This simple but effective game reinforces the techniques of kuzushi or breaking an opponent's balance. It focuses on using whole body movements led by the hips and utilizing body weight to initiate movement

Using a belt players position it around their hips creating an S shape, ensuring they have an equal share with no twists in the belt and any slack taken up. They take a firm grip close to the end of the belt with the same hand as their partner.

This tension should be kept as much as possible throughout the game. Points are scored by disrupting the balance of your opponent. Should either player take a step in any direction, they lose that round and the game resets. There are three main tactics that can be used to achieve this goal. Pulling on the belt to increase the tension and close the space between players, causing Uki to step forward. Slackening the tension of the belt by sliding it behind your back, which may prompt Uki to step back if they are relying on the tension. Or by holding the belt steady and shifting your body weight through the hips to generate a forward movement from your partner.

The tactics used in this game demonstrate that even small movements created by your own hips and using your body weight can have an enormous impact on the balance of an opponent. As the game progresses, the importance of using the whole body becomes apparent.

Players are constantly adjusting and readjusting to try and keep a strong natural posture whilst maintaining their balance. With the tension on the belt reset in between each point. It is a real game of action and reaction.

In a judo specific setting the benefits of playing this game can best be demonstrated using hiki-dashi. Hiki-dashi is the action of stepping away and pulling your opponent towards you to close the gap and unbalance them. When performed correctly, it becomes clear that the practice of kuzushi should be initiated from the hips and utilise a whole body movement rather than solely relying on a big pull with just your arms.

To illustrate this point Kanamaru first demonstrates two poor examples of hiki-dashi. By attempting to break his opponent's balance by solely pulling with his arms, we see that he has little success. By contrast, when using his whole body driving from his legs up through his hips and simultaneously pulling with his arms which draws his opponent onto his toes and off balance, it appears almost effortless.

With Uki's balance now insecure, Kanamaru can load them right up onto his shoulders, ready to be thrown. To appreciate the difference between the two efforts let's look at them side by side. A great way to observe if hiki-dashi is being practiced correctly is to use the belt level as a visual guide. From behind we can see in these poor examples that when pulling only with his arms, Kanamaru's belt barely change his level at all, resulting in little or no reaction from his opponent

However, in these technically accurate examples we see huge shifts in the level of Kanamaru's belt. His whole body is involved in breaking Uki's balance and this is demonstrated when his belt dips momentarily in the setup and then returns immediately to its starting level as Uki is drawn out of balance.

Ultimately, the more a judoka can utilise the principles of hiki-dashi and kuzushi, while using their whole body to impact their opponent's balance, the more threatening they are in competitive situations. Although hiki-dashi is a static exercise, it is evident that it's great for creating movement and the belt game is an effective and fun way to do this.