Sumi Otoshi

SubFamily

隅落とし(Sumi Otoshi)

Traditional

Translation: corner drop

Overview

Sumi Otoshi (corner drop) is a te-waza technique in which the thrower pulls the opponent diagonally to the rear corner, creating a spiral off-balancing action that causes the opponent to fall toward the corner without any body contact or leg action from the thrower. ^[1] The throw is accomplished entirely through hand control — the tsurite lifts and turns while the hikite pulls downward toward the rear corner, creating a spiralling force that overwhelms the opponent's ability to step and recover. ^[1],[2] Sumi-otoshi is one of judo's purest hand throws, requiring no hip, leg, or body contact to execute, making it a demonstration of the principle that skilled kuzushi alone can produce a throw. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Corner Drop^[1]Corner Drop Throw^[2]Sumi OtoshiJP^[3]

Used in

Judo Aikido

History & Origin

Sumi otoshi was included in the Kodokan gokyo as a hand technique that exemplifies the principle of off-balancing to the corner using only hand action. ^[1] The technique is considered one of the more technically challenging throws in judo, requiring superior timing and sensitivity to the opponent's weight distribution. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

Sumi otoshi (corner drop) unbalances the opponent diagonally to their rear corner using a pulling and circular hand action without body contact. ^[1] It requires precise timing and kuzushi (off-balancing). ^[1],[2]

Lineage

Sumi otoshi is part of the Kodokan judo te-waza syllabus. ^[1]

Competition Record

Sumi otoshi is seen in IJF competition, though less frequently than other te-waza techniques. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Loading the opponent onto the hip and rotating them over it — the hip acts as the fulcrum

Joints Involved — Attacker's hip (fulcrum point), knees (deep bend for loading), core (rotation), opponent's centre of gravity (elevated)

Force Vector — Rotational — pulling and turning motion loads the opponent, then hip extension and rotation drives them over

Kuzushi (Off-balancing) — Forward and upward — breaking opponent's posture forward lifts their centre of gravity onto the attacker's hip

Position & Entry

From judo grip — Break the opponent's balance forward (kuzushi), turn in with hip below their centre of gravity, and rotate to throw

From clinch (overhook or underhook) — Secure inside position, turn the hips across the opponent's body, load and throw

Videos

Judokancazetto

Obi otoshi Uki otoshi Sumi otoshi

Sumi Otoshi·Judokancazetto

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

High5/10

Arm throws use arm leverage; shoulder dislocation risk if arm trapped

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Intermediate

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

— IJF — Legal throwing technique

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— UWW — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman

UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal throwing technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— ADCC — Legal

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Sumi otoshi (corner drop) throws the opponent to their rear corner by pulling them backward and to the side

✓Pull the opponent diagonally backward — to one of their rear corners — using a strong two-handed action

✓The opponent falls to the rear corner that their feet cannot reach to support — they topple over the corner of their base

✓No hip contact or sweeping — the throw is purely a pulling technique

✓Step to the side or behind the opponent while pulling them in the diagonal backward direction

✓Sumi otoshi exploits the gap in the opponent's balance that exists at the rear diagonal angles

✓This throw works well as a counter — when the opponent attacks forward, redirect them to their rear corner

Common Mistakes

!Pulling straight backward instead of diagonally to the rear corner — the diagonal angle is what makes the throw work

!Not stepping to create the angle — sumi otoshi requires lateral or diagonal movement to access the corner

!Trying to push the opponent over instead of pulling them to the corner — it is a pulling technique

!Not generating backward diagonal kuzushi before the pull

!Attempting against an opponent with a wide, deep base — their rear corners are too stable

!Pulling with arms only without body rotation and weight shift

!Not maintaining grip control through the throw — the grips must guide the opponent all the way to the mat

Related Techniques

Major Hip Throw — shares hip-loading mechanics and similar kuzushi principles Breakfall (Ukemi) — essential receiving skill for safe practice of this throw

Counter Techniques

Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute Block the Hip — post hand on the thrower's hip to prevent loading Step Around — circle away from the throw direction to avoid being loaded Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration Stiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry

Setup Chain

1Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) — establish the controlling grips needed for the throw

2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — break the opponent's balance in the throwing direction

3Entry (Tsukuri) — position the body for the throw by turning, stepping, or loading

4Execution (Kake) — complete the throwing action with full commitment and follow-through

Sources & References

Primary Source

Kodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

1BookKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

Traditional Judo throwing technique terminology (Kodokan Institute)

2SyllabusKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification

Official Kodokan ground technique classification system

3SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

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)

5CitationKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

Traditional Judo throwing technique terminology (Kodokan Institute)

Community

Athletics

Requires

hip rotation speed, core strength, lower back stability

Favours

strong hips and core, good flexibility for turning entry

Key muscles

hip rotators, core, quadriceps, latissimus dorsi

Sub-techniques

Standard Sumi Otoshi

Genus

Standard Sumi Otoshi executes the classical corner drop where the thrower steps to the side, pulls the opponent diagonally to the rear corner with both hands, and drops the opponent to the mat through the spiralling hand action alone. [1] No hip, leg, or body contact is used — the throw is accomplished entirely by the directional force of the gripping hands pulling the opponent into a void where no support exists. [1,2] The technique requires the thrower to move off-line and create the corner angle while maintaining powerful pulling action. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Sumi Otoshi work?

Where does the Sumi Otoshi come from?

Sumi otoshi was included in the Kodokan gokyo as a hand technique that exemplifies the principle of off-balancing to the corner using only hand action. The technique is considered one of the more technically challenging throws in judo, requiring superior timing and sensitivity to the opponent's weight distribution.

Is the Sumi Otoshi legal in competition?

IJF: legal — Legal throwing technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: legal — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman; Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Sumi Otoshi?

Danger rating 5/10. High — arm throws use arm leverage; shoulder dislocation risk if arm trapped

How do I set up the Sumi Otoshi?

The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).

How do I defend against the Sumi Otoshi?

Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Block the Hip — post hand on the thrower's hip to prevent loading / Step Around — circle away from the throw direction to avoid being loaded / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration.

What are the variants of the Sumi Otoshi?

Common variants: Standard hip throw (full turn-in with hip below the opponent's centre of gravity); No-gi hip throw (adapted without gi grips, using overhook and collar tie); Drop hip throw (dropping to one knee to lower the fulcrum point); Combination hip throw (chaining from a failed foot technique or hand technique).

How effective is the Sumi Otoshi in competition?

Sumi otoshi is seen in IJF competition, though less frequently than other te-waza techniques.

What are common mistakes when doing the Sumi Otoshi?

Top errors to watch for: Pulling straight backward instead of diagonally to the rear corner — the diagonal angle is what makes the throw work / Not stepping to create the angle — sumi otoshi requires lateral or diagonal movement to access the corner / Trying to push the opponent over instead of pulling them to the corner — it is a pulling technique / Not generating backward diagonal kuzushi before the pull.

What are other names for the Sumi Otoshi?

The Sumi Otoshi is also known as Corner Drop, Corner Drop Throw, Sumi Otoshi.

sumi otoshi throw hand technique throw te waza arm throw judo aikido corner drop corner drop throw