How To Execute The Tomoe Nage Throw

By Ismail Safi, April 23, 2019

Learning how to effectively execute takedowns in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is vital to become a good grappler. Many students ignore the takedown elements of Jiu Jitsu. This is for many reasons. One is that it can be dangerous, or at least perceived as dangerous. When takedowns are done technically, they are just as safe as any other technique in Jiu Jitsu.

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Another reason students ignore takedowns is the perception that Jiu Jitsu is exclusively ground fight, and that takedowns are only for wrestling and judo. This is absolutely incorrect. Jiu Jitsu is a grappling martial art and taking people down is just as much a part of the game as closed guard is.

Learning how to perform takedowns is necessary for self-defense too. If we want to use Jiu Jitsu is handle aggressors, we need to get them to the ground, and if you can’t do that, it is likely that you will get punched in the face and not be able to submit them. The last thing you want to be is a black belt that can’t handle themselves in a self-defense scenario.

Because Jiu Jitsu is neither Judo or wrestling, we get the opportunity to use techniques from both sports to our advantage. Learning how to combine elements of Judo and wrestling for takedowns is more useful than mastering either alone. This trait can be seen in Garry Tonon, who is known for having an amazing stand-up game.

There are also certain techniques we can use that are tricks. These are techniques that can be used to trick our opponents into thinking we are pulling guard. One example is the ankle pick. Because the defender thinks you are pulling guard, they won’t worry about defending takedowns, which makes them all the more easier.

In the following video by BJJ Fanatics, you will see a Judo technique known as the Tomoe Nage throw. See below:

The Tomoe Nage, just like the ankle pick, allows the person executing the technique to trick their opponent into thinking they are pulling guard. The Tomoe Nage is pretty much a full guard pull, but instead of stopping in the guard, we keep pulling until we can lift our opponent and roll them over us, giving us the top position.

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