Tai-otoshi (body drop) sits in the second group of the gokyo, right before harai-goshi and uchi-mata. Tori turns in front of uke, extends a leg across uke's shins as a block and tips uke over it with the hands. There is no hip contact. Uke trips over the leg and falls in front of tori.
The Kodokan classifies it as te-waza, a hand technique. Knowing that helps you get it right.
A hand technique with a straight leg
Beginners see a straight leg and assume it is a leg throw. It is not. In tai-otoshi the leg does not reap and does not sweep. It blocks. The throwing action comes from the hands, which turn uke like a steering wheel.
That puts it close to seoi-nage, another te-waza among the nage-waza, and far from the hip throws. If you feel your hip touching uke, it is no longer tai-otoshi.
The hands do the work
For a right-hander, the left hand (hikite) pulls uke's right sleeve forward and then around to your left in an arc. Elbow high. The right hand (tsurite) pushes the lapel up and then to the left, forearm against uke's chest.
Together they rotate uke toward the front right corner. That is the kuzushi, and it keeps going for the whole throw.
Footwork, step by step
- Right foot in front of uke's right foot, on the inside, toes pointing left.
- Pivot. Your left foot swings back and lands in front of uke's left foot, on the outside. Left knee bent, carrying all your weight.
- Your right leg extends across uke's right shin, at ankle height or low on the shin. Knee slightly bent at first, then straight.
- Your body is turned three-quarters, with no hip contact.
- The hands turn. Uke tips over your leg and lands in front of you.
At the end your leg straightens like a spring. That is the final nudge, not the engine of the throw.
Common mistakes
- Placing the leg too early. Uke sees it, steps over it and you are left off balance.
- Pressing your hip into uke. It turns into a poor hip throw without the lift that a hip throw needs.
- Pulling down. Uke bends over, the hips go back and the leg no longer blocks anything.
- Kicking. The leg blocks. It does not strike.
Counters and uke's answers
An uke who feels the leg will step over it or pull the foot back. If uke steps back, the weight goes onto the heels, so follow up with ko-uchi-gari or o-uchi-gari since you are already close.
Direct counters exist too. Uke can block and drive tori backward, because tori is balanced on one leg. Or uke can scoop tori up with ura-nage if the turn was too slow.
Why competitors like it
Tai-otoshi lets you attack without committing fully. It adapts to many grips and works against taller opponents, since you only need to reach their legs.
It has another strength. It punishes an uke who steps around a shoulder throw. When you go for seoi-nage and uke escapes to the side, tai-otoshi is often the answer on the same rotation.
Related throws
Several te-waza share its idea of blocking or rotating. Uki-otoshi throws with no leg at all, using only the hands and a dropped knee. Seoi-otoshi adds a load on the shoulder. Comparing the three is a good way to understand what the leg really does in tai-otoshi.
BJJ players like tai-otoshi because tori never fully turns the back and can follow uke to the ground. Our BJJ vs judo comparison covers these cultural differences in more detail.
Drills
Uchi-komi with no leg: turn and rotate uke with the hands alone until uke loses balance. Then add the leg. If uke already falls without it, your hand work is good.
Our advice: learn tai-otoshi on both sides. It is one of the few throws you can land on your weak side without years of work, and a judoka who attacks both ways is much harder to read.