Uki Otoshi – Floating Drop

Uki otoshi, or “floating drop,” is one of the traditional forty throws of Judo as developed by Jigoro Kano. It belongs to the fourth group, Dai Yonkyo, of the traditional throwing list, Gokyo-no-Nagewaza, of Kodokan Judo. It is also part of the current 67 Throws of Kodokan Judo.

Uki Otoshi – Floating Drop Demo

Uki Otoshi KUZUSHI

From a right natural posture (migi shizentai), step forward with your left foot, causing Uke to retreat with his right. Then step back widely with your left foot and as his right foot advances use your arms and hands to break Uke’s balance to his right front corner (migi mae sumi).

TSUKURI

The instant the weight of Uke’s body is on the point of shifting onto his right foot, twist your upper body sharply to the left. Pull down with your left hand on Uke’s sleeve and push up with your right hand on his lapel. These movements must be perfectly coordinated.

Note: The throw in this technique is performed in the same direction as Uke is moving. Unlike Sumi Otoshi in which case you are throwing Uke in the opposite direction of movement. Don’t confuse the two.

Special Note: The entire effectiveness of this technique comes from the strong action of your hands at the very moment his body weight is transferring from one foot to the other. (A variation of the above form is to drop to your left knee as you pull downward with your hands, thereby adding the strength and power of your body weight tot the hand movement. This is generally considered to be the strongest method of executing Uki Otoshi and is the method selected for use in the Nage-No-Kata.

If properly timed and executed Uke with be thrown towards his migi mae sumi – the direction in which his balance has been destroyed.

KAKE

As your hands steer Uke through the air, Uke should execute a forward roll in the air landing on his back. Uke falls “over his own right foot” in a large semicircle