Irimi Nage – Gozo Shioda Signature Variation

This video is an excerpt of Gozo Shioda demonstrating his signature Irimi Nage. To perform this Irimi Nage, Shioda places his palm under or on uke’s chin, echoing the structural principles of Kenji Tomiki’s Shomen Ate, where control of the head and spine is central. Unlike Tomiki’s primarily linear forward push, Shioda executes a circular movement: the hand rises from beneath the chin, arcs upward to lift and unbalance uke, and then follows a downward trajectory that guides uke’s head and body to the ground. Throughout the throw, Shioda’s palm maintains contact with uke’s chin practically until they reach the mat, and with just a few additional centimeters of follow-through, the technique could easily drive the head into the ground. To maintain this fluid arc, Shioda keeps his legs relatively straight and folds forward at the hips, using his body weight and gravity to drive the technique.