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Tomoe Nage

TakedownSacrifice throwBelt: blue+Risk: moderateIBJJFADCCNo-GiSub-OnlyMMA

Tomoe Nage is a classic sacrifice throw where you pull your opponent forward and use your foot at their belt line to launch them overhead, landing in top position or closed guard. It is especially effective against aggressive opponents who drive forward, and is legal in both gi and no-gi formats.

Start
Standing
End
Top or guard
Prerequisites: Collar grip (gi) or neck tie (no-gi) · Basic breakfall · Hip bump mechanics · Foot placement for butterfly guard

Steps

  1. 1
    Establish grips
    Secure a high collar grip with your right hand (gi) or strong neck tie (no-gi), and a sleeve grip (gi) or wrist control (no-gi) with your left hand. Keep elbows tight and posture upright.
  2. 2
    Break opponent's posture
    Pull your opponent forward with both grips, dropping your weight backward to force them to step in and shift their balance over your centerline.
  3. 3
    Place your foot at the belt line
    As they come forward, insert your right foot at their belt line (or just below the navel), sole facing up, toes flexed, knee slightly bent for shock absorption.
  4. 4
    Sit and load their weight
    Drop your hips to the mat, tucking your left leg tightly outside their right knee, and let their momentum load onto your right foot. Maintain tension in your grips to keep them close.
  5. 5
    Extend with your foot and lift
    Drive your right foot upward and slightly forward at a 45° angle, using your arms to guide their upper body overhead. Your left leg acts as a rudder, steering their fall.
  6. 6
    Follow through and roll up
    As your opponent flips, keep your grips and follow their momentum, rolling up with your chest forward to land on top or transition to closed guard if they post a hand.
  7. 7
    Establish top control or guard
    If you land on top, immediately establish chest-to-chest connection and secure side control or mount. If they recover guard, break their posture with your grips and prepare to attack from closed guard.

Key details most people miss

  • Your foot must be placed precisely at the belt line or lower abdomen; too high and you lose leverage, too low and you can't elevate.
  • Timing is critical: initiate the throw as they step forward, not after they settle their base.
  • Keep your elbows tight to your ribs when pulling; flared elbows weaken your ability to break their posture.
  • Your non-throwing leg (left) must stay active, either blocking their knee or steering their fall to prevent them from posting out.

Common mistakes

  • If you place your foot too high on their chest, they can easily sprawl or post, stalling the throw.
  • Failing to break their posture first allows them to keep their hips back and base wide, making the throw ineffective.
  • Letting go of your grips mid-throw gives them space to recover and possibly counter with a guard pass.
  • Dropping straight back without loading their weight results in you pulling guard instead of executing a throw.

Counters & responses

They try: Opponent posts their free hand to the mat to block the throw.
You do: Switch to a triangle choke or armbar by shooting your hips up and trapping the posted arm.
They try: Opponent widens their base and drops their hips back.
You do: Transition to a sit-up guard sweep or ankle pick as they overcommit to defending the throw.
They try: Opponent circles their hips to the side mid-throw.
You do: Adjust your foot placement to follow their movement and use your grips to redirect their momentum back over your center.
They try: Opponent sprawls as you drop back.
You do: Switch to a single leg X-guard entry or invert to attack a leg entanglement.

Drill prescription

5 rounds × 3 minutes; 50% resistance; goal: execute 6 clean Tomoe Nage throws per round, alternating top and bottom, with partner attempting realistic posture breaks and posts.

How the masters teach it

Videos are still being curated for this technique. AI suggests these instructors:
Saulo Ribeiro — Emphasizes grip fighting and timing against aggressive passers, integrating Tomoe Nage as a guard retention counter.Marcelo Garcia — Focuses on no-gi adaptation, using collar ties and wrist control for the throw, and chaining directly into submissions.Leandro Lo — Utilizes Tomoe Nage as a surprise attack from open guard, often transitioning to sweeps or back takes.Rickson Gracie — Teaches the classical judo mechanics with an emphasis on core connection and posture breaking before the throw.
#takedown#sacrifice-throw#standing#gi#no-gi#open-guard-entry#aggressive-opponent#lightweight-friendly#competition-legal#dynamic