TOMOE NAGE

Tomoe nage is the sacrifice throw inherited directly from Kodokan judo in which the attacker falls backward to the mat while planting one foot in the opponent's hip and using the momentum of the fall to launch the opponent over and behind the attacker, completing in side control or mount. Literal translation: "circle throw," referring to the rotational arc the bodies follow. In BJJ contexts the technique is used as a counter to a forward-pressing opponent in standing exchanges, since the attacker's commitment to falling backward catches the opponent's forward momentum and converts it into the throw.

The mechanics begin from a standing collar tie or sleeve-and-lapel grip. The attacker drops to the mat by stepping the rear leg back and falling onto their back, planting the same-side foot deep into the opponent's lower abdomen or hip crease. The fall and the foot-plant happen simultaneously, with the opponent's forward momentum lifting them onto the attacker's foot. As the attacker's hips touch the mat, the planted foot extends sharply upward, the gripping hands pull the opponent's upper body forward, and the opponent flies over the attacker's head to land behind them.

In modern competition the tomoe nage is less common than wrestling-derived takedowns because the sacrifice element means a failed attempt gives the opponent the top position. But against a pressure-oriented opponent who refuses to engage with grip-fighting, the technique is one of the most efficient ways to convert a standing exchange into a sweep-equivalent score. Mikey Musumeci has used tomoe nage in IBJJF competition as part of his unconventional standing game. Defensively the throw is countered by maintaining a wide base, by stepping around the planted foot, or by collapsing weight forward into the attacker's torso to deny the lift.