A helpful handful: 5 great sacrifices for dealing with an overwhelming opponent

Judo as a self-defense art excels in one particular situation that can give other martial artists sweating terrors – that is, when the defender is surprised and rushed and overwhelmed and borne down to the ground.  In this situation, judo’s sacrifice throws crop up and often save the day. Following are five of my favorites.  I’ve said it before and I'll say it again – don’t practice these things without a good coach and a good falling surface.  For safety's sake we don't mess with these things until about brown belt, but if you are a judoka you owe it to yourself to (at least eventually) become proficient at these particular sacrifices.

• tomoenage or yokotomoenage or sumigaeshi
• yoko wakare
• uranage
• yoko guruma
  
• makikomi