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Are Judo Throws Legal In BJJ?

When we talk about the legality of Judo throws in BJJ, most of the original Judo throws are perfectly legal. But the fact that a throw is legal doesn’t mean it’s good or effective in BJJ. The stance, posture, and even goal of the throws in Judo are totally different than their counterpart in BJJ.

Take Sumi gaeshi as an example of a legal Judo throw that works well on the BJJ mat. It’s easy to execute and quite effective. It also fits with the defensive nature of BJJ more than it does with Judo. Even BJJ novices can learn this throw and add it to their repertoire. But other throws such as Uchi mata, Ippon seionage, and hip throws while still legal, are not suited for BJJ.

We’ll cover some of the most common Judo throws that you should consider taking seriously. We’ll steer clear from others which though perfectly legal, will not help you on your BJJ progress. You should also weigh in the pros and cons of every throw and choose the one or ones that work best for you.

Sumi Gaeshi (Corner Reversal)

Sumi Gaeshi is as original as they come. In Judo it’s considered one of the basic throws that students learn early on. And while you can still use it in your BJJ practice, you need to be a little cautious in your approach to this one. On the surface, it looks easy enough, but there are ripples of deceptiveness underneath that if you’re not aware of can turn against you.

The way you go about this throw is to force your opponent to do a forward throw. You start it from a sitting position and do a back throw.  You end up on top of your opponent which opens the path for a good offensive tactic. But how do you get to that sitting position?

Usually when the opponent launches an attack where they try to do a leg takedown. Your best defense is to sit down grabbing their belt and perform Sumi Gaeshi. Your opponent will literally not know what hit them until it’s too late. The best part is, with Sumi Gaeshi you can either end up in full mount or at least in half guard.

One thing to add about this throw is that it is being used less and less in Judo. Not because it’s less effective. On the contrary, it gives you a great advantage. But since in Judo leg takedowns have been banned, you don’t see many players using this throw. The opportunity for it doesn’t come up often. But in BJJ, it is still practiced widely and its popularity is growing every day. 

O-Soto-Gari (Major Outer Reap)

One thing about the O-Soto-Gari is that it’s so basic, many players get it in one or two attempts. However, it’s not that effective unless the opponent is totally defenseless or doesn’t try anything to block you. So how do you go about performing O-Soto-Gari?

The logic and sequence of movements are both simple. Start on your feet facing the opponent. Grab the opponent by the lapel and sleeve forcing them to lean in that direction. Put your back into the grabbing so that the opponent has no choice but to lean on their leg. Next, you raise your leg as if you’re kicking a ball then as you bring it back you aim for their ankle. 

This is usually enough for the rival to lose their balance and fall on their back. In Judo you get an ippon and win the game then and there. But in BJJ it’s a different story. You still get two points for knocking the opponent off their feet, but it also gives you the opportunity to have a headlock or even land with knee on belly situation.

Keep in mind that on the mat, the throw might not hurt the opponent much. But if you find yourself in a confrontation in the street, O-Soto-Gari is so powerful, your opponent will not recover from it especially if you’re fighting on asphalt or even concrete. There’s also a possibility that they will hit their head on the ground and save you the trouble of finishing them off.

De Ashi Barai (Advanced Foot Sweep)

If you want to get the De Ashi Barai right, you need to pay extra attention to your timing. A fraction of second too early or too late will render the throw harmless or worse, it could backfire and land you in trouble. And you need to do it when your opponent is on their feet. If they’re bent over, it won’t work.

Start by getting a good grip on the lapel and opposite sleeve. This gives you a good stance and prepares you to perform a quick move that startles the opponent and leaves them defenseless. Now move your foot under their sleeve side and perform a swift sweeping motion that takes them off their feet completely. 

At the same time you’re doing two things simultaneously. You’re pulling at their sleeve while pushing up their lapel. It’s a swift motion similar to turning a wheel with both hands. At some point, the opponent will be in the air with your arms guiding them in their fall.

Done properly, you’ll have the opponent on their back and you in a knee to belly position. The advantages here are huge and you can choose what course to action to take from there. 

Ouchi Gari (Major Inner Reap)

Even though Ouchi Gari is a 100 percent Judo throw, it actually can be used in BJJ more effectively. Why? The simple answer is that many BJJ players have this knack to assume a stance where their legs are wide apart and their upper body is bent. I think you know where I’m going with this. This is the perfect throw to perform on a player in that stance.

You start with a collar and sleeve grab. A good grip is essential for the success of this throw. But rather than swept them off their feet as you would do with the previous throws, this one requires you to collide with your opponent. Use your momentum to push them backward. 

As you shove them back you hook one of your legs behind theirs. It doesn’t matter which leg you hook. Use the more convenient one and give them a good push. Now they’re helplessly on their back and you’re on top. Keep in mind that you might land in their guard.

Many players start their pass at this time while the opponent is flustered. While the advantages are not as overwhelming as in other throws we covered here, it still gets you an opening and cuts a lengthy confrontation short.

Tomoe Nage (Circle Throw)

In BJJ a strategy that involves both pulling guard and throwing at the same time might seem a little too risky. This is true for both novices and experienced players alike. However, with that risk comes huge rewards. We already saw how Judo throws get you in an advantageous position where your opponent is on their back and you’re on top in a full mount position. Think about how much work you need to do to get there without that throw.

Tomoe Nage is one of those Judo throws that when applied in BJJ lets you pull guard and throw at the same time. How’s that even possible? Well, you need to execute this tricky move before the opponent pulls guard. Otherwise, it loses its effectiveness.

The move starts with a good grip on the opponent’s lapel and triceps. Now do the next few moves very quickly. Sit down fast and plant your foot in the opponent’s stomach. Still maintaining a good grip on their Gi, you pull them over your head and throw them behind your back. 

Now comes the good part. Perform a somersault to launch yourself in the air and land on your opponent’s back. In many cases, you could find yourself in a mount position. It doesn’t get better than that, right?

An alternative outcome is that you land in the open guard. So even without a complete throw, you have a good opening to launch an effective offensive. 

As we have seen, many Judo throws works very well for BJJ while others not so much. The point to take out of this article is that you should have an open mind. Some Judo throws are better left to Judo players since they have little to no effect on a BJJ mat. Other throws have faded from the Judo realm due to changes in the rules but still have their place and use in a BJJ class.