Introduction to Koshi-nage

Koshinage 腰投げ

Bending over and pulling the opponent over the attacker's hip, then throwing the opponent to the ground on their back (hip throw).

This technique is the big new technique for the second kyu examination. A lot of the time, people put learning this off till about 2 months before they are going to test. (myself included) I want to teach this technique to the intermediate class audience so people have as much time to prepare as possible. I first really learned koshi during my second kyu test. Yea, that's right, during my test. Second kyu test has an open-uke format, and Stephen Duncan jumped up. He was THE biggest and scariest uke you can have on an exam...let alone my little second kyu exam.

What follows in this post, and on the mat is a synthesis of what I learned that night, and subsequent nights with Olson sensie who's judo background and academic approach infuse my koshinage teaching.

To start off, and for the sake of consistency I'll teach what I'm going to call an "omote" and "ura" variation to koshinage. Historically in our dojo we've only ever done the "ura". Omote and ura in this case are defined by whether or not uke's face crosses in front of your face (omote), or behind (ura). My hope is to see an omote and ura koshi on a second kyu or higher exam some day soon!

In order to teach to such a wide audience (pre-6th kyu up to Nidan) I focus primarily on the hip loading aspect of the throw. I'll leave it to uke to judge for themselfs (with a watchful eye from me) when they are prepared for the subsequent breakfall.

Here's some good reading: From Dan Penrod, chief instructor of the Budo Dojo in Beaverton OR> http://budodojo.com/CreatingKoshis.htm

And some good watching: my favorite koshi clip

Classic from Ikeda: Note Tres Hofmeister as uke

For the music alone ;0

From the ukemi master himself: Donovan Waite Sensei doing a koshi variation...and check the ukemi!

Speaking of ukemi. Here's Waite Sensei in "meeting the mat" clip on Youtube