Basic Throwing Techniques (Nage Waza, 投げ技)
Ai-hanmi Katate-dori Irimi Nage (相半身片手取り入身投げ)
Key point: A basic throw that breaks your partner’s balance and throws them with the body movement that leads from irimi into tenkan.
Irimi nage is a basic throw that uses the “irimi into tenkan” body movement: you enter to your partner’s side with irimi and turn with tenkan from there. In hidari ai-hanmi katate-dori, take one large step in with ayumi-ashi, right foot first, entering to your partner’s side. As you do so, take the back of your partner’s neck with the right hand while seeming to lead your partner with the left tegatana. From there, turn with a large tenkan and cut your partner down with the left tegatana to break their balance. Finally, cut the tegatana up as you step forward with the left foot and bring your partner down.
- Distance from your partner: When you have entered to your partner’s side, the distance between you must be neither too close nor too far. It is important to keep a distance that leads easily into the tenkan that follows. Enter without colliding with your partner’s body.
- Enter deep, turn big: If your irimi is shallow, you cannot receive and redirect your partner’s power. It is important to go deep to the side, into your partner’s blind spot. And if your tenkan is small, the unbalancing is weak. It is important to draw the back foot back and turn big. The key here is to cut the tegatana down to break your partner’s posture.
Shomen-uchi Irimi Nage (正面打ち入身投げ)
Key point: Break your partner’s shomen-uchi with the body movement that leads from irimi into tenkan.
In migi ai-hanmi, cut the right tegatana up from below to control your partner’s shomen-uchi. Then step in with the left foot, entering to your partner’s side and letting the shomen-uchi pass. Without breaking the flow, now turn with a large tenkan on the left foot and cut the right tegatana down. As you do so, take the back of your partner’s neck with the left hand and lead them straight toward your right shoulder. Finally, cut the tegatana up as you step forward with the right foot and bring your partner down.
- Cut up from below and go to the side: When you control your partner’s shomen-uchi, do it as if cutting the tegatana up from below. Continuing from this movement, step in with the back foot and quickly enter to your partner’s side. It is important to get into your partner’s blind spot in an instant.
- Cut the tegatana down as you turn: Once you have entered to your partner’s side, immediately turn with a large tenkan. In time with the turning movement, cut the raised tegatana down in a single motion. It is important to make use of both the turning power of tenkan and the tegatana together.
- Do irimi into tenkan thoroughly: It is important to perform, in a stable posture, footwork combination 1 (ayumi-ashi and tenkan-ashi) and the body movement from irimi into tenkan (Chapter 3, tai sabaki 4). Only when you do these accurately can you break your partner’s balance with certainty.
Katate-dori Shiho Nage Omote (片手取り四方投げ 表)
Key point: Enter to your partner’s side with irimi, then turn the body to break your partner’s balance.
Katate-dori shiho nage (四方投げ) omote is a throw that uses the body movement of “shiho-giri (irimi)” (Chapter 3, tai sabaki 8), in which you enter to your partner’s side with irimi and then turn the body in tenkai-ashi. In hidari gyaku-hanmi, step in with the right foot, cutting the left tegatana up, and enter to your partner’s side. Step in again with the left foot in ayumi-ashi, then turn the body in tenkai-ashi. In time with this movement, at the center of your body, tighten on the wrist you are holding from the little finger, and cut it down to bring your partner down.
- Uke keeps the arm against the ear: Shiho nage is a technique that can injure the elbow. So that the arm and body do not move separately, receive the technique with the feeling of keeping your arm against your ear, to avoid injury. Think of making the arm and body one.
- Ukemi for shiho nage: Learn thoroughly how to receive shiho nage as well. Uke follows by folding the inside leg on the side the body is tipping toward and touching the floor knee first. After the knee, lower the hips, and finally lie back so that the back touches. The moment the back touches, slap the floor with the free hand to absorb the impact.
Katate-dori Shiho Nage Ura (片手取り四方投げ 裏)
Key point: Turn with tenkan to your partner’s side, then turn the body to break your partner’s balance.
Unlike omote, which enters with irimi, shiho nage ura is a throw that uses the body movement of “shiho-giri (tenkan)” (Chapter 3, tai sabaki 9), turning with tenkan to your partner’s side. In migi gyaku-hanmi, turn with tenkan on the right foot, cutting the right tegatana up, and take your partner’s wrist with the left hand. From there, turn the body 180 degrees in tenkai-ashi, and at the end of the turn lead your partner’s hand to your center. Then tighten from the little finger and cut it down to throw your partner.
- Make use of the tegatana: In shiho nage you take your partner’s wrist, but you do not take it from the start; you make use of the tegatana of the grabbed hand. Lead your partner’s hand to your center with the tegatana, and take the wrist as you cut up.
- From tenkan-ashi to tenkai-ashi: To break your partner’s posture, you must perform the body movement of shiho-giri (tenkan) big and accurately. If the tenkan is small, the unbalancing does not work properly. The most important thing here is the footwork going from tenkan-ashi into tenkai-ashi. Turn quickly while keeping your axis stable, and generate great power with the lower body.
Last updated November 1, 2026 · This book continues to be revised after publication.
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