Seoi Nage
Also known as: Shoulder Throw · Ippon Seoi Nage · Drop Seoi
The judo shoulder throw: turn your back under a locked-in arm and launch your opponent over your shoulder. High risk, highlight-reel reward.
Takedown · Gi & No-gi · Difficulty 4/5 · Usually learned at Blue belt
Starts from Standing as the either grappler → lands in Side Control.
The details that make it work
- Pull them onto their toes as you turn in — the throw is stolen during the entry, not muscled at the end.
- Your hips must finish BELOW theirs; bend the knees, not the waist.
- In BJJ, favor the drop version and finish through to the side — a stalled seoi exposes your back.
Where it goes wrong
- Turning in without kuzushi, which hands your back to any competent grappler.
- Loading them on your spine instead of across the shoulder line.
How opponents counter it
- Hip block and step-around to the back
- Sag body lock before the turn completes
Is the Seoi Nage legal in competition?
Legal in all major rulesets at all levels (IBJJF, ADCC, sub-only). Rules change — always confirm against the current official rulebook for your event.
Related techniques
All moves from Standing · Back to Grapplepedia