Spring Hip Throw

Family

釣腰(Tsuri Goshi)

Traditional

Translation: lifting hip throw

Overview

The Spring Hip Throw family covers koshi-waza techniques in which the thrower uses a lifting or springing hip action to elevate the opponent off the ground before throwing them, rather than simply wheeling them over the hip. ^[1] Spring hip throws are characterised by an upward lifting component generated by the hip and legs, which elevates the opponent's centre of gravity before the rotational throwing action. ^[1],[2] Tsuri-goshi, the principal technique in this family, uses a belt or back grip to lift the opponent onto the hip before projecting them forward. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Lifting hip throws^[1]Belt hip throws^[2]

Used in

Judo Sumo Sambo

History & Origin

Spring hip techniques were classified in the Kodokan system as a distinct sub-category of koshi-waza, recognising the different mechanics of the lifting hip action compared to the wheeling action of standard hip throws. ^[1] The lifting hip principle appears in many wrestling traditions where belt grips provide the leverage for hip-lift throws. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

Spring hip throws (hane goshi family) use a springing leg action combined with hip rotation to launch the opponent into the air. ^[1],[2]

Lineage

Spring hip throws are classified under koshi-waza in the Kodokan judo syllabus. ^[1]

Competition Record

Hane goshi is scored in IJF competition. ^[1]

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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

Wilfredo Guzman

Head Butt, Hip Spring Throw

Spring Hip Throw·Wilfredo Guzman

CT School of Survival Grand Master George Logan working Techniques and Judo Throws and Also while teaching you can rea…

1 video

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

High5/10

Hane-Goshi uses springing hip action; moderate amplitude

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

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

✓Spring hip throws use an upward lifting action through the legs to 'spring' uke off the hip — less rotation than major hip throws, more vertical lift (Daigo, 2005)

✓The lifting hand (tsurite) pulls uke upward and forward, creating a springing action

✓Enter deep and low — spring hip throws require even more knee bend than standard hip throws

✓Control uke's belt or back of the gi with the tsurite for maximum lift

✓These throws work best against opponents who are leaning forward or pushing into you

✓Drill the upward-drive motion with resistance bands to build explosive leg power

✓Spring hip throws are excellent counters to forward-pushing opponents in randori

Common Mistakes

!Not getting low enough — the spring action requires significant knee bend for the upward explosion

!Using the arm to lift instead of the legs — this is a leg-driven throw

!Failing to control uke's upper body tightly enough during the lift

!Entering at the wrong distance — too far and you can't load, too close and you can't spring

!Not pulling uke forward before entering — they must be off-balance for the spring to work

!Rushing the entry without establishing proper grips first

!Throwing without hip contact — the hip is the fulcrum even in spring-type throws

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

Tsuri Goshi

SubFamily

Tsuri Goshi (lifting hip throw) is a koshi-waza technique in which the thrower grips the opponent's belt or back, lifts them onto the hip with a springing upward action, and throws them forward over the hip. [1] The 'tsuri' (lifting) element distinguishes this from o-goshi — rather than wheeling the opponent over with a primarily rotational action, tsuri-goshi uses vertical lifting force generated by the legs and hip to elevate the opponent before projecting them. [1,2] The belt or back grip provides the attachment point for the lift, and the springing hip action drives the opponent upward before the forward rotation completes the throw. [2,3]

1 genera·1 techniquesExplore

Notes

The spring hip throw (hane-goshi family) appears in 30 passages across 5 books under 'spring hip.' The attacker springs the leg against the opponent's inner thigh while rotating them over the hip — combining hip throw mechanics with a lifting leg action. (5 books; Kano, Kodokan Judo)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Spring Hip Throw work?

The Spring Hip Throw family covers koshi-waza techniques in which the thrower uses a lifting or springing hip action to elevate the opponent off the ground before throwing them, rather than simply wheeling them over the hip. Spring hip throws are characterised by an upward lifting component generated by the hip and legs, which elevates the opponent's centre of gravity before the rotational throwing action.

Where does the Spring Hip Throw come from?

Spring hip techniques were classified in the Kodokan system as a distinct sub-category of koshi-waza, recognising the different mechanics of the lifting hip action compared to the wheeling action of standard hip throws. The lifting hip principle appears in many wrestling traditions where belt grips provide the leverage for hip-lift throws.

Is the Spring Hip Throw 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 Spring Hip Throw?

Danger rating 5/10. High — Hane-Goshi uses springing hip action; moderate amplitude

How do I set up the Spring Hip Throw?

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

How do I defend against the Spring Hip Throw?

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 Spring Hip Throw?

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 Spring Hip Throw in competition?

Hane goshi is scored in IJF competition.

What are common mistakes when doing the Spring Hip Throw?

Top errors to watch for: Not getting low enough — the spring action requires significant knee bend for the upward explosion / Using the arm to lift instead of the legs — this is a leg-driven throw / Failing to control uke's upper body tightly enough during the lift / Entering at the wrong distance — too far and you can't load, too close and you can't spring.

What are other names for the Spring Hip Throw?

The Spring Hip Throw is also known as Tsuri Goshi, Lifting hip throws, Belt hip throws.

tsuri-goshi lifting-hip belt-throw spring-hip