Yoko Geri – Aiki Otoshi – One-Leg Grab Variation

This variation is slightly different compared with the usual Aiki Otoshi commonly taught in dojos.

The attacker throws a side kick (yoko geri). Instead of meeting it with force, the defender steps into or underneath the line of the kick — not blocking rigidly but blending with the incoming force (that’s the “aiki” part). As the kick comes in, the defender makes grip/contact (often on the leg or at body/hip level, depending on style). By moving under and to the side, the defender breaks the kicker’s balance backwards and raises their center of gravity slightly — lifting the leg/weight while collapsing their base. Once balance is compromised, the defender drops their own body and continues to redirect the attacker’s momentum — guiding the attacker’s falling motion downward and backward rather than resisting it. The throw doesn’t rely on strength but on timing the drop while controlling the imbalance.