tachiwaza

Tachiwaza, written as 立技 in Japanese, refers to standing techniques in certain martial arts, most notably in Judo. It encompasses throwing techniques performed from a standing position, as opposed to ne-waza (ground techniques) or sutemi-waza (sacrifice throws in which the thrower drops to the ground). In practice, tachiwaza emphasizes throws initiated while both participants are upright and requires control and balance to destabilize the opponent.

In Judo and related grappling arts, tachiwaza techniques are organized within nage-waza, the category of throwing techniques. The standing throws rely on principles such as kuzushi (unbalancing the opponent), tsukuri (building a suitable position or entry), and kake (the execution). Effective tachiwaza also depends on grip work (kumi-kata), footwork, hip position, and body alignment to maximize leverage and minimize counterplay.

Historically, tachiwaza arose from traditional Japanese jujutsu and was incorporated into Judo by its founder, Jigoro Kano, as part of a systematic approach to safe, efficient throws. The development emphasized using balance, timing, and technique over brute strength, enabling practitioners of varying sizes to throw larger opponents.

Common tachiwaza throws include seoi nage (shoulder throw), o-goshi (hip throw), osoto-gari (major outer reap), harai-goshi (sweeping hip throw), tai-otoshi (body drop), and uchi-mata (inner thigh throw). While these techniques share the standing origin, practitioners continually adapt them to grip, tempo, and competition rules.

In competition, successful tachiwaza often results in high-scoring throws when executed cleanly with control and the opponent landing largely on their back.