There are officially 67 recognized judo throws in the Kodokan system, but BJJ coaches don’t teach 67. They teach four. The gap between that number and the full catalog isn’t a shortcut. It reflects a principle built into judo’s own classification system: sequence and repetition produce competence, not volume. Here’s what those four throws are and why the research backs them. We’ll also cover what the force data says about training them safely.
Key Takeaways
- Kodokan judo classifies 67 throws by difficulty into the Gokyo-no-waza. BJJ coaches filter that list down to techniques that finish in dominant ground positions.
- The IBJJF rulebook scores takedowns at two points. That means throws like o soto gari and seoi nage are direct scoring tools in BJJ competition.
- The four fundamentals are o soto gari, o uchi gari, seoi nage, and tai otoshi. Each has its own grip, setup, and force profile that coaches drill on purpose.
- Seoi nage produces peak angular acceleration of 1,890.1 rad/s² and carries the highest injury link of any throw here. That’s why ukemi comes before live throwing.
- Research on judo experts shows that consistent force output comes from refining a few techniques under supervision, not adding more.
The Judo Techniques Behind a 67-Throw System, and Why Coaches Ignore Most of Them
Judo techniques number 67 in the official Kodokan catalog, grown from the 40 throws Jigoro Kano first codified. The Gokyo-no-waza organizes them into five groups by difficulty. The system runs on one rule: learning the throws in order builds skill, not memorizing the list.
The Five Throw Categories
Judo doesn’t stop at standing throws. The full system splits into a few distinct families:
- Nage-waza, standing throwing techniques like o soto gari and seoi nage
- Katame-waza, ground fighting techniques applied once both athletes hit the mat
- Sacrifice throws, where the thrower drops their own balance to take the opponent down, such as Yoko Sumi Gaeshi
- Atemi-waza, striking techniques used only in kata, never in live competition
BJJ coaches draw almost entirely from the first category. Their filter is simple: does this throw finish with the thrower in a dominant ground position?
Why does this matter for BJJ?
Sacrifice throws and most ground-fighting techniques don’t transfer well. They either give up top position or need grips that don’t match BJJ’s grip-fighting.
What’s left is a short list of throws. They’re built from standard collar-and-sleeve or over-under grips that hold up against a resisting opponent. That’s because grip control is a prerequisite to executing a throwing technique. A throw that can’t survive a real grip fight never makes the cut. Those four throws are o soto gari, o uchi gari, seoi nage, and tai otoshi.
What Every Martial Art Gets Right About Takedown Scoring, and What BJJ Rules Actually Say
A throw is only worth training if it does something useful in competition. In BJJ, it does. The IBJJF’s official rulebook lists the takedown (2 points) directly alongside sweeps and guard passes on its scoring chart.
BJJ Takedowns vs. Wrestling-Style Takedowns
Not every takedown in BJJ comes from judo. Coaches also draw on wrestling-style entries, and each style trades off differently against guard retention:
- Judo throws (o soto gari, seoi nage) tend to land the thrower directly in a scoring top position
- Double leg tackle entries drive through the hips and often end in a scramble rather than a clean landing
- Single leg takedown attempts trade balance for control of one leg, which can cost guard retention if the opponent frames well
BJJ takedowns borrow freely from both systems. Coaches who understand these trade-offs treat throwing as another live tool in the game plan, right alongside guard passing.
How Judo’s Naming System Tells You What a Throw Actually Does
The knee wheel, known in Japanese as hiza guruma, is a good example of how judo’s naming system works. The name means exactly what it describes: the knee is the wheel point around which the throw rotates.
Judo Terms You’ll Hear in Any Judo Club
Walk into a judo club during judo training and a few terms come up constantly:
- Across-the-back grip, the standard hold used to set up shoulder throws like seoi nage
- Uke and tori, the person receiving and performing the throw
- Kuzushi, the balance break that comes before every throw
The Kodokan system labels every throw this way. That’s exactly why the four fundamentals below are the ones coaches keep coming back to.
O Soto Gari: The Backward Reap That Tests Your Balance First
O soto gari translates to “major outer reap.” The setup uses a standard grip. Break your opponent’s balance backward and diagonally, then sweep their outside leg out from under them. It lands the thrower in a strong standing-to-top transition, exactly why it shows up on the IBJJF’s two-point takedown list.
The force behind it is real. A study on Osoto-gari and Ouchi-gari found that peak head acceleration for Osoto-gari ranged from 64.3 g to 87.2 g. That range climbed even higher for Ouchi-gari. That’s why this throw gets drilled with a partner long before it’s used live.
O Uchi Gari: The Inside Trip Coaches Use to Set Up Everything Else
O uchi gari, “major inner reap,” uses the same grip family as o soto gari. It hooks the opponent’s leg from the inside instead of the outside. It’s one of the first combination entries taught in judo training. A defended o uchi gari attempt often sets up o soto gari, seoi nage, or a takedown into guard passing.
The same study found Ouchi-gari’s peak acceleration climbing even higher than Osoto-gari’s, into the 120 to 149 G range. That force profile is one reason coaches introduce it after o soto gari, not before.
Seoi Nage: The Shoulder Throw With the Biggest Reward and Risk
Seoi nage is the shoulder throw, and it’s the one most associated with a clean, dominant landing in BJJ competition. The mechanics involve securing an across-the-back grip, then pulling the opponent over your shoulder. It’s a forward projection rather than a backward reap.
Seoi Nage Variations Worth Knowing
Coaches don’t always teach the throw the same way twice. Common variations include:
- Ippon seoi nage, a one-handed grip version used when the opponent defends the collar
- Morote seoi nage otoshi, a two-handed, dropping variation that trades height for control
- Standing versus drop-knee entries, which change how much force reaches the opponent’s head
A biomechanical analysis of the standard version found that peak angular acceleration reached 1890.1 ± 1151.9 rad/s2. Researchers linked that value to mechanics associated with subdural hematoma risk.
A systematic review of judo injury data found that mastering ukemi is essential in preventing head and neck injuries. That step comes before a judoka ever attempts a live seoi nage throw.
Skipping that step doesn’t just risk one bad fall. In the rare but serious cases, athletes end up on spine boards. Untreated neck compression can leave behind orthopaedic messes that take months to resolve.
Tai Otoshi: The Body Drop Built for BJJ’s Grips
Tai otoshi, “body drop,” is the fourth fundamental, and it’s arguably the best fit for BJJ’s grip style. It works directly off a standard collar-and-sleeve or over-under grip, with no deep entry required. It blocks the opponent’s leg with a straight-leg barrier while pulling them forward and over it.
Unlike the three throws above, tai otoshi doesn’t carry the same head-impact profile. Tai otoshi projects the opponent forward and down instead of dropping them backward onto the head or neck. That’s part of why coaches introduce it to newer BJJ students through their first throws. Ground fighting and guard passing drills come after that.
Build Real Skill by Refining These Judo Throws Today!
Judo throws pay off when you refine a handful of techniques instead of chasing every one in the catalog. Research on serious neck injuries found significantly higher values of both Nij in seoi-nage than in either backward-reaping throw studied. Nij is a standard measure of neck-injury risk.
That’s the clearest evidence in this article: judo experts improve by going deeper on fewer techniques, not by adding more. Coaches apply that principle every time they return to o soto gari, o uchi gari, seoi nage, and tai otoshi. They don’t need a fifth. Want specific feedback on your mechanics? Train with our judo coaches at Eidson Brazilian Jiu Jitsu today.
FAQs
How many judo throws are there?
The Kodokan officially recognizes 67 throws inside the Gokyo-no-waza system, expanded from Jigoro Kano’s original 40. Most students never drill all 67 in a lifetime of training, since belt promotions typically test only a fixed set of throws per rank. That structure rewards depth over memorizing the full catalog. BJJ coaches use the same logic when narrowing their own throw selection.
Are judo throws allowed in wrestling?
Judo and wrestling run on separate rulebooks, and judo throws aren’t part of folkstyle or freestyle wrestling competition. Wrestling has also restricted certain leg-grabbing entries at points in its rule history, while judo still permits leg-based throws like uchi mata. If you’re curious about what judo actually involves, the two sports share some mechanical overlap despite the different rules. Athletes who cross-train often adjust their grips to fit whichever ruleset applies.
Are judo throws allowed in BJJ?
Yes, the IBJJF scores takedowns at two points, and judo throws performed from standing qualify under that rule. Throws like o soto gari and seoi nage are legal at every belt level, from white to black. The rules draw a line at slams, since forcing an opponent into the mat from standing is illegal at any belt. No-gi divisions change things too, since many judo grips depend on gi collars and sleeves.
How much force is in a judo throw?
Research measured peak head acceleration in the 60 to 90 G range for Osoto-gari, with seoi nage producing peak angular acceleration of 1,890.1 rad/s². Those numbers sound extreme, but proper ukemi absorbs most of that force before it reaches the head. Experienced judokas also generate cleaner, more controlled falls than beginners. That’s why breakfall training always comes before live throwing.
How to get better at judo throws?
Research on elite judokas shows that consistent force output comes from supervised repetition of a small number of throws, not from expanding your technique list. Work with a qualified coach and build ukemi before live drilling. Joining a judo club for structured belt progression also helps, since group drilling adds resistance solo practice can’t. Recording your reps on video and reviewing grip timing speeds up correction, too.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo_technique
- https://ibjjf.com/books-videos
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4533442
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7040429/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8998643/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7920453/
- https://revistas.unileon.es/index.php/artesmarciales/article/view/7030
