LESSON: TW-01 TAI OTOSHI

Description: This is a hands technique, Te Waza, in the Kodokan classification.

Tori: Sensei
Uke: Dale Spies
Production:Webmaster Rafael Figueroa

Photo 1: Sensei Figueroa explaining the details of the technique Photo 2: Projection or Kake of the throw

Photo 3: Right frontal oblique unbalance Kuzushi and 45¼ entry with respect to Uke's sustentation base. Photo 4: Open distance in parallel between the bodies of Tori and Uke

Photo 5: Closed distance in parallel and with Tori's hip support Photo 6: Unbalance direction Kuzushi of Uke's torso, in closed contact

Photo 7: Unbalance direction Kuzushi of Uke's torso, in opened contact Photo 8: Frontal position of Tori's feet when entering Tai sabaki

Photo 9: Posterior position of Tori's feet when entering Tai sabaki Photo 10: Right grip Kumikata with arm and hand pushing upward

Photo 11: Right grip Kumikata bending the elbow to the side and pushing forward Photo 12: Right grip Kumikata with straight arm toward the side and pressing upon the neck making Uke to spin

Photo 13: Right grip Kumikata with the arm as in Morote Seoinage with forward traction Photo 14: Right grip Kumikata with the arm and hand pushing upward, and knee on the tatami

COMMENTARY:

There are three types of Tai Otoshi: To the front, to the side, and to the back. In this lesson, we are presenting the Tai Otoshi to the front, which is the most common.

As in any other Judo technique, there are certain variables that should be taken under consideration in the execution of a technique, as: Kuzushi, Tsukuri, Kake, Angle, Distance, Displacement, Unbalance, Direction, Orientation, Time, and Speed.

It is also important to realize that each individual has a particular morphology of his body, specific physical skills, and specific experience in the discipline. In this sense, it is advisable to look for the best match of the skills with the technique or waza. The mechanics of the throw o waza must harmonize with the bio-mechanical characteristics of the athlete in order to reach efficiency in the performance.

In this throw it is also important the spin of Tori's torso. The direction can have 2 orientations: pulling the torso to the left in a circular form, or bending the torso downward in a lineal form.

There are beautiful and elegant techniques that have lost popularity or preference in the last tournaments due to the reason that they require mastery and high technical performance. They are: Hane goshi, Harai goshi, Tai otoshi, O guruma, Sumi otoshi, Uki otoshi, Tsuri komi goshi, Yoko guruma, Uki waza, and other more.

Tai ogoshi is a beautiful and spectacular throw that requires a lot of study, dedication, patience, and thousands of repetitions in Uchi komi, and more importantly, to analyze if this throw harmonize with the bio-mechanical characteristics of the athlete.