Tsuri-goshi (lifting hip throw) is a hip throw from the third group of the gokyo. Tori grips uke's belt at the back, lifts uke onto the toes and takes uke over the hip. It comes in two forms, o-tsuri-goshi and ko-tsuri-goshi. You rarely see the pure form in competition. Still, no other throw teaches you as well to load a partner with your legs instead of your arms.
The hip throw family and where tsuri-goshi fits
Like o-goshi, uki-goshi and tsurikomi-goshi, it belongs to the koshi-waza. What sets it apart is the hand that provides the lever:
| Technique | Right hand (right-handed tori) |
|---|---|
| O-goshi | arm around the waist |
| Tsurikomi-goshi | lapel, lifting upward |
| Koshi-guruma | around the neck |
| Tsuri-goshi | belt at the back |
It sits in the third group of the gokyo, after the simpler hip throws of the first group. The logic is clear. First you learn to place the hip, then you learn to lift.
Two grips, two throws
In o-tsuri-goshi (major), the right hand reaches over uke's left arm and grabs the belt in the middle of the back. Upper-body control is strong. In ko-tsuri-goshi (minor), the hand goes under uke's armpit. Uke's arm stays free above it, which makes uke harder to control, but the entry is lower and faster.
Start with o-tsuri-goshi. Your partner is held more securely and the fall is more predictable.
Tsuri-goshi from kuzushi to kake
Kuzushi. The left hand (hikite) pulls the sleeve forward and up. The right hand lifts the belt. Uke rises onto the toes. This double action comes before the entry.
Tsukuri. Tori turns in as for o-goshi but bends the knees more. The hips go well below uke's, lower than in any other hip throw. Both feet end up inside uke's feet.
Kake. Tori straightens the legs. Extending the knees is what lifts uke. The hand on the belt only keeps contact. Turning the shoulders to the left finishes the throw.
For a refresher on how these three phases connect in general, read our article on kuzushi, tsukuri and kake.
Typical mistakes
- Pulling the belt with the arm to lift. You tire out and uke stays on the mat.
- Entering with straight legs. Your hips arrive level with uke's, not underneath.
- Letting go of the sleeve. Without hikite, uke spins around you and lands on the feet.
- Holding the belt and waiting for the right moment. In randori, uke takes advantage. In competition, so does the referee.
Counters and follow-ups
A badly placed hip is a gift to uke. Uke drops the hips, wraps tori around the waist and lifts with utsuri-goshi or ushiro-goshi. Uke can also step around you and block you from behind.
For tori, if uke pulls the hips back to defend, the weight goes backward. O-uchi-gari or ko-soto-gake become possible without changing grips. The belt grip also lets you switch to harai-goshi when uke steps around the hip.
Tsuri-goshi in randori and in BJJ
In randori, a belt grip often shows up after a messy grip exchange, when uke bends forward. That is the moment to lift. Ko-tsuri-goshi is also handy against an opponent who clamps the elbow to the side. Before making it your main weapon, check the belt grip section of the judo rules.
A belt grip at the back is common in gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and the hip throws that come from it are close to tsuri-goshi. The rules there are less strict about how long you can hold that grip.
Learn to lift before you throw
Work the lift on its own first. Tori enters, gets under uke and straightens the legs until uke leaves the mat, without throwing. Ten reps are enough to tell whether your hips are low enough. Then full uchi-komi, then nage-komi. Our view: these loading drills carry over to all your hip throws. A judoka who can lift a partner in tsuri-goshi never does an arms-only o-goshi again.