A lot of great Judo athletes have the height advantage, but there are plenty of throws that the short guys can utilize, too.
The Judo throws that short guys can use are Harai Goshi, Seoi Nage, Kata Guruma, Sumi Otoshi, Morote Gari, and Kibisu Gaeshi. These throws mainly need speed to be successfully performed, making them best for smaller and automatically faster Judokas.
Are you short? Donât let that hinder you from learning, Judoka. Below are some of the throws that fit your body type.
Table of Contents
6. Harai Goshi (Hip throw)
To do a successful Judo hip throw, you must first have a good collar and tricep grip on your opponent. When you have that grip locked, itâs up to you to find the right timing to explode.
With the right timing; all you need to do is pivot your lead foot, turn around and align your lower back on the side of your opponent’s hip.
While in this position, be sure to maintain the collar and tricep grip because you need this to finish the throw.
The last thing to do is to bend your upper body forward and do a slight jerk with your lower back to throw your opponent forward.
The Judo hip throw has given former UFC women’s Bantamweight queen, Ronda Rousey (5â7), success inside the octagon. She used this throw to set up various Judo submissions and MMA ground and pound.
This is great for small Judokas because Judo’s hip throw needs speed and explosiveness to be effective. Fortunately, these two characteristics can be found in small guys.
5. Seoi Nage (Shoulder throw)
Seoi Nage has the same first steps as the Harai Goshi. In this throw, you must secure a good collar and arm grip before anything else.
After that, pivot your lead foot and turn around like in the hip throw. The only difference is that you align your back directly in front of your opponentâs body.
Right after that, bend your upper body forward and jerk your lower back to throw your enemy in front.
You must pull the arm that youâre holding. This will help you throw the person easier, no matter how tall they are.
This throw is widely used by all Judokas, regardless of their height and weight, even in Judo Olympic events.
4. Kata Guruma (Shoulder wheel)
Kata Guruma or shoulder wheel can be used by small guys when fighting taller opponents as long as theyâre in the same weight class. So, think carefully if you plan to do this in a street fight.
To perform this throw properly, you need good timing and speed. When it comes to speed, smaller guys have the advantage.
The first thing to do is to have a good collar grip. Proceed to grab the tricep area and push it upwards. After that, put your head under the armpit of the arm you pushed upward.
Right after that, let go of the collar grab and put that arm on the middle of your opponentâs thigh. Doing that will allow you to control your enemyâs lower body.
After these steps, you can now proceed to lift your opponent with your shoulders by standing up straight.
To perform the throw, slightly tilt your body to where your opponentâs head is facing. This will allow them to fall back first.
Fun fact, Kata Gurama is used by WWE superstar John Cena. He did this to a 7-foot Wrestler, The Great Khali; Cena is only 6-foot tall.
3. Sumi Otoshi (Corner drop)
Corner drop, traditionally known as the Sumi Otoshi, is excellent for small Judokas because it only needs good timing and proper hand placement.
You donât need extra-long limbs for leg trips or a good reach. If you have the strength and you know the basics of this move, thereâs nothing to worry about.
Hold your opponentâs Gi collar and tricep section at the same time. After that, press forward; you must make your opponent step back at an excellent speed to gain enough momentum for the throw.
After gaining enough momentum, you must pull your enemyâs collar towards your shoulder and lift it slightly. When lifting the collar area, perform an abrupt push on that same part.
This push will cause your opponent to fall down, no matter how tall they are.
During all this process, be sure to keep your other hand nicely gripped on your opponentâs triceps.
The tricep grip will immobilize your opponentâs arm, preventing any reversals and counterattacks.
2. Morote Gari (Two-hand reap)
Morote Gari is more popularly known as a double-leg take-down. This throw/takedown is widely used in Judo and BJJ, Wrestling, and MMA.
Many small fighters, such as Demetrious Johnson in MMA, succeeded with this throw against taller opponents. As long as you have the timing and the correct hand placement, youâre good.
To do a Morote Gari, you must first eliminate both of your opponentâs hands by pushing them upwards or pulling them to one side. This is to prevent any counter-throw attempts.
Itâs crucial to prevent counters before anything else because youâll commit all of your body to the throw. Judo submissions such as the guillotine choke are usually effective in preventing a double leg.
After getting your opponentâs hands out of the way, itâs time for you to change levels and put both of your hands on your enemyâs popliteal fossa.
The final step is to pull your opponentâs legs towards your armpit and use your shoulders to push their chest to help destroy their balance.
Be sure not to follow your opponent to the ground. The final position must be them laying on their back and you’re standing in front of them with their ankle clipped under your armpit.
1. Kibisu Gaeshi (Heel trip reversal)
Kibisu Gaeshi is a heel trip throw. This throw is suitable for short guys because it only needs good timing to pull off. All in all, itâs one of the easiest and most effective in real-life and tournament situations.
To perform this throw, you must grab your opponentâs Gi collar and tricep section with both hands. After that, step one of your legs to simulate a pushing motion.
Right after pushing your opponent, proceed to pull them backward. Let go of the collar and kneel with one leg at the end of the pulling motion.
After changing levels, keep your hand on your opponentâs tricep and use your remaining hand to pull their foot. If youâre holding the left bicep, you must aim to pull the left foot on the opposite side.
Choosing to perform this throw on a street brawl is a good choice. A heel trip is almost a guaranteed take down to an unexpecting opponent.
This is also a great move to perform during a Judo tournament if youâre facing a taller guy because height wonât matter if you have a good grip on their foot.
What makes this throw even better is its level of difficulty. Not only Judo red belts can do it, but it can also be performed by low-level white belts as well.