YR Sports Lab
You've got a firm grip on your opponent's collar and sleeve, ready to pull them in, when without warning they drop straight onto their back, plant a foot on your lower abdomen, and the next thing you know you're flying over their head, landing hard behind them. That's Tomoe Nage, one of the traditional throws Kodokan judo founder Jigoro Kano systematized after founding the Kodokan in Tokyo in 1882, formally classified in the 1895 gokyo no waza, and one of the rare sacrifice throws that lets the defending side initiate the takedown and establish top position in a single motion. This entry breaks down its origin and classification, technical structure, three entry windows, strengths and limitations, common counters, and how it actually plays out under IBJJF scoring rules and in modern BJJ competition.
1. Origins: A Kodokan Throw Carried Into BJJ by Olympic Judoka
Tomoe Nage has no single inventor. It's part of what Kodokan judo founder Jigoro Kano systematized from traditional jujutsu throws after founding the Kodokan in Tokyo in 1882. In 1895, Kano and his senior students first proposed the gokyo no waza classification framework, which was later refined; its 1920-to-1982 version organized 40 throws into five groups as the Kodokan's standard teaching syllabus. Tomoe Nage was listed as technique #23 in the third group (dai-sankyo) of that version, classified as a front sacrifice throw (mae-sutemi), meaning the attacker voluntarily gives up a standing position and drops backward to create the throwing angle.
The man who systematized Tomoe Nage for grapplers: Travis Stevens
American competitor Travis Stevens was born February 28, 1986, in Bellevue, Washington, and competed at three Olympics (2008, 2012, 2016), winning silver at the 2016 Rio Games in the men's -81kg division, becoming the third American male judoka to win an Olympic silver medal, per his Wikipedia entry. After moving into submission grappling, he was awarded a BJJ black belt by John Danaher at Renzo Gracie Academy on November 19, 2013, and later teamed up with fellow judo Olympic silver medalist Jimmy Pedro to release a dedicated Tomoe Nage instructional, systematizing the judo throw for no-gi grapplers.
Another veteran BJJ black belt worth noting is Wellington "Megaton" Dias. According to Elite Sports, he was born October 2, 1967, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and started judo in 1970 under coach Rogério Camões; the nickname "Megaton" came from Camões after watching him slam training partners hard enough to sound like it. He later moved into BJJ and earned his black belt, competing in a total of 16 IBJJF World Championships over his career, and was promoted to coral belt by Royler Gracie in March 2022.
For a deeper look at takedown landing mechanics and breakfall safety, our site also has a BJJ Takedown Defense and Ukemi deep dive focused on injury prevention; this entry stays focused on the technique itself, its origins, mechanics and competition rules.
2. Mechanics: From Grip Fighting to a Hip-Extension Throw
Tomoe Nage's basic setup starts with gripping the opponent's collar and sleeve with both hands (a no-gi version grips behind the neck and the upper arm instead), pulling their weight toward you until they plant their feet and lean forward to resist. At that moment, drop straight back onto the mat, simultaneously raising one leg to plant a foot on their hip or lower abdomen as a fulcrum, then use that leg's extension to launch them over your head in an arc.
| Stage | Key details |
|---|---|
| ① Break posture with grips | Grip the opponent's collar and same-side sleeve firmly, pulling toward yourself to draw their weight forward until they plant their feet to resist |
| ② Drop straight back | The instant their weight commits forward, drop decisively onto your back without hesitation, rather than lowering yourself gradually |
| ③ Plant the foot as a fulcrum | As you drop, raise one leg and plant the foot on their hip or lower abdomen to serve as the throwing fulcrum |
| ④ Extend the hip to finish | Explosively extend the planted leg while maintaining your collar and sleeve grip, sending the opponent arcing over your head |
Tomoe Nage is often chained with another sacrifice throw, Sumi Gaeshi, as a combination. The two look similar, but Sumi Gaeshi requires first breaking the opponent's standing balance before hooking a leg to flip them, while Tomoe Nage can be launched directly while the opponent is still upright and pressing forward. A common pairing is faking a Sumi Gaeshi attempt to draw a reaction, then switching straight into Tomoe Nage. The most common mistake is mistiming the leg extension: too early, and the opponent's weight hasn't actually committed forward, so the kick just pushes yourself backward with no throw at all; too late, and the opponent has already sensed something's wrong and backed off, turning your planted leg into an easy step for them to clear.
3. Entry Timing and Setups
There are three common windows for entering Tomoe Nage:
First, the moment an opponent presses forward aggressively, pulling your collar to set up their own attack. Their own forward pressure supplies exactly the weight commitment this throw needs, so you can drop and launch off that momentum without manufacturing an off-balance yourself.
Second, faking a guard pull to make an opponent retreat and set their defense, then suddenly stepping forward instead. Once an opponent expects a guard pull, their weight naturally relaxes backward, and that brief lapse is exactly the window for a sudden forward step into Tomoe Nage.
Third, when a Sumi Gaeshi attempt fails and the opponent stiffens into an upright stance to resist. That upright resistance removes the broken-posture condition Sumi Gaeshi needs, but it's exactly the condition Tomoe Nage requires instead, making it a natural transition.
4. Strengths and Limitations
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Clearly scores 2 takedown points under IBJJF rules, giving it more tactical value than a plain guard pull | If the opponent senses it early and drives forward, the attacker ends up flat on their back with their guard fully exposed |
| Uses the opponent's own forward pressure directly, without needing to break their standing balance first | Requires solid hip mobility and precise timing, a steeper learning curve than wrestling-based takedowns like the single or double leg |
| Often opens up off a faked guard pull or a Sumi Gaeshi transition, giving it real surprise value | Sees less use in no-gi invitationals stacked with wrestlers, meaning fewer live reps to prove it out in competition |
5. Common Counters
Countering Tomoe Nage comes down to not letting your weight get drawn forward:
First, keep your hips directly behind your feet and avoid leaning your weight too far forward. Weight held back near your heels means an opponent dropping back can't get a solid foot placement on your hip or abdomen.
Second, fight actively for the collar and sleeve grips and recognize the drop the instant it happens. Grip fighting buys you time, and you typically only have about a second to react, so the earlier you notice, the better your chances.
Third, drive forward and flatten your opponent before their leg finishes extending. Committing your weight before the throwing angle forms pins them flat on their back, flipping the exchange in your favor instantly.
What to do after flattening your opponent
Once you've successfully flattened them, you'll usually land directly in side control or mount, so consolidate that top position rather than rushing back to your feet.
If their throw is already halfway landed and you're airborne, tuck your chin and roll with a rounded back to complete a proper breakfall first, then decide whether to reset to standing distance or play guard once you land, rather than stiffening your body mid-air.
6. Competition Frequency and Legality
On the rules side, a guide compiled by Exponential Jiu-Jitsu shows that a takedown scores 2 points once you land your opponent on their back, side, or seated and stabilize top position for 3 seconds; rules 4.1.10 through 4.1.12 further specify that if the opponent initiates a guard pull before the takedown is completed, the attacker doesn't get those 2 points. Flip that around, and throwing before an opponent commits to a guard pull scores cleanly every time, which is exactly the rules-based reason sacrifice throws like Tomoe Nage still carry tactical value in gi competition.
On finish frequency, governing bodies don't publish per-technique breakdowns, but third-party technique database BJJGraph.org (methodology and sample size undisclosed, accessed 2026/09) lists Tomoe Nage's overall success rate at roughly 23%, lower than the typical range for wrestling-based takedowns like the single or double leg. It shows up less often in no-gi invitationals stacked with wrestlers where guard pulls carry no rules disadvantage, but in IBJJF gi rules, where pulling guard scores nothing, some competitors still treat it as a tactical option for cutting off an opponent's forward pressure and converting straight into top control.
7. Safety Notes
Tomoe Nage carries different risks for each side. For the attacker, mistiming it mostly means getting driven forward and flattened, a tactical setback rather than a joint injury. For the person being thrown, the real requirement is landing a proper breakfall (ukemi) after flying over the opponent's head, since failing to do so can put excessive impact on the neck, head, and shoulders on landing. We didn't find injury statistics specific to Tomoe Nage, but the general principle across throwing techniques holds: proper breakfall education substantially lowers the risk of neck and head injury on landing, and beginners who haven't yet drilled rolling landings shouldn't spar this kind of sacrifice throw without supervision. For more on landing impact mechanics and ukemi, see our BJJ Takedown Defense entry.
・Beginners should drill breakfalls solo on a soft mat or dedicated gym surface before adding any live resistance
・Have a coach familiar with the technique supervise your grips, drop timing, and leg angle
・When being thrown, always tuck your chin and roll with a rounded back to avoid a direct head or neck impact
・Start slow when drilling live and only pick up the pace once both partners are ready
FAQ
Can white belts drill Tomoe Nage?
Yes. Elite Sports's rundown of IBJJF rules shows the moves banned outright at every belt are flying scissor takedowns, suplex-style throws, and any kind of slam, all banned because they risk driving an opponent's head straight into the mat. Tomoe Nage isn't on that list. That said, it's still a throw that requires falling backward and sending your opponent over your head, so it's best to build solid ukemi (breakfall) and landing fundamentals under a coach's supervision before drilling it live.
What's the difference between Tomoe Nage and Sumi Gaeshi?
Both are close cousins among judo's sacrifice throws, and the difference comes down to your opponent's posture. Tomoe Nage works while an opponent is still upright and pressing their weight forward, using a foot on the hip or lower abdomen as a fulcrum. Sumi Gaeshi requires you to first break their standing balance, then hook a leg to flip them. The two are commonly chained together as a combination.
How many points does Tomoe Nage score in IBJJF competition?
Landing your opponent on their back, side, or seated and stabilizing top position for 3 seconds earns 2 takedown points. But under IBJJF rules 4.1.10 through 4.1.12, if your opponent initiates a guard pull before you complete the takedown, you won't get those 2 points, so timing matters, you need to throw before they commit to pulling guard.
Is it dangerous if a Tomoe Nage attempt fails?
The main risk isn't joint injury, it's exposure. If your opponent drives forward and flattens you before your leg finishes extending, you end up lying flat with your guard wide open and an easy pass waiting. For the person being thrown, failing to execute a proper breakfall can mean a rough impact on the neck, head, or shoulders on landing, which is why it's worth drilling correct roll-out landings under supervision first.
Why do you rarely see Tomoe Nage finish a match?
Third-party technique database BJJGraph.org (methodology undisclosed, accessed 2026/09) lists its overall success rate at roughly 23%, lower than wrestling-based takedowns like the single or double leg. It shows up less in no-gi invitationals stacked with wrestlers, but in IBJJF gi rules, where pulling guard scores nothing, some competitors still use it as a tactical option to cut off an opponent's forward pressure.
References
1. Judo Info. The Gokyo of Kodokan: 40 Throwing Techniques. judoinfo.com/gokyo1 (accessed 2026/09; supports the gokyo no waza being first proposed at the Kodokan in 1895, with its 1920-to-1982 version comprising 40 throws in five groups and Tomoe Nage listed as technique #23 in that version's third group)
2. Wikipedia contributors. Tomoe nage. en.wikipedia.org/Tomoe_nage (accessed 2026/09; supports the front sacrifice throw / mae-sutemi classification and basic technique description)
3. BJJ World. The Tomoe Nage - Sumi Gaeshi BJJ Takedown System. bjj-world.com (accessed 2026/09; supports the grip breakdown, faked-guard-pull setup, and the Sumi Gaeshi combination transition described in the mechanics section)
4. Wikipedia contributors. Travis Stevens. en.wikipedia.org/Travis_Stevens (accessed 2026/09; supports Stevens's birth on February 28, 1986; three Olympic judo appearances; 2016 Rio silver at -81kg as the third American male judoka to win Olympic silver; and his BJJ black belt awarded by John Danaher on November 19, 2013)
5. Elite Sports. Wellington "Megaton" Dias - BJJ Coral Belt. elitesports.com (accessed 2026/09; supports Dias's birth on October 2, 1967, in Rio de Janeiro; starting judo in 1970; competing in a total of 16 IBJJF World Championships; and his March 2022 coral belt promotion)
6. Exponential Jiu-Jitsu. IBJJF Rules – Takedowns. exponentialjiujitsu.com (accessed 2026/09; supports takedown scoring rule 4.1, 2 points for 3 seconds of stabilized top position, and rules 4.1.10 through 4.1.12 on guard-pull priority)
7. Elite Sports. 17 IBJJF Competition Rules to Remember for All BJJ Athletes. elitesports.com (accessed 2026/09; supports the outright ban on flying scissor takedowns, suplex-style throws and slams at every belt level)
8. BJJGraph.org. Tomoe Nage. bjjgraph.org (accessed 2026/09; a third-party technique database with undisclosed methodology, supporting the roughly 23% success rate cited as a qualitative comparison point)