Ura-nage (back throw) is a rear sacrifice throw from the fifth group of the gokyo. Tori wraps uke, drops below his center of gravity, then arches and falls backward to send him over one shoulder. In practice it is mostly a counter.
Why judoka love ura-nage
It is one of the most spectacular throws in judo. Uke flies through a full arc and lands hard, which is why it shows up so often in competition highlight reels. It also has real tactical value. It punishes poorly prepared attacks, the ones where your opponent steps in without breaking your balance first.
In the Kodokan classification it sits in the ma-sutemi-waza (rear sacrifice techniques) of nage-waza, in the fifth group of the gokyo. In the nage-no-kata, uke strikes toward tori's head. Tori ducks, moves to the side and throws.
How to do ura-nage
Take a counter against an o-soto-gari attack, with a right-handed tori defending a right-sided attack.
Step in and wrap
Uke steps in to reap. Instead of backing off, you take a small step toward him. Your left arm goes behind his waist, hand on the belt or the back of the jacket. Your right hand goes flat on his stomach or chest.
Get low
Bend your knees hard to bring your hips under his. Your hips end up lower than his and your chest stays tight against his side. This is the most important phase. It is also the one people rush.
Throw
Drive up and back with your legs. The right hand pushes his stomach toward the ceiling while the left arm clamps him to you. Arch and fall backward, turning your head to the left. Uke goes over your left shoulder and lands on his back.
That final turn separates a clean ura-nage from a crash. Without it you land flat and uke falls on top of you, or on his head.
Common beginner mistakes
- Not getting low. You try to lift someone taller than you, and he only has to bend his knees to stop you.
- Throwing straight back like a wrestler. Uke risks landing on his head.
- Letting go of the belt in the air.
- Attempting it against an uke already bent forward. Switch to yoko-guruma, which is designed for that situation.
When to use ura-nage in a match
Ura-nage shines as a counter, mainly against o-soto-gari and against right-sided leg attacks that bring you chest to chest. It also punishes an uchi-mata thrown without kuzushi. The common thread is simple: uke has committed toward you and is standing tall.
It suits judoka with strong legs and a low center of gravity. Against a much heavier opponent it remains possible if the entry is perfect, but the margin for error becomes tiny.
In opposite stance (right vs left), counters to o-soto-gari are still the most common. Just adapt the direction of your turn to the shoulder uke must go over.
Ura-nage outside judo
Wrestlers use back throws from the same family, and you see them in MMA when an opponent goes for a standing back take. The judogi changes things, though. Gripping the belt and jacket gives a level of control you do not get without a gi.
Drills and safety
Only teach it to judoka who already have a perfect rolling forward breakfall. Before that stage, the risk to the neck is too high.
- Uke stands still. Tori enters and drops without throwing, and you check hip height.
- Uke on a crash mat. Tori throws slowly while uke goes with it.
- Counter on an announced o-soto-gari, then an unannounced one.
Keep one simple rule in randori. If uke is stiff and you are not under him, let it go. A forced ura-nage is the surest way to injure a training partner, and the next counter chance will come anyway.