浮腰 Uki-goshi floating hip throw

Uki-goshi in detail

Reference video

Classification

Uki-goshi (浮腰, "floating hip") is the fourth throw of the first group (Dai Ikkyo) of the Kodokan Gokyo and the first hip technique (koshi-waza) a judoka learns. It was one of Jigoro Kano's favourite throws. Unlike O-goshi, Tori does not turn the whole hip across and lift with the legs: Tori enters with a half turn, only the right hip is brought in, and the throw comes from the twist of Tori's upper body – Uke "floats" over the hip without being lifted.

Principle

Tori draws Uke forward so that the weight comes onto the right foot, steps in with a half turn and fixes Uke against the right hip with the arm around Uke's back. The hip acts as a pivot: when Tori twists the upper body to the left and keeps pulling the sleeve, Uke tips to his right over the hip, dives horizontally in front of Tori and rolls over the right shoulder. The legs come over on Tori's right side and Uke lands on the back beside Tori.

Grips (kumikata)

The animation shows two right-handed judoka in ai-yotsu: both stand in migi shizentai (right foot forward) and grip the same way – right hand on the partner's left lapel, left hand on the partner's right sleeve.

• Left hand (hikite): the outside of Uke's right sleeve at the elbow. It draws Uke forward and then pulls the sleeve around and down during the twist.
• Right hand (tsurite): starts on Uke's left lapel; during the entry the right arm goes around Uke's back, hand flat on the back at belt height.

Step-by-step

1. Draw: pull Uke forward with the left hand, so that the weight comes onto Uke's right foot.
2. Step in: step the right foot in front of Uke's right foot and make a half turn to the left on it, bringing the left foot back – you stay side-on to Uke.
3. Hip and arm: bring only the right hip against Uke's belly and wrap the right arm around Uke's back, hand flat at belt height. Stay fairly upright.
4. Twist: twist the upper body to the left while the left hand keeps pulling the sleeve. Uke tips over your right hip and rolls over the right shoulder.
5. Finish: stay balanced and keep the sleeve, so that Uke lands under control on the back beside you – head by your right foot, legs out to the side – slapping the mat with the left arm.

Key points to get right

These points are also shown as callouts in the animation at the moment they matter.

• Draw Uke forward onto the right foot. Without kuzushi Uke stays heavy and can block the hip.
• Step in with the right foot and turn. One clean step and a half turn bring your right hip exactly to Uke's belly.
• Half turn: right hip to Uke's belly, arm around the back. Only the right hip, not the full hip as in O-goshi – the arm around Uke's back keeps Uke tight to it.
• Twist to the left – Uke rolls over the right shoulder. The throw comes from the twist of the upper body and the sleeve pull, not from lifting with the legs.
• Keep the sleeve, stay balanced. A controlled finish gives Uke a safe landing.

Variations and related techniques

• O-goshi: the hips go deeper and Uke is lifted with the legs across the whole back.
• Tsuri-goshi: the right hand grips Uke's belt over the shoulder or under the arm and lifts.
• Koshi-guruma: the right arm goes around Uke's neck and the hips go further across.
• Harai-goshi: the same entry, with the right leg sweeping Uke's legs.

Combinations and counters

Set-ups: a feint with Ko-uchi-gari or O-uchi-gari makes Uke step forward onto the right foot; when Uke resists by pulling back, O-uchi-gari or Ko-soto-gari can follow. Counters (kaeshi-waza): Uke can step around the hip and counter with Uki-goshi or Tani-otoshi, or lift Tori with Ushiro-goshi when Tori enters without kuzushi.

Safety for teaching

Uke rolls over the right shoulder close to Tori and needs a reliable forward roll and breakfall onto the back with a left-arm slap. Teach the entry and the hip contact first as uchi-komi; then throw slowly with Tori keeping the sleeve and lifting slightly at the end. Throw in front of you, not onto your own feet, and keep the area free.