Standard Tani Otoshi

Genus

谷落とし(Tani Otoshi)

Traditional

Translation: valley drop

Overview

Standard Tani Otoshi is the classical valley drop in which tori, from a standard gripping position, slides to one side, extends one leg behind uke's legs to form a barrier, and drops their body weight laterally while pulling uke backward over the outstretched leg. ^[1],[2] Uke falls backward over the combined obstacle of tori's leg and body, typically scoring ippon when executed with sufficient control and force. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Classical Valley Drop^[1]Standard Valley Drop Throw^[2]Kihon Tani OtoshiJP^[3]

Used in

Judo BJJ Sambo MMA

History & Origin

The standard tani otoshi has been taught at the Kodokan since the early 20th century and remains one of the most commonly applied side sacrifice throws at all levels of judo competition. ^[1],[2]

Effectiveness

Tani otoshi (valley drop) is effective as a counter-throw, executed when the opponent attempts a forward throw and the defender drops to the side, pulling the attacker over the outstretched leg barrier. ^[1] It is one of the most commonly used counter-techniques in competition judo. ^[2]

Lineage

Tani otoshi is classified in the Kodokan system as a yoko-sutemi-waza (side sacrifice technique). ^[1] It has been part of the Kodokan curriculum since the early 20th century. ^[2]

Competition Record

Tani otoshi is one of the most frequently scored counter-throws at IJF World Championships and Olympic Games. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Sweeping, reaping, or blocking the opponent's foot or leg to remove their base of support

Joints Involved — Attacker's sweeping leg (ankle or shin contact), opponent's supporting ankle or knee (swept)

Force Vector — Two opposing forces — the upper body is directed one way while the sweeping leg removes the support in the opposite direction

Timing Principle — Maximum effectiveness when the opponent's weight is committed to the targeted foot — timing supersedes strength

Position & Entry

From judo grip — Break opponent's balance in the intended direction, place foot on their hip or thigh, fall backward while pulling them over

From clinch — During a grip exchange, sacrifice balance by falling deliberately while using body weight to project the opponent

Variants

Rear sacrifice — falling backward while pulling the opponent over

Side sacrifice — falling to the side to project the opponent laterally

Rolling sacrifice — combining a roll with the sacrifice throw for rotation

Counter sacrifice — using the opponent's forward pressure as the driving force

Videos

Shintaro Higashi

Tani otoshi in Depth

Standard Tani Otoshi·Shintaro Higashi

Tani Otoshi is the most dangerous throw in all of judo. The injury rate on this technique is crazy. Don't do it in pra…

Riki Judo Dojo

Tani-Otoshi Tips | Riki Judo Dojo

Standard Tani Otoshi·Riki Judo Dojo

Riki sensei explained tani-otoshi (谷落 - valley drop) during judo class on 1-3-2022. 0:00 Abandon your upright position …

Efficient Judo

Tani-otoshi - Technical Breakdown

Standard Tani Otoshi·Efficient Judo

#efficientjudo #judo #judothrows Technical Breakdown from Tani-otoshi, looking how to perform the technique, some common…

1 / 2

3 videos

What Instructors Say

Tani otoshi is a yoko sutemi waza (side sacrifice throw) in which the thrower abandons their upright position and drops to the ground, using gravity rather than muscular force to execute the technique. According to Shintaro Higashi, it is among the most dangerous throws in judo, comparable only to kani basami, because the thrower's weight drops uncontrollably onto the opponent's leg, risking ACL tears and other serious ligament damage regardless of the thrower's technical proficiency. Efficient Judo emphasizes that proper kuzushi (balance breaking) must occur backwards over the opponent's heels, with the thrower's head positioned in front of the opponent's chest to facilitate this break; common errors include insufficient kuzushi followed by lunging onto the nearest leg. Riki Judo Dojo stresses perpendicular body positioning, precise footwork (the blocking leg traveling behind the far heel), and proper hand mechanics—the pulling hand (hikite) breaks balance while the following hand (tsurite) controls—with the thrower looking straight ahead through the throw. All three instructors agree on the paramount importance of proper setup and timing, with Higashi and Efficient Judo detailing multiple variations and counters (including switches from failed turn throws and responses to opponent attacks), while Riki Judo Dojo emphasizes waza judo (technique-based execution) over muscular force. The instructors collectively stress that this throw requires careful, controlled practice and carries inherent risk.

Synthesized from 3 instructors

Shintaro Higashi — Tani otoshi in Depth: Comprehensive danger assessment and technical mechanics; distinguishes between right-side and left-side positioning; explains how opponent reactions determine safe execution; details the distinction between outside and inside position setups; emphasizes that skill cannot guarantee safety due to variables in opponent response.
Efficient Judo — Tani-otoshi - Technical Breakdown: Systematizes balance-breaking mechanics (kuzushi to the rear with head contact) and identifies common beginner mistakes; provides multiple setup variations including switch entries, kosutogari-to-tani-otoshi combinations, and counter-timing against opponent attacks; demonstrates grip variations using two sleeves and hip control.
Riki Judo Dojo — Tani-Otoshi Tips | Riki Judo Dojo: Clarifies the terminology and philosophy of sutemi waza; provides detailed footwork instruction emphasizing perpendicularity, knee bending on the ball of the foot, and reaching past the opponent's heel; explains hand positioning and the role of kuzushi through the pulling hand; advocates for waza judo (technique) over brute force and provides historical context through instructor examples.

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

Yoko-Sutemi-Waza; lateral falling sacrifice; shoulder/rib impact risk

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

✓As uke turns in for a forward throw (or pushes into you), step your near foot behind both of uke's feet

✓Extend the leg to create a low barrier behind their legs

✓Sit down to the side of uke while pulling them backward with both hands — lapel pulls them over the leg, sleeve directs the fall

✓Your sitting direction should be roughly 45° to uke's rear — not straight behind them

✓Keep pulling throughout the entire drop — don't release when you sit

✓Land on your side or buttock, not on uke's legs — control the landing

✓Immediately transition to a pin or top position — tani otoshi often gives you a kesa gatame opportunity

Common Mistakes

!Not stepping deep enough behind uke — your leg must be behind both their feet

!Sitting down directly behind uke instead of to the side — you get trapped under them

!Releasing the grips when sitting — maintain tension to pull uke over the leg

!Extending the blocking leg but not sitting — just the leg alone won't throw them

!Attempting against an opponent moving backward — tani otoshi requires uke to be moving forward or stationary

!Not pulling uke's upper body while sitting — both the sit and the pull must happen together

!Forgetting to transition to groundwork — you end up seated with no follow-through

Related Techniques

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 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

commitment, timing, body weight manipulation, falling skill

Favours

heavier build (body weight drives the throw), good ukemi

Key muscles

core rotators, hip flexors, abdominals

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I attempt Tani Otoshi instead of a turn throw?

According to Shintaro Higashi, Tani Otoshi is the right choice when your opponent closes off the space by turning their hips and bringing their knees in front to defend against a turn throw to your dominant side. This defensive positioning makes turn throws very difficult, creating the ideal moment to go for Tani Otoshi.

What's the most common dangerous mistake beginners make with Tani Otoshi?

Efficient Judo emphasizes that beginners often fail to completely break their opponent's balance backwards before lunging onto the closest leg, which leads to sitting on the knee and bending it sideways—risking serious ligament damage. Proper kuzushi (balance breaking) is essential for safety.

How should my body position during the entry to Tani Otoshi?

Riki Judo Dojo stresses that you must sit down (not back), keep your right knee bent as your leg travels across to go behind the opponent's heel, stay on the ball of your foot to allow proper bending, and position your head in front of the opponent's chest for balance breaking. Make sure to step past the opponent's toes or heel to reach properly.

How does timing factor into Tani Otoshi as a counter?

Efficient Judo explains that when used as a timing technique, Tani Otoshi works best after your opponent attacks with a hip throw: first fully block their attack, wait for them to recover their balance, then immediately break their balance and execute the throw.

How does the Standard Tani Otoshi work?

Standard Tani Otoshi is the classical valley drop in which tori, from a standard gripping position, slides to one side, extends one leg behind uke's legs to form a barrier, and drops their body weight laterally while pulling uke backward over the outstretched leg. Uke falls backward over the combined obstacle of tori's leg and body, typically scoring ippon when executed with sufficient control and force.

Where does the Standard Tani Otoshi come from?

The standard tani otoshi has been taught at the Kodokan since the early 20th century and remains one of the most commonly applied side sacrifice throws at all levels of judo competition.

Is the Standard Tani 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 Standard Tani Otoshi?

Danger rating 6/10. High — Yoko-Sutemi-Waza; lateral falling sacrifice; shoulder/rib impact risk

How do I set up the Standard Tani Otoshi?

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

How do I defend against the Standard Tani Otoshi?

Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration / Stiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry.

What are the variants of the Standard Tani Otoshi?

Common variants: Rear sacrifice (falling backward while pulling the opponent over); Side sacrifice (falling to the side to project the opponent laterally); Rolling sacrifice (combining a roll with the sacrifice throw for rotation); Counter sacrifice (using the opponent's forward pressure as the driving force).

How effective is the Standard Tani Otoshi in competition?

Tani otoshi is one of the most frequently scored counter-throws at IJF World Championships and Olympic Games.

What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Tani Otoshi?

Top errors to watch for: Not stepping deep enough behind uke — your leg must be behind both their feet / Sitting down directly behind uke instead of to the side — you get trapped under them / Releasing the grips when sitting — maintain tension to pull uke over the leg / Extending the blocking leg but not sitting — just the leg alone won't throw them.

What are other names for the Standard Tani Otoshi?

The Standard Tani Otoshi is also known as Tani Otoshi, Classical Valley Drop, Standard Valley Drop Throw, Kihon Tani Otoshi.

standard tani otoshi tani otoshi throw sacrifice throw sutemi waza side sacrifice judo bjj sambo mma classical valley drop standard valley drop throw kihon tani otoshi