Basic Principles for Tachi Waza (Standing Judo)

Nick Lowry

• Be offensively oriented
• Every time a foot moves you have a chance
• Get religious with the line conditions: on, down and ,across the line
• Point your foot in the direction of the throw
• Keep weight on the ball of the foot, knees slightly bent—cat like
• Keep posture upright (don’t get sucked into jigotai)
• Grip with little fingers-loose upper fingers
• Grip lapel at shoulder level
• Grip sleeve with wrist down and elbow in
• Turning causes two pulls- elbow up and elbow in
• Elbow in is locked to your ribs using the pecs and lats
• Eyes at the heart/chest
• Never block for defense, always counter with movement– dance out
• Work with graduated resistance
• For sweeps and reaps: point the toe and flex from the knee-not upper leg
• At the intermediate stage work all ashiwaza from progressively smaller steps
• Hip throws are crack of the butt on the lead thigh (posture may distort to accommodate)
• Fulcrum of hip throw is the HIP
• Shoulder throws , fulcrum is shoulder—posture stays straight
• At the intermediate stage, work all big throws from all stepping conditions
• Hands stay light –don’t hang weight on the grip
• Hands always support foot actions
• Stay in step (mostly)
• Work with continuous movement
• Throw on the move – don’t stop the center to throw
• Work for kuzushi on the step
• In beginning stage– lots of nagekomi (no resistance –trading throws)
• Intermediate to advanced stage –renraku waza — esp. foot sweep to control drill including all ashiwaza on both sides
• Advanced and for competitors: stugeiko and renzoku (consistent consecutive attack against conditions of resistance within prescribed rules)


Te Waza: Hand Techniques

Seoi Nage — shoulder throw

Morote Seoi Nage — two arm shoulder throw

Tai Otoshi — body drop

Sukui Nage — scooping throw

Kata Guruma — shoulder wheel

Uki Otoshi — floating drop

Sumi Otoshi — rear corner drop

Te Waza Pointers


Ashi Waza – Foot Techniques

O Soto Gari — major outside reap

O Uchi Gari — major inside reap

Ko Uchi Gari — minor inside reap

Ko Soto Gari — minor outside reap

Deashi Harai — advancing foot sweep

Okuri Ashi Harai — double foot sweep

Hiza Guruma — knee wheel

Ashi Guruma — foot wheel

Harai Tsurikomi Ashi — lifting pulling foot sweep

O Soto Guruma — major outside wheel

Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi — lifting pulling foot prop

Uchi Mata — inner thigh reap

O Guruma — big wheel