Hifumi Abe's Sode

When you think of Hifumi Abe (JPN), morote-seoi-nage normally comes to mind. But he's also a sode-tsurikomi-goshi expert and he can do many combinations off his unique sode movement (e.g. osoto, kouchi, tai-otoshi). Oon Yeoh analysed the outstanding Japanese specialist.

Normally, players will do sode to the opposite side of their normal stance. Kaori Matsumoto, a right-hander, would throw sode to the left. Naohisa Takato, a left-hander, would throw his sode to the right. So, would Joshiro Maruyama (a left-hander who throws to the right).

But Hifumi Abe (much like his sister, Uta Abe), defies convention by throwing to the right despite the fact that they are right-handers. Conventional wisdom says that as righties, they should be throwing to the left.

Normally, Abe would take a traditional right-hand grip with his right hand holding uke's left lapel. When he wants to do sode, he doesn't adopt such a grip. Instead, he goes for a double-sleeve grip.

His entry into the attack is identical to his morote-seoi-nage. He's basically doing morote-seoi but off the sleeve grip rather than the lapel grip. He turns in, and with his right elbow leading, he throws his opponents over just as he would when doing morote-seoi-nage.

Abe normally does his sode as a standing throw but he's been known to do a drop version too, from time to time, especially when dealing with an opponent who likes to adopt a very low stance. Most of the time, he is able to do it standing though.

Subscribe to JudoCrazy's Patreon website