O Goshi

SubFamily

大腰(O Goshi)

Traditional

Translation: major hip throw

Overview

O Goshi (major hip throw) is one of judo's most fundamental techniques, in which the thrower turns in, wraps one arm around the opponent's waist, loads them onto the hip, and wheels them over by pulling with the hands and rotating the hip. ^[1] The technique places the thrower's hip directly beneath the opponent's centre of gravity, creating a fulcrum over which the opponent is rotated. ^[1],[2] O-goshi is characterised by the arm around the waist, which distinguishes it from koshi-guruma (arm around the neck) and uki-goshi (less hip contact). ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Major Hip Throw^[1]Full Hip Throw^[2]Large Hip Throw^[3]O GoshiJP^[4]Brosok Cherez Bedro (бросок через бедро)RU^[5]

Used in

Judo BJJ Sambo Aikido

History & Origin

O goshi was included in the original 1895 Kodokan gokyo as a first-set technique and is one of the most universally taught judo throws. ^[1] The technique is often the first throw taught to absolute beginners because it clearly demonstrates the fundamental hip-throwing principle. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

O goshi (major hip throw) is the most fundamental hip throw in judo, using the attacker's hip as a fulcrum to lift and rotate the opponent over. ^[1] It teaches the fundamental mechanics of hip throwing that underlie many advanced techniques. ^[1],[2]

Lineage

O goshi is one of the original 40 throws in Jigoro Kano's Kodokan judo syllabus and is typically the first hip throw taught to beginners. ^[1]

Competition Record

O goshi is scored at all levels of judo competition. ^[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 standard judo grip (collar and sleeve) — Pull opponent forward and off-balance (kuzushi), turn in with back to opponent, load their weight onto your hip, extend legs and rotate to throw

From overhook (no-gi) — Secure an overhook and collar tie, turn in placing hip across opponent's centreline, and execute the hip throw

Videos

eyesofscyld

Harai Goshi

O Goshi·eyesofscyld

Mike gives an in depth explanation of Harai Goshi. www.eastcoastjiujitsu.com

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

High6/10

O-Goshi and variants; high amplitude hip throw with significant impact (Kano 1986)

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Beginner

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

✓O goshi (major hip throw) is the most fundamental hip throw in judo — Kano placed it first in the Gokyo no Waza (Kano, 1886)

✓Wrap your arm deeply around uke's waist at belt level, not around the neck

✓Enter by stepping across with your right foot, then pivoting on the ball of the foot to bring the left foot alongside

✓Your belt knot should be directly below uke's navel at the moment of kake (execution)

✓Straighten both legs while pulling with the sleeve hand to sweep uke over your hip

✓The throw should feel like a wheel turning — uke rotates over the fulcrum of your hip

✓Practise from a static grip first, then add movement and combination entries

Common Mistakes

!Wrapping the arm too high (around the neck) — this turns it into koshi guruma and changes the mechanics

!Not bending the knees deeply enough during entry — you must get your hips below uke's centre of mass

!Entering with only a half-turn so your shoulder faces uke instead of your back

!Trying to muscle uke over the hip without using leg straightening for the lift

!Releasing the hikite (sleeve pull) too early, losing directional control

!Leaning forward excessively during the lift, which collapses the throw

!Feet too wide apart during entry — they should be no wider than shoulder width

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 O Goshi

Genus

Standard O Goshi executes the classical major hip throw where the thrower turns in with the back to the opponent, wraps the throwing arm around the opponent's waist, loads the opponent onto the hip by pulling them forward, and rotates the hip to wheel the opponent over and onto the mat. [1] The arm around the waist provides a secure connection that prevents the opponent from separating during the throw. [1,2] The throw is completed by a combination of hip rotation, pulling arm action, and forward bending that projects the opponent over the hip. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

What foot position should I use for O Goshi, and why does it matter?

Place your foot about six inches in front of and inside your opponent's foot, staying on the ball of your foot rather than flat-footed. This allows you to pivot and point your foot easily, and keeps your base under your center of gravity for proper mechanics.

How important is head control in O Goshi?

Head control is critical—the more head control you get and the closer your opponent is locked up top, the stronger the throw will be. Use an underhook to lift while pulling their head high to keep them stuck to your body.

Where should my opponent's weight be positioned on my hip?

Your opponent's weight should be up on your hip, which is why you need to pop your hip up during the throw to generate the lift needed for the technique.

How does the O Goshi work?

Where does the O Goshi come from?

O goshi was included in the original 1895 Kodokan gokyo as a first-set technique and is one of the most universally taught judo throws. The technique is often the first throw taught to absolute beginners because it clearly demonstrates the fundamental hip-throwing principle.

Is the O Goshi 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 O Goshi?

Danger rating 6/10. High — O-Goshi and variants; high amplitude hip throw with significant impact (Kano 1986)

How do I set up the O Goshi?

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

How do I defend against the O Goshi?

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 O Goshi?

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 O Goshi in competition?

O goshi is scored at all levels of judo competition.

What are common mistakes when doing the O Goshi?

Top errors to watch for: Wrapping the arm too high (around the neck) — this turns it into koshi guruma and changes the mechanics / Not bending the knees deeply enough during entry — you must get your hips below uke's centre of mass / Entering with only a half-turn so your shoulder faces uke instead of your back / Trying to muscle uke over the hip without using leg straightening for the lift.

What are other names for the O Goshi?

The O Goshi is also known as Major Hip Throw, Full Hip Throw, Large Hip Throw, O Goshi, Brosok Cherez Bedro (бросок через бедро).

o goshi throw hip technique throw koshi waza major hip throw judo bjj sambo aikido full hip throw large hip throw brosok cherez bedro