Tani-otoshi (valley drop)

A very useful throw for Vs because you remain facing the V during the whole of the throw.

When the punch comes in, instead of blocking with your left hand and stepping through with your right, cross-block with your right hand and step behind the attacker with your left foot, remembering to cover your face with your left hand. Then use your left hand to push the attacker's head backwards, while you sweep his legs from under him with your left leg (swap right and left in the instructions if he attacks you with a left punch).

The really flashy can do tani-otoshi as a walk, executing the throw mid-stride then carrying on in their original direction.

Common mistakes:

• Forgetting to step behind
• Blocking instead of cross-blocking
• Not stepping deeply enough
• Not taking the attacker's balance backwards enough