Hane-goshi (spring hip throw) is a hip throw from the third group of the gokyo. Tori loads uke onto the hip and lifts with a bent leg in one sharp, springing motion. It sits between harai-goshi and uchi-mata. That is probably why you rarely hear its name in competition: plenty of judoka do it without knowing and call it something else.
Hane-goshi vs harai-goshi vs uchi-mata
All three share the same turning entry and the same forward kuzushi. The difference is the attacking leg. For a right-hander:
| Technique | Tori's right leg | Where it hits uke |
|---|---|---|
| Harai-goshi | straight, sweeps | outside of the right thigh |
| Hane-goshi | bent, springs upward | inside of the right leg |
| Uchi-mata | straight, rises between the legs | inside of the left thigh |
Hane-goshi is a koshi-waza (hip technique) in the nage-waza catalog. The hip stays in contact from start to finish. The hip carries uke and the leg adds the spring.
Setting up the spring: grips and kuzushi
A standard sleeve-and-lapel grip is enough. The hikite pulls uke's right sleeve up and forward. The tsurite lifts the lapel and glues uke's chest to your back. Uke should rise onto the toes of the right foot. If you do not feel that weight come forward, save the hip for later. Kuzushi is not optional here, because without it the bent leg has nothing to lift.
How to do hane-goshi in four beats
- Entry: right foot in front of uke's right foot, pivot, left foot brought in between uke's feet.
- Contact: the right hip slides under uke's belly, slightly more to the side than in harai-goshi.
- Loading: the right leg bends with the knee turned in. The outside of your leg presses against the inside of uke's right leg.
- Release: the leg snaps up and out while the hands and shoulders turn to the left.
It should feel like letting go of a compressed spring. The motion is short and explosive. Anything that looks like a slow sweep is a different throw.
The corrections coaches make most
A very common fault is a leg that bends but hangs in the air with no contact. The spring fires into nothing. Another is a stiff, straight supporting leg, which stops the hip dropping under uke. Some players also turn the head the wrong way and end up on their backside.
Then there is technique drift. A hane-goshi whose leg straightens becomes harai-goshi. One that slides between the legs becomes uchi-mata. In randori that hardly matters, but learn to feel the difference because it decides which combinations will work for you.
Hane-goshi-gaeshi and other counters
Hane-goshi-gaeshi is the Kodokan's dedicated counter. Uke blocks the rising leg with their own and reverses the rotation. Against a hip that comes in too high, uke drops the hips and lifts tori into utsuri-goshi. Ushiro-goshi is another option.
For tori, the natural follow-up when uke walks around the hip is hane-makikomi. You release the lapel, wrap the arm and finish with body weight. Before the attack, ko-uchi-gari or o-uchi-gari make uke step forward and set up the kuzushi.
When to use it in a match
Hane-goshi suits medium builds with explosive legs. In same stance (ai-yotsu) it lands well when uke steps the right leg forward to block your hip, because that is the very leg you are about to lift. Against a much taller opponent it struggles. Your hip stays below their belt, and they only have to bend forward.
Drills to feel the spring
Do uchi-komi that stop at the loading phase with the bent leg in contact. Then practice the release alone, without throwing, feeling uke come off the floor. Heavier partners help you calibrate the effort. A useful set is three hane-goshi then three harai-goshi in a row with the same grip, to isolate the leg action. One last tip: in your training journal, write down the technique you actually did in randori, not the one you meant to do.