Ippon Seoi Nage
Takedown
Ippon Seoi Nage is a single-arm shoulder throw where you load your opponent onto your back by threading your arm under their armpit, turning in, and throwing them over your shoulder. It is used in both gi and no-gi when you gain inside control of one arm, and it lands you in a dominant top position such as side control or knee on belly.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · Your hips must drop below your opponent's hips to create the lifting fulcrum needed for the throw.
- · The throwing arm threads deep under uke's armpit, clamping their arm tightly against your shoulder and chest.
- · A strong pull with your gripping hand (sleeve or wrist) breaks their balance forward (kuzushi) before you turn in.
- · Your back must make full contact with their chest during the turn to ensure proper loading.
- · If they resist by stiffening and pulling back, use that momentum to switch to a ko uchi gari or snap-down.
Execution
- 1 Grip the sleeve or wrist with your pulling hand and the lapel or collar tie with your other hand, then pull opponent forward to break their balance.
- 2 Pivot on the ball of your lead foot, turning your back into your opponent while threading your gripping-side arm deep under their armpit so their arm drapes over your shoulder.
- 3 Drop your hips well below theirs by bending your knees, keeping your feet roughly shoulder-width apart and your back pressed firmly against their torso.
- 4 Drive upward with your legs while pulling their arm forward and rotating your upper body, launching them over your shoulder.
- 5 Follow through by staying connected as they land, immediately establishing side control or knee on belly.
Common mistakes
- × Not dropping the hips low enough, which forces you to muscle the throw and often results in a stalled entry or getting sprawled on.
- × Turning in without sufficient kuzushi first, giving the opponent time to circle away or counter with a back take.
- × Leaving space between your back and the opponent's chest during the turn, which leaks energy and allows them to post or block the throw.
Where it lands
The position you end up in.
Side Control Top
