The Impact Of Gripping Style On The Pulling And Lifting Hands In Seoi-nage

PURPOSE: Previous studies have analyzed Seoi-nage biomechanics, yet few examined the impact of Judo gi collar structure on technique. This study measures the forces of the pulling (hikite) and lifting (tsurite) hands during Seoi-nage and investigates differences between Right Grip (holding the opponent's collar with the right hand) and Left Grip (holding with the left hand) influenced by collar positioning. With Judo grips generally classified as Right, Left, or ambidextrous, the findings aim to support tailored instruction for each Seoi-nage entry. METHODS: The participant was a 2023 Asian Games Judo -66 kg champion. Using a load cell, forces of hikite and tsurite were measured across six collar conditions, defined by three settings (normal, reversed, slightly out) and two displacement levels (no, partial, full). A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) also captured tori (thrower) and uke (receiver) subjective control and force ease. RESULTS: VAS scores in the fourth condition (reversed collar with partial displacement) were highest for "feeling forced" and "difficulty in control." Load cell results indicated the lowest hikite (454.1 N ± 19.3) and tsurite (267.4 N ± 14.5) forces in this scenario. With slight collar displacement, tsurite force in the fifth condition (302.7 N ± 19.0) was significantly lower than in the second (390.3 N ± 15.8) (p < 0.05), showing collar displacement’s effect on force. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest force variations between Right and Left Grip Seoi-nage and highlight grip-specific approaches for efficiency and injury prevention. Insights support tailored instruction for optimal Seoi-nage performance and safety.