OBI OTOSHI The Belt Drop Throw
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Obi Otoshi·welcomematstevescott
Obi Otoshi is the Belt Drop and it's not a commonly used throwing technique. It is part of the Kodokan Judo syllabus. G…
Obi Otoshi
SubFamily帯落(Obi Otoshi)
TraditionalTranslation: belt drop
Overview
Obi Otoshi is a judo hand technique where the attacker grabs the opponent's belt, lifts them, and drops them to the ground. [1] The attacker secures a deep grip on the opponent's belt with both hands, pulls them close, lifts them off the mat, and drops or throws them to the side. [1] It requires significant upper body strength and is classified in the Gokyo no Waza under te-waza. [1]
Obi-OtoshiJPBelt Drop ThrowObiotoshi
History & Origin
Classified in the Kodokan Judo syllabus. [1]
Effectiveness
A powerful lifting throw that works best against smaller or lighter opponents. [1] The belt grip provides exceptional control over the opponent's body. Less common in modern competition due to the difficulty of securing deep belt grips, but devastating in no-gi when a body lock replaces the belt grip. [1]
Lineage
Kodokan judo lineage: Jigoro Kano (1860–1938) systematized this technique as part of the Kodokan judo curriculum. Transmitted through the Kodokan instructor system to judo federations worldwide. Adopted into BJJ through Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → the Gracie family lineage. [1]
Competition Record
Recognized Kodokan judo technique but rarely seen in modern IJF competition due to rule changes favoring forward-throwing techniques. Occasionally appears in kata demonstrations and regional tournaments. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Grip opponent's belt with both hands, lift, and drop/throw to the side
Joints Involved — Both arms (belt grip), hips and legs (lifting power), core (rotation for throw direction)
Force Vector — Upward (lift) then downward and sideways (drop/throw)
Impact — Opponent dropped from lifted height
Position & Entry
From close range — Secure deep belt grips with both hands, squat slightly, lift opponent, rotate and drop
After clinch break — Break opponent's grip, immediately grab belt and execute
Variants
Forward Obi Otoshi — lifting and throwing forward
Sideways Obi Otoshi — lifting and dropping to the side
Spinning Obi Otoshi — rotating while lifting
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Opponent is lifted and dropped.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
IJF Judo— Kodokan classified technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025PDFUnified MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFTraining Notes
✓The belt grip must be DEEP — fingers wrapped around the belt, not just pinching
✓Lift with the LEGS, not the back — squat under the opponent's center of gravity
✓The drop must be controlled — don't just release, direct the opponent's fall
✓This technique requires close body contact to be effective
Common Mistakes
!Shallow belt grip — can't generate lifting power
!Lifting with the back instead of legs — injury risk
!Not getting close enough — the lift is impossible from distance
!Releasing too early — opponent lands on their feet instead of being thrown
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Grip fight to secure belt → pull close → lift and throw
2Push opponent to the ropes/wall → secure belt as they bounce back → lift
3After a failed hip throw → switch to belt grip → Obi Otoshi
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
1BookKano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
[1] Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
[1] Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
Community
Athletics
Requires
strong grip for belt control, powerful legs for lifting, core strength
Key muscles
forearms (grip), quadriceps (squat + lift), erector spinae, core
Notes
Obi otoshi (belt drop) lifts the opponent using the belt grip and drops them. Classified as a te-waza (hand technique) in Kodokan judo. The technique depends heavily on the belt grip, which is restricted under some modern competition rules. (Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the key body mechanics I should focus on when spinning for obi otoshi?
Think of yourself as opening a door—you need to hinge at your center as you spin, rotating into your opponent rather than just turning sideways. This hinging motion is crucial for both obi otoshi and similar throws like seoi nage.
Where should I grab the belt and what's my hand placement?
Grab the belt quickly during grip fighting, typically with one hand on the belt and your other hand on the lapel. According to Steve Scott, he prefers his left hand on the belt with his right on the lapel, and the idea is to create a low point and high point to execute the throw.
Should I grab just a section of the belt or the whole leg area?
Grab the whole leg area because you'll have a solid 'hook of meat' there that you can use to throw with effectively. Your partner will squat low and use their body to go backwards as you lift them in the air.
How does the Obi Otoshi work?
Obi Otoshi is a judo hand technique where the attacker grabs the opponent's belt, lifts them, and drops them to the ground. The attacker secures a deep grip on the opponent's belt with both hands, pulls them close, lifts them off the mat, and drops or throws them to the side.
Where does the Obi Otoshi come from?
Classified in the Kodokan Judo syllabus.
Is the Obi Otoshi legal in competition?
IJF Judo: Legal: legal — Kodokan classified technique; IBJJF: Legal {src:IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024|/sources/IBJJF: legal — Rules-v6.0-June-2024.pdf}; Unified MMA: Legal {src:Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025|/sources/Unified: legal — MMA-Rules-August-2025.pdf}; FIAS Sambo: Legal {src:FIAS International Sambo Competition Rules|/sources/FIAS: legal — Sambo-Rules.pdf}
How dangerous is the Obi Otoshi?
Danger rating 6/10. High — opponent is lifted and dropped.
How do I set up the Obi Otoshi?
The standard setup chain: Grip fight to secure belt → pull close → lift and throw → Push opponent to the ropes/wall → secure belt as they bounce back → lift → After a failed hip throw → switch to belt grip → Obi Otoshi.
How do I defend against the Obi Otoshi?
Standard counters include: Widen stance — make lifting harder / Push hips back — create distance / Drop weight — become heavier and harder to lift.
What are the variants of the Obi Otoshi?
Common variants: Forward Obi Otoshi (lifting and throwing forward); Sideways Obi Otoshi (lifting and dropping to the side); Spinning Obi Otoshi (rotating while lifting).
How effective is the Obi Otoshi in competition?
Recognized Kodokan judo technique but rarely seen in modern IJF competition due to rule changes favoring forward-throwing techniques. Occasionally appears in kata demonstrations and regional tournaments.
What are common mistakes when doing the Obi Otoshi?
Top errors to watch for: Shallow belt grip — can't generate lifting power / Lifting with the back instead of legs — injury risk / Not getting close enough — the lift is impossible from distance / Releasing too early — opponent lands on their feet instead of being thrown.
What are other names for the Obi Otoshi?
The Obi Otoshi is also known as Obi Otoshi, Obi-Otoshi, Belt Drop Throw, Obiotoshi.