This is the old favourite of the cinema and television screen although it is not usually done very well. It is also a great favourite of the judomen who specialize in groundwork. In the judo rules it is not possible to drag a man to the ground without making some attempt at a throw first.

For the groundwork man this is ideal. He can come with whistling in for this throw and if he connects well and good: if not he can then try to get his man in one of the many groundwork techniques. Stand as with the opponent bent right forward. Step in deep with the left foot as far as possible level or beyond his two feet. As the left leg goes in lift up your right foot and plant it in his stomach. But it is not always possible to do this. What in practice actually occurs is that one is dropping to the ground as one puts the right foot in the stomach. As your back touches the floor straighten the right leg and by pulling strongly with the hands to your own body turn the man over in the air and drop him on his back to a point past your own head.

What usually happens in the movies is that the hero does this throw and as the villain goes sailing over he lets go with his hands so that the villain comfortably rolls on his back onto his feet. The idea of any throw is to drop the man with impetus on his back. With the stomach throw, hang on tight with the hands so that your partner lands on his back and stays there.

If you miss with this throw a grip is necessary to control the opponent for further groundwork moves. To get maximum effect with this sacrifice throw, literally throw yourself down under the opponent. Providing you have got your foot in his stomach he won't collapse on top of you but will go sailing over the top. Exercise some caution when first attempting this as it is easy to injure your partner or yourself if done wrongly.

Sutemi-Waza

(Sacrifice Techniques)

There are several sacrifice throws but, in this section, I am only describing the most popular. In sutemi-waza one throws one's opponent by sacrificing one's own balance. This is achieved by using the weight and impetus of one's falling body to throw the other man. From the self-defence point of view, these techniques are not so useful if one is opposed by more than one opponent as one is left on the floor at the mercy of the other attackers.Tomoe-nage (stomach throw)

Seoi-nage

(shoulder throw)

This throw is traditionally the favourite of the little man. However, in these days of weight divisions men of any size can use it. The advantage of this throw for a smaller man is that once he is in position even though outweighed by two or three stone it is still possible to carry it through against resistance. Many throws fail if the initial impetus is halted but not the shoulder throw. There are two ways to do it, both of which are equally effective. I'll describe the double arm should throw (morote-seoi-nage).

The literal translation of the Japanese name for this throw is not shoulder throw. Seoi comes from a verb meaning to carry on the back and this can help us in picturing how the technique should be done. Imagine a man wanting to unload a heavy sack of coal from the low back of a truck. He grasps the top corners of the sack turns round and sinking down hoists the sack on to his back. This is the action of seoi-nage.

Stand in the right natural posture with the normal grips. Move the right foot across and slightly in front of the left foot. Pivoting on this swing the left foot round so that you have made an about turn. At the same time as you start the foot movements pull strongly with the left hand so that your partner starts to fall forward on to your back and still holding tight with your right hand swing your elbow across and under your opponent's arm pit. You should now have wedged your partner tight to your upper back. To finish off the throw, bend at the waist and unload your partner on to the mat. If your partner is slightly shorter than yourself, it will be necessary to bend the knees more so as to swing your right arm comfortably under his armpit. When you do this throw, imagine the analogy of the sack of coal. Of course, your opponent is not just a dead weight so it is necessary to do it at top speed.

Your opponent will try to stop you by pulling his right arm free when you swing under so make sure that you have a strong grip with your left hand. It is not necessary to pivot close into the opponent's legs. Aim to move slightly forward in the pivot and by pulling strongly with the arm cause your man to fall or step forward into the throw. Remember this is a hand throw and most of the power is employed in the arms and shoulders. This is one of the most strenuous throws and it also requires a lot of speed. The older Judo students would do well to specialise in one of the other throws which do not require so much energy - for example, o-uchi-gari.

If necessary when you make the step with your right foot lean into it so that most of your weight is on the right foot. Remember this is a hand throw. The arms which started by pulling forward never let up. The thrower's right leg is nothing more than a trip wire. The arms and shoulders start and finish the throw by whirling the man to the mat. If the throw is done slowly it will be difficult to get the arm action. All the actions of the arms, leg and body should blur into each other in one thunder-clap of a throw. To get the arm action right, start by moving your body into position without moving the right leg across. Practise turning the man into the mat just with your arms alone. Once you find this can be done successfully start moving your right leg across. If you find that you are having to use your right leg to sweep or hook to get your man over go back to practising with the arms alone. My teacher in Japan once described the leg action in tai-otoshi as an afterthought. The man should be almost thrown before you use the trip.