Tomoe Nage aka circle throw is a sacrifice technique which brings your opponent over your body using your feet for support. It is almost like a backward somersault with your opponent along for the ride.
-
You have double sleeve grips. Uke is pushing into you and slightly bent over.
-
Tug down on both sleeves. Uke reacts by stiffening upright and freezing.
-
Step in to the side of the triangle slightly with your left foot.
-
Bring your right foot to his stomach with your toes pointed towards his head if possible. When you first roll onto your back, don’t have your leg extended yet. Pull him over you with the leg in his stomach bent, then extend as you feel his weight come over top. If you have your leg extended before he is over top, it will nullify the pulling of your arms.
-
Fall down to your back right under his feet. Don’t fall back too far away. You have to be under him. This is the most important part.
-
As you roll back, pull with his sleeves and push with your foot so he goes up and over. When you do the throw, pull on his arms as if you want to pull them up and over your head, don’t just pull his arms to your chest. Arms up and behind you. Also have your foot act like a spring. Don’t try to push him off too early or kick either – just use a powerful spring-like push.
-
Most likely, Uke will try to regain his balance and fall to the side or on top of you. Use your sleeve grips as a steering wheel. If he posts with one hand, pull that sleeve and push with the other to destroy his post and tumble him over that way.
-
Finish with mount.
It is important to keep the sleeve grip on the same side and I throw my foot into him for control and so he can’t post that way. The key to judo throws is the continuous pulling with your arms. A lot of techniques get screwed up because students start pulling with their arms but as the throw goes on they stop. It also helps control the opponent.
I usually try to push hard into the guy and then whip under as he pushes back. Kashiwazaki used a similar double sleeve grip in his famous version of tomoe-nage at his 1981 World Champs finals match. He set it up using an exaggurated kouchi gari.
Usually, it is good to do yoko tomoe nage more than regular tomoe too according to my instructors, but I seem to do better with straight-over-my-head version. Yoko usually works better since your opponent usually tries to sidestep out of a straight tomoe nage.
In wrestling, I like to do this move from an overhook (on the opposite side as the leg I extend to his stomach) and a collar or inside-elbow grip. I forget what the name of the takedown in folkstyle is called, though.
Here are some good links about Tomoe nage:
