The Art of Ippon Seoi Nage – Barron Shepherd

BASIC IPPON SEOI NAGE – Right vs Right – First grip, first attack (Step and Pivot)

A very dynamic throw, Ippon-seoi-nage (One-armed shoulder throw) consists of grasping one of the opponent’s arms, spinning around to place your back against him, and then throwing him to the floor over your shoulder. Ippon Seoi Nage is considered one of the most representative throwing techniques of Judo.

1.) Blue is standing in a right foot forward lead. Blue’s knees are bent and his center of gravity low. Twist the upper body clockwise bring the left hand and shoulder to the front closer to the opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack.

2.) Blue punches in with the left hand and grips the opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Blue’s right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get his grip.

3.) Immediately after the getting the grip, Blue pulls the opponent with the left hand rocking him forward up off his heels. Simultaneously, Blue steps his right foot to his opponent’s right foot. As Blue steps in with his right foot his knees are bent more and his belt line should be lower than his opponent’s belt line.

 4.) Blue’s right arm moves under the opponent’s right armpit as he pivots counter clockwise on the ball of his right foot. Blues left foot steps back all the way through the triangle between the opponent’s feet as he continues his pull. Blue pinches the opponent’s right arm at his arm pit between his right forearm and bicep. Blue rotate the palm of the right hand toward your head (this creates a tighter clamp on the opponent’s arm).          

5.)  Blue then straighten his legs quickly and pops his hips upward into the opponent.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

6.) To finish the throw, Blue continues to pull and twists his torso to the left, taking his right elbow toward his left knee and drives the opponent to the ground.

IPPON SEOI NAGE – Right vs Right – First grip, first attack (Step and Pivot) w/Arm pit grip only

Unlike the basic variation of Ippon Seoi Nage you don’t need to trap the opponent’s arm to execute the throw. The following is shown off just an arm pit grip but also can be done with having only a lapel grip. You basically pinch the opponent’s gi where you have your grip. You hand should be resting on the front side of your bicep with the cloth of the gi pulled tightly over the top the bicep as you execute the throw.

1.) Blue is standing in a right foot forward lead. Blue’s knees are bent and his center of gravity low. Twist the upper body clockwise bring the left hand and shoulder to the front closer to the opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. 

2.) Blue punches in with the left hand and grips the opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Blue’s right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get his grip.

3.) Immediately after the getting the grip, Blue pulls the opponent with the left hand rocking him forward up off his heels. Simultaneously, Blue steps his right foot to his opponent’s right foot. As Blue steps in with his right foot his knees are bent more and his belt line should be lower than his opponent’s belt line.                            

 4.) Blue pivots counter clockwise on the ball of his right foot 180 degrees. HIs right arm comes up under his left hand as he continues to pull with the left hand the opponent’s gi over his right arm. Blue then steps his left foot back between the opponent’s feet (the toes of both feet should be pointing in the direction of Blue’s throw). Blue pinches the area of the gi that he has gripped between his right forearm and bicep. Rotate the palm of the right hand toward your head creating a tighter clamp on the opponent’s gi.     

5.)  Blue straightens his legs quickly and pops his hips upward into the opponent.                                                                                                                                                                                            

6.) To finish the throw, blue continues to pull with his left hand, he twists his torso to the left by taking his right elbow toward his left knee throwing the opponent to the ground.

IPPON SEOI NAGE – Right vs Right – First grip, first attack (Split Step entry)

There are few disadvantages for the split hip entries (split step and back step entries) into throws. These entries are widely used at the world level. Throws are done in a specific scenario, the traditional ippon seoi nage method as demonstrated in kata, for example, rarely occurs at elite level competition.

The split step or split hip entry of ippon seoi nage is when your front or lead leg goes behind the legs of your opponent. Your hips are under the opponent’s hip and you have a very good body control “back to chest”.  Then make a step back with trail foot, straighten the legs and throw the opponent nice, strong and easy.

1.) Blue is standing in a right foot forward lead. Blue’s knees are bent and his center of gravity low. Twist the upper body clockwise bring the left hand and shoulder to the front closer to the opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. You left hand is your attacking hand and your right hand is the defensive hand.  

2.) From a ready position, much like delivering a cross in boxing, Blue punches in with his left hand and grips the opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Blue’s right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get a grip of his own.

3.) Immediately after the getting his grip, Blue pulls the opponent into him with the left hand rocking the opponent forward and off his heels. Simultaneously, Blue steps his left foot up to his right foot. As he steps up with the left foot his knees are bent more and his belt line is lower than his opponent’s belt line.

4.) Blue brings his right hand up under the opponent’s right armpit. He pivots counter clockwise on the left foot and continues to pull with the left hand. Blue’s right foot steps back between the opponent’s feet. The toes of both of Blue’s feet should be pointing in the direction of his throw. Blue pinches the opponent’s right arm at his arm pit between Blue’s right forearm and bicep. Rotate the palm of the right hand toward your head (this creates a tighter clamp on the opponent’s arm).  5.)  Blue steps back with his left foot between your opponent’s feet (as you step back with the left foot your opponent’s feet should start to raise up off the mat). Blue straightens his legs quickly and pops his hips upward into the opponent. 6.) Blue continue to pull and twist his torso to the left, taking his right elbow toward his left knee to finish throwing the opponent to the mat.

IPPON SEOI NAGE (Back Step entry) Right vs Right – FIRST GRIP – FIRST ATTACK – FINISH

Your first offense starts at the grips. Be first to get the grip your need and be fast to initiate your throw. Execute your throw immediately upon getting your grip. Holding a grip for any period of time only allows the opponent opportunity to counter the position and apply his own attack.

1.) Blue is standing in a right foot forward lead. Blue’s knees are bent and his center of gravity low. Twist the upper body clockwise bring the left hand and shoulder to the front closer to the opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. You left hand is your attacking hand and your right hand is the defensive hand.

2.) From a ready position, much like delivering a cross in boxing, Blue punches in with his left hand and grips the opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Blue’s right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get a grip of his own.

3.) Immediately after getting the grip, Blue pulls the opponent back into him with the left hand rocking the opponent forward up off his heels. Simultaneously, Blue pivots his right foot counter clockwise pointing the toes of his right foot toward the opponent’s right foot. Blue pulls with his left hand keeping the left elbow high and steps behind his right foot with the left foot between the opponent’s feet. 

4.) Blue steps the right foot back just to the inside of the opponent’s right foot. Blues toes are just past the heel of opponent’s right foot. Blue simultaneously brings your right arm up under the opponent’s armpit and pinches his arm between the fore arm and bicep.

5.)  As Blue stepped back with his right foot step back the opponent’s feet should start to raise up off the mat). Blue then straightens his legs quickly and popping his hips upward into the opponent. 

6.) Blue continues the pull and twists his torso to the left, taking his right elbow toward his left knee finishing the throw.