Utilizing judo throws in MMA has been beneficial for numerous champions in the sport’s history. Notable judokus who have brought their skills into the mixed martial arts arena include Ronda Rousey, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Karo Parisyan and many more.
So what are the 5 best Judo throws in MMA? We’ve boiled them to:
- Harai Goshi
- Osoto Gari
- Uchi Mata
- Ippon Seoi Nage
- Okuri Ashi Harai
There are a few advantages to using judo throws as opposed to wrestling takedowns. Most notably, a well-executed judo throw will likely land you in a more dominant position. Here are the top-5 judo throws for MMA.
1. Harai Goshi
Harai Goshi translates to “hip throw” or “hip sweep.” It is a technique that has successfully found a home in MMA by skilled judokus who compete in the sport. This throw involves the outside leg making a sweeping motion in order to add momentum. It is beneficial for taller athletes who may have trouble getting their hips lower than their opponents. It was originally developed by Jigoro Kano in response to Shiro Saigo constantly finding a way to escape the uki-goshi. Kano devised a way to trap Saigo’s escape foot and the Harai Goshi throw was born.
To execute the throw, place the back of your thigh against your opponent’s thigh on the same side and ride them on your hips. Then raise their leg from the mat in a sweeping motion and pull with both of your arms as you twist your upper body around to toss them to the ground. In MMA, executing a Harai Goshi properly will result in landing in a dominant position.
Not surprisingly, Ronda Rousey used these throws often in her career. One example of this comes from her UFC 168 fight against Meisha Tate. In the second-round, Tate was trying to secure a rear waist lock after a takedown attempt. As she did so, however, Rousey’s left arm pressured Tate’s body into her back and her left leg swept her opponent. Rousey ended up hitting the mat face first due to not using either one of her arms to block her fall but doing so allowed her to keep control of her opponent and land in a dominant position. Rousey would go on to submit Tate in the 3rd round with an armbar, her second straight victory over her longtime rival.
2. Osoto Gari
The name Osoto Gari actually translates to “Large Outer Reaping” which accurately sums up this outside leg sweep. It is a very basic judo throw that is common at all levels of the sport. To execute this throw from a right-handed perspective, you want to step next to your opponent with your left leg about a foot away from their right leg (depending on how tall everyone is). Hold your opponent close and push them off-balance to the rear corner. You will know your opponent has come unbalanced if you see their left foot has come onto their toes or if their heel has lifted slightly. This will allow you to use your right leg to sweep their right leg and throw them to the mat while using your upper thigh and hip as a pivot point. As with everything in judo, you are attacking your opponent’s balance more than anything else.
In MMA, using an Osoto Gari can be used as a way to counter an aggressive striker. If your opponent is coming forward at a rate you aren’t comfortable with, pull them close, step to the side and sweep the leg to land in an advantageous position. The more aggressive your opponent is, the easier it should be to throw off their balance. It’s helpful if your opponent isn’t expecting you to use this technique, however, as often countering it is just a matter of moving one’s leg.
When executed properly in MMA, an Osoto Gari throw should result in landing in a dominant position such as side-control or in an advantageous position to lock in an armbar. One fighter famous for his use of Osoto Gari in MMA is “Sexyama” Yoshihiro Akiyama. At UFC 144 Sexyama took on noted wrestler Jake Shields. While Shields would win the fight via unanimous decision, Akiyama demonstrated some well executed judo throws including an Osoto Gari.
3. Uchi Mata
The Uchi Mata translates to “inner thigh throw” and that accurately sums up what you are attempting to do with this throw.
To execute a Uchi Mata from a right-handed perspective, step your right leg across your body while holding your opponent. Then twist your shoulders toward your right leg and bring your left leg around so that it lands in between your opponents legs. Pull with your right shoulder and lift with your hip to bring your opponent crashing to the mat.
The Uchi Mata can be used in MMA as a counter to takedown attempts. Once again, Ronda Rousey provides an example of how and when to execute this throw in her UFC 168 clash with Meisha Tate. Early in the 1st round of that fight, Tate was able to take Rousey to the ground with an outside trip. This would prepare Rousey to successfully counter the same technique later in the round, however. As Tate again went for the same technique, Rousey was able to maintain her balance, push Tate forward and lift her up and over from her hip. Tate’s hips went above her head and her body came crashing to the mat, a much different result from when Tate had attempted the same trip earlier in the fight. Rousey then countered another takedown attempt later the same round in a similar fashion.
By round 2, Tate had abandoned her outside trip attempts but Rousey was able to utilize the Harai Goshi throw mentioned above. Rousey’s successful use of both the Harai Goshi and Uchi Mata can likely be attributed to the training she received from noted judokas “Judo” Gene LeBell, Gokor Chivichyan, and Karo Parisyan. Her mother, 1984 World Champion judoka AnnaMaria De Mars, may have had something to do with it as well.
4. Ippon Seoi Nage
Ippon Seoi Nage translates to “one-armed shoulder throw” and is one of the more dramatic judo techniques that can be pulled off in MMA. While this move sounds simple to execute, doing so can be quite difficult in an MMA fight unless you are a skilled judoka.
To execute a successful Ippon Seoi Nage, grab onto one of your opponent’s arms and then spin around so that your back is facing your opponent and toss them over your shoulder. When executed properly your opponent should land in such a spot that if you fell with them you wouldd end up in a North-South position. You can also just hold onto the arm and lock in an armbar after.
Judoku Rick “Genghis” Hawn pulled off a highlight reel Ippon Seoi Nage when he made his debut for Bellator in 2010. Hawn went 2-2 at the 2004 Olympics in judo, finishing in 9th place in his division. He went into his MMA career with a solid judo background and demonstrated that against LeVon Maynard at Bellator 33.
Maynord blocked a head kick attempt by Hawn which sent his opponent to the mat, as he was getting up to his feet, there was a moment when it looked like Maynard would be able to get his back. Maynard then reached around Hawn but that only served to offer up his arm to an Olympic-level judoka. Hawn grabbed the arm and threw his opponent over his shoulder to the mat and pummeled him until the ref stepped in. If you are a highly skilled judoka and an opponent thinks they have an opportunity for a standing rear-naked choke, it’s really just an opportunity for you to execute an Ippon Seoi Nage.
5. Okuri Ashi Harai/Okuri Ashi Barai
This move is a double foot-sweep from a standing position and can be effective in MMA if attempted at just the right moment. To execute this throw, sweep your opponent’s leg in toward their other leg by pushing your foot up against their foot. Continue your sweep until both of your opponent’s legs are up in the air to complete your throw.
For this throw, however, your opponent needs to be moving. It is very difficult to execute this technique on a static opponent with both feet planted firmly on the ground. It is most effective with a retreating opponent or one moving side-to-side. Similarly, it is difficult to sweep your opponent with this technique if they have a wide stance. An Okuri Ashi Harai needs to be timed perfectly so that your opponent is moving, their legs aren’t too far apart, and they aren’t expecting you to utilize this throw. Ideally, you will be executing this move at the exact moment when your moving opponent’s legs are closer together than they would be if they were standing statically.
The opportunity to execute this throw occurs less often in MMA than it does in judo. In MMA, however, if an attempt is unsuccessful it still puts your opponent in a vulnerable position for a takedown. It won’t impress the judokas but you’ll still end up in an advantageous position.