Seoi Nage

Takedown
Also known as:
Drop Seoi Nage

Seoi Nage (shoulder throw) is a forward-turning throw where you load your opponent onto your back/shoulders by turning in and lifting, projecting them over your hip line. It is a high-percentage takedown used when your opponent is pushing forward or reaching with their grips, applicable in both gi and no-gi contexts.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · Your hips must drop below your opponent's center of gravity to create the lifting fulcrum.
  • · The turning entry must be explosive—both feet rotate fully so your back faces your opponent's chest.
  • · Kuzushi (off-balancing) forward and upward with your grips before entry is essential to load their weight onto you.
  • · Maintain a tight connection between your back and their torso throughout the throw to prevent them from sliding off.
  • · If they resist by stiffening or pulling back, use that momentum shift to re-time your entry or chain to another technique.

Execution

  1. 1 Establish dominant grips (collar and sleeve in gi, or wrist and behind the neck in no-gi) and pull your opponent forward and slightly upward to break their posture.
  2. 2 Pivot on the ball of your lead foot, turning your back into your opponent while simultaneously dropping your hips well below theirs with bent knees.
  3. 3 Fit your back tightly against their chest, pulling their arm across your shoulder line and clamping it firmly to your body.
  4. 4 Drive upward with your legs while bending forward at the waist, using the combined hip extension and upper body rotation to wheel them over your shoulder.
  5. 5 Follow through the throw, maintaining grip control to land in a dominant top position such as side control or knee on belly.

Common mistakes

  • × Not dropping the hips low enough, which prevents loading the opponent's weight and results in a stalled entry or getting sprawled on.
  • × Turning in without first breaking the opponent's balance forward, allowing them to simply push you down or take your back.
  • × Leaving space between your back and the opponent's torso during the throw, which lets them slip off to the side and counter.

Where it lands

The position you end up in.

Side Control Top

In the family

Named branches of Seoi Nage in the graph.

Ippon Seoi Nage takedown Morote Seoi Nage takedown