: Use your grips to pull the opponent’s upper body forward and slightly down, forcing them to step toward you or lean into your pull. This forward momentum is critical for the throw’s success and prevents them from sprawling backward defensively. (Timing: As opponent steps or leans forward)
3. Drop to your back: Sit straight back toward the ground while maintaining strong grip tension. Do not sit down gradually - commit to a controlled fall directly backward with your hips dropping below your shoulders. Keep your head tucked to protect your neck and maintain visual contact with opponent. (Timing: Immediately after forward momentum established)
4. Place foot on hip or abdomen: As you drop, place the ball of your right foot firmly on the opponent’s hip bone or lower abdomen (avoid placing foot on groin). Maintain a slight bend in your knee to allow for extension. The foot placement should occur simultaneously with your back contacting the mat. (Timing: During backward drop)
5. Extend leg to complete throw: Explosively extend your right leg while pulling hard on the collar and sleeve grips, creating a lever that launches the opponent over your body. The extension should be upward and slightly forward, following a circular arc. Your left leg should hook behind their far leg or sweep wide for stability. (Timing: Immediately upon back contact with mat)
6. Follow through to guard: As the opponent is thrown overhead, maintain grip control and wrap your legs around their waist to establish closed guard. Alternatively, transition to technical stand-up if the throw creates distance, or pursue back control if they land on their side. The grip on the collar should never release during this transition. (Timing: During opponent’s flight arc)
7. Consolidate position: Immediately break the opponent’s posture in closed guard by pulling down on the collar while extending your hips upward. Cross your ankles behind their back and begin your guard offense sequence. If they land flat on their back, consider transitioning to mount or advancing to submissions. (Timing: Upon establishing guard contact)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent sprawls backward as you drop, preventing foot placement (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Transition to seated guard or shin-to-shin guard entry, using your grips to off-balance them forward into your guard. Alternative: switch to a different guard pull variation like butterfly guard.
• Opponent posts hands on your hips to prevent being thrown (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use the momentum to transition to butterfly guard or X-guard, sweeping in the opposite direction. Their posted hands create opportunities for arm drags or overhook controls.
• Opponent releases grips and jumps over you to side control (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Maintain at least one grip control and turn to your side immediately, using your bottom leg to create a knee shield while recovering guard. Do not allow them to settle their weight on your chest.
• Opponent drives forward into you, pressuring before you can extend (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Accept the forward pressure and transition to closed guard immediately, using their momentum to off-balance them once guard is established. This is actually a favorable outcome in many competition scenarios.
• Opponent breaks your grips during the throw attempt (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately recover grips or transition to defensive guard position with frames extended. Do not remain flat on your back without grip control - this is vulnerable to guard passing.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Sitting down gradually instead of dropping straight back
  • Consequence: Insufficient momentum to lift opponent, resulting in them landing in top position with no guard established
  • Correction: Commit fully to falling backward in one motion. The drop should be quick and decisive, not a controlled sitting motion. Practice the falling motion separately to build confidence.
• Mistake: Placing foot on opponent’s thigh instead of hip/abdomen
  • Consequence: Loss of leverage for the throw, allowing opponent to easily sprawl or pass guard
  • Correction: Aim for the hip bone or lower abdomen as your fulcrum point. The foot should be placed high enough to create an effective lever arm for lifting their entire body.
• Mistake: Breaking grips or loosening grip tension during execution
  • Consequence: Opponent escapes the throw and achieves top position without guard retention
  • Correction: Maintain maximum grip strength throughout the entire technique. The grips are what control the opponent during their flight and ensure guard retention upon landing.
• Mistake: Extending leg before opponent’s weight is fully committed forward
  • Consequence: Opponent easily sprawls backward, and you end up on your back with them standing
  • Correction: Wait for the opponent to commit their weight forward over your centerline before initiating the leg extension. Timing is more critical than speed or strength.
• Mistake: Failing to tuck chin and protect neck during fall
  • Consequence: Risk of neck injury from improper landing or head contact with mat
  • Correction: Keep your chin tucked to your chest throughout the backward fall. Practice breakfall mechanics separately to develop proper falling technique.
• Mistake: Not following the opponent’s flight path with your body
  • Consequence: Loss of position control, allowing opponent to land outside your guard or scramble away
  • Correction: Rotate your hips and upper body to track the opponent’s movement through the throw. Your body should create a smooth arc that ends with them in your guard.
• Mistake: Using only leg strength without coordinated pulling motion
  • Consequence: Incomplete throw that leaves opponent in half guard or side control top position
  • Correction: The throw requires simultaneous leg extension and powerful pulling on your grips. The arms and legs must work together to create the circular throwing motion.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Movement Pattern Development - Solo drilling of backward fall and foot placement mechanics Practice falling straight backward from standing position while maintaining proper breakfall form. Add foot placement drill where you place foot on a pad or training partner’s hip while falling. Focus on protecting the neck and creating the circular motion pattern without a resisting opponent. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Cooperative Execution - Full technique with compliant partner focusing on timing and coordination Execute complete Tomoe Nage with a partner who feeds forward momentum and allows the throw to complete. Emphasize smooth transition to guard after the throw. Practice landing in closed guard, then progressing to immediate submission attempts or sweeps. Repeat 20-30 times per session to build muscle memory. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Grip Fighting Integration - Adding realistic grip fighting before throw execution Partner begins with defensive grips and posture. Practice breaking grips, establishing your preferred grips, and creating forward momentum before executing the throw. Partner provides 50% resistance to sprawl or defend. Focus on recognizing the correct timing window when opponent’s weight is committed forward. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Counter-Response Drilling - Defending common counters and transitioning to alternatives Partner actively attempts to counter with sprawls, grip breaks, and pressure. Practice recognizing failed throw attempts early and transitioning to seated guard, butterfly guard, or X-guard entries. Develop the ability to chain Tomoe Nage attempts with other guard pull variations. Include situational sparring from standing. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 13+: Competition Application - Live execution against fully resisting opponents in standing exchanges Incorporate Tomoe Nage into regular sparring from standing position. Practice using it as a primary guard pull method in positional sparring. Work on scoring takedown points in competition scenarios while immediately establishing guard attacks. Develop strategic understanding of when to attempt versus when to use alternative entries. (Resistance: Full)

Ongoing: Variation Development - Exploring no-gi adaptations and advanced setups Develop no-gi variations using body lock controls instead of gi grips. Practice Tomoe Nage entries from various standing positions including collar ties, over-under positions, and clinch situations. Experiment with transitioning to leg entanglements if the throw creates opportunities for ashi garami entries. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Sumi Gaeshi (Corner Throw): Similar sacrifice throw but with foot placement on the inside of opponent’s thigh rather than hip/abdomen. Creates more of a sideways throwing motion and often results in side-by-side landing positions. More commonly used in judo competition. (When to use: When opponent has extremely wide stance preventing hip placement, or when you want to create scramble situations rather than direct guard retention)

No-Gi Tomoe Nage with Body Lock: Adaptation for no-gi grappling using over-under body lock or collar tie controls instead of sleeve and collar grips. Requires closer range and more reliance on foot placement timing. Often transitions to leg entanglement positions. (When to use: No-gi competition, MMA scenarios, or when gi grips are not available or secure)

Butterfly Guard Entry Tomoe Nage: Initiating the throw from a seated butterfly guard position when opponent is standing and pressuring forward. Uses existing butterfly hooks with added foot on hip to complete the throw. Particularly effective against standing guard pass attempts. (When to use: When already in seated guard and opponent attempts to pressure pass standing)

Double Foot Tomoe Nage: Using both feet on the opponent’s hips/abdomen instead of one, creating a more powerful upward launch. Typically lands in closed guard or allows for technical stand-up. Requires exceptional timing and commitment. (When to use: Against larger opponents where maximum lifting power is needed, or when creating spectacular throws for competition highlight)

Tomoe Nage to Ashi Garami: Modern sport BJJ variation where instead of following to closed guard, the practitioner releases upper body control and transitions to outside ashi garami or 50-50 guard. Capitalizes on opponent’s legs being elevated during throw. (When to use: Leg lock focused game plans, no-gi competition under rulesets allowing leg attacks)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: Why is it critical to drop straight backward rather than sitting down gradually when executing Tomoe Nage? A: Dropping straight backward generates the momentum and proper angle needed to lift the opponent’s entire body weight over yours. Sitting down gradually reduces the lifting force, provides the opponent time to sprawl defensively, and creates an improper angle that leaves you on your back without guard control. The sudden drop also helps break the opponent’s balance forward, which is essential for the throw’s success. The physics of the technique require your center of mass to drop below the opponent’s rapidly to create the lever action.

Q2: What is the optimal placement point for your foot during Tomoe Nage execution, and why? A: The optimal placement is on the opponent’s hip bone or lower abdomen, avoiding the groin area. This placement creates the strongest lever arm for lifting their body weight while maintaining control over their center of mass. Placing the foot too low (on the thigh) provides insufficient leverage and allows easy sprawling. Placing it too high (on the chest) can be dangerous and doesn’t provide proper throwing mechanics. The hip/lower abdomen placement also allows you to direct the opponent’s flight path more accurately into your guard.

Q3: How should you respond if your opponent successfully sprawls backward as you attempt Tomoe Nage? A: Immediately transition to seated guard variations rather than remaining flat on your back. Options include pulling to butterfly guard, shin-to-shin guard, or De La Riva guard depending on the opponent’s leg positioning. Maintain at least one grip (preferably collar or sleeve) to prevent them from disengaging completely. You can also use the momentum to technical stand-up if they create distance. The key is recognizing the failed attempt early and not committing further to a throw that won’t succeed, which would leave you vulnerable to guard passes.

Q4: What role do the grips play throughout the Tomoe Nage execution, from setup to completion? A: The grips serve multiple critical functions throughout the technique. Initially, they break the opponent’s posture and create forward momentum during setup. During the drop and throw, they control the opponent’s upper body trajectory and prevent them from escaping sideways. The pulling force on the grips works in coordination with the leg extension to complete the circular throwing motion. After the throw, maintaining grips ensures you can establish closed guard or pursue submissions immediately. Losing grip control at any point typically results in loss of position or failed technique execution.

Q5: In what competitive scenarios is Tomoe Nage strategically advantageous compared to other guard pull methods? A: Tomoe Nage is strategically advantageous when you want to score takedown points while establishing guard (in some rulesets), when facing opponents with strong sprawl defense against traditional takedowns, and when you have dominant gi grips established. It’s particularly effective against opponents who pressure forward aggressively, as their momentum enhances the throw. In competition formats where guard pulling is penalized or disadvantageous, Tomoe Nage provides an athletic-looking technique that scores positively while achieving your goal of playing guard. It also works well against opponents who excel at defending conventional guard pulls because the sacrifice nature and timing window are different from sitting guard pulls.

Q6: What are the key safety considerations when practicing Tomoe Nage? A: The primary safety concerns involve proper breakfall mechanics to protect the neck and spine during the backward fall, controlled execution to prevent the opponent from landing dangerously on their head or neck, and appropriate mat space to accommodate the throw’s range. Practitioners must develop proper falling technique through dedicated judo-style breakfall training before attempting full-speed throws. Partners should start with cooperative drilling to learn the flight path and landing mechanics. Avoid practicing on hard surfaces or in confined spaces. When teaching beginners, emphasize that the opponent should be thrown in an arc over your body, not straight down onto their head.

Q7: How does Tomoe Nage integrate into modern sport BJJ strategy, particularly regarding points and guard establishment? A: In modern sport BJJ, Tomoe Nage serves as a hybrid technique that can score takedown points in some rulesets while immediately establishing guard position. It’s particularly valuable in formats like IBJJF where guard pulling doesn’t score negatively but successful takedowns score positively. The technique allows guard players to appear more aggressive and athletic while still achieving their preferred bottom position. Advanced competitors use it as part of a guard pull system, threatening Tomoe Nage to set up other entries like butterfly guard or seated guard positions. In no-gi and submission-only formats, practitioners increasingly use it to transition directly to leg entanglement positions rather than traditional closed guard.

Safety Considerations

Tomoe Nage requires significant attention to safety due to its dynamic sacrifice nature and the risk of both practitioners landing awkwardly. Always practice on appropriate matting with sufficient space. Develop proper breakfall mechanics before attempting the full technique - your ability to fall safely is as important as executing the throw itself. When throwing a partner, ensure you control their trajectory to prevent them from landing on their head or neck. Start all training at slow speed with cooperative partners to establish proper body mechanics and spatial awareness. Be particularly cautious about foot placement on the opponent’s body - avoid the groin and ensure your foot is secure before committing to the throw. In competition, be aware of boundary lines to prevent throwing opponents off the mat. Never practice this technique with significant size mismatches until both practitioners are experienced with the mechanics.

Position Integration

Tomoe Nage functions as a critical bridge between standing positions and guard-based games in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It integrates into the broader standing grappling game as both an offensive takedown option and a guard pulling method, making it particularly valuable for competitors who prefer bottom positions but want to maintain attacking pressure from standing. The technique connects directly to the closed guard system, but modern applications extend to butterfly guard, X-guard, and leg entanglement positions depending on how the throw completes. Within the context of guard retention, Tomoe Nage represents a proactive entry that puts immediate pressure on the opponent rather than passive guard sitting. It fits into grip fighting sequences from standing, often following collar drag attempts or failed single-leg entries. The technique also integrates with the broader sacrifice throw family including Sumi Gaeshi and Yoko Tomoe Nage, giving practitioners multiple options from similar setups based on opponent reactions and positioning.

Related Techniques

• Sumi Gaeshi - Alternative - Corner throw variation with inside leg placement
• Closed Guard - Follow-up - Primary landing position after successful throw
• Butterfly Guard - Alternative - Backup guard option if throw incomplete
• Scissor Sweep - Related - Similar sacrifice mechanics from guard
• Collar Ties - Setup - Standing grip fighting that creates throw opportunities
• Guard Pull - Alternative - Competing guard establishment method
• Single Leg X Entry - Follow-up - Modern leg entanglement option after throw
• X-Guard - Follow-up - Alternative landing position leveraging elevation
• Seated Guard - Backup - Transition option if opponent sprawls
• Double Leg Entry - Alternative - Competing takedown approach from standing
• Balloon Sweep - Related - Uses similar elevation mechanics from guard
• Standing Position - Setup - Starting position for technique execution
• Shin-to-Shin Guard - Backup - Alternative guard entry if throw fails

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: Tomoe Nage represents a sophisticated application of leverage principles where you deliberately sacrifice positional stability to create a mechanical advantage through precise fulcrum placement and circular motion dynamics. The technique’s effectiveness stems from converting the opponent’s forward momentum into rotational energy around the axis created by your foot placement on their center of mass. What distinguishes successful execution from failure is the practitioner’s ability to create a single unified kinetic chain from grips through core through leg extension - any break in this chain results in insufficient force transmission to complete the throw. From a systematic perspective, Tomoe Nage should be viewed as one option within a standing-to-guard transition system rather than an isolated technique. The setup phase, particularly the grip fighting and forward momentum creation, is identical to several other guard pull variations, meaning opponents cannot easily distinguish which entry you’ll use until the commitment phase. This ambiguity is tactically valuable. Technically, the most common failure point is practitioners attempting to use only leg strength to lift the opponent rather than understanding that the legs serve primarily as a guide for the throwing arc while the pulling force on the grips provides the actual momentum. The physics demands that both upper and lower body work in perfect synchronization to achieve the parabolic flight path that deposits the opponent into your guard control.
• Gordon Ryan: In high-level competition, Tomoe Nage is one of the few guard pulls that can actually score points in your favor under most rulesets while getting you to your preferred position. I’ve seen it work at the highest levels, especially when you have dominant grips and your opponent is pressuring forward trying to get their own grips. The key from a competition perspective is that you need to be genuinely threatening with it - if you’re just using it as a lazy guard pull, good opponents will shut it down immediately. What I focus on is the grip fighting sequence that leads to the throw. If you can break their posture first with a strong collar grip and get them moving forward, even slightly, the throw becomes very high percentage. The modern game has also evolved where you don’t always need to land in traditional closed guard - a lot of guys now are using Tomoe Nage to create scrambles or go directly to leg entanglements, which can be even more threatening. Against defensive opponents who just want to stay at range and avoid engagement, this technique forces them to either commit forward or concede grips, both of which benefit you. The biggest mistake I see is people trying to force it when the opponent’s base is too far back - you’ll just end up on your back with them standing over you, which is terrible. Wait for the right moment when their weight is committed forward, then explode into the execution. It’s all about timing and recognizing that window of opportunity.
• Eddie Bravo: Tomoe Nage is sick because it looks flashy as hell but it’s actually super functional, especially in the modern no-gi game where people are getting really good at defending traditional guard pulls. In 10th Planet, we use it as part of the whole standing-to-guard transition system, but we’ve adapted it heavily for no-gi situations. Instead of relying on collar and sleeve grips, we’re using body locks, collar ties, and even Russian tie setups to create the same forward momentum and then hitting the throw. One thing that’s key is understanding that you can use this to go directly to rubber guard if you time it right - as they’re coming over, you can catch that high guard position and immediately go to mission control or new york. The sacrifice throw mindset is huge in our system because we’re not trying to stay on top and grind out points, we want to create chaos and submission opportunities, and Tomoe Nage definitely creates that scramble energy. What’s really cool is using it as a bait technique - threaten the throw to get them defending backward, then switch to a different guard pull or even a single leg. Keep them guessing. The no-gi version requires even better timing because you don’t have the gi grips to control their fall, so you need to be ready to transition immediately to whatever position presents itself. Sometimes you get closed guard, sometimes butterfly, sometimes you end up in weird leg entanglement positions - embrace the chaos and be ready to adapt. That’s where the real innovation happens.