Sumi-otoshi

Tori steps his left foot to the outside of Uke’s right foot, and, using tai-sabaki (body control) and the action of both hands, breaks Uke’s balance in the right rear corner, and pushes him down.

Tori and Uke grapple in right natural posture. Tori advances the left foot, then the right foot, and, holding his ground, begins to break Uke’s balance by pushing him to the left rear corner. Uke is pushed and steps back with the right foot, then the left foot, and, holding his ground, pushes back and begins to return to a stable posture.

At this moment, Tori steps his right foot (the second step) in front of the tip of Uke’s right foot (the position of the right foot will allow a deep and quick next step with the left foot), takes a slightly right defensive posture, and presses down slightly with both hands. Taking advantage of Uke pushing back, Tori lessens the action of the right hand so that Uke begins to step with his left foot as he pushes forward. At that moment, Tori releases his right hand from Uke’s left collar, and takes a grip of Uke’s left inside lower sleeve, and, responding to the pushing action, he pulls with the right hand so that Uke’s left foot is drawn out. At the moment Uke’s left foot is just about to step onto the mat, Tori changes the direction of the right pulling hand, and pushes Uke’s left elbow up diagonally, drawing it through an arc, while taking a large step with the left foot to the outside of Uke’s right foot. Passing Uke’s left foot as he does so, Tori moves the right foot to the rear of his own left foot, and assumes a left defensive posture, while further lifting up with the right hand, and pulling down with the left hand, so that Uke cannot transfer his weight onto his left foot which rises off the mat. Supporting his body on one leg, Uke’s weight falls over his right heel, and, standing rigid and upright, his balance breaks towards the right rear corner.

Tori transfers his weight onto the left foot, leans his upper body forward slightly, while further pushing with his right hand, and, pulling directly down with his left hand, and in one breath, pushes and throws Uke toward his right rear corner.

Uke is thrown in a large circle around the fulcrum of his right heel.

Tori positions (tsukuri) uke in a manner that prevents him from stepping his left foot onto the mat, resulting in it being lifted off the mat, and his weight shifting over his right heel. It requires considerable skill and effort to synchronize the body control (tai-sabaki) with the action of both hands. This coordination is essential for effectively executing the technique and controlling the opponent’s balance.