Shitatenage — Underarm Throw
Shitatenage (下手投げ) is the underarm belt throw, executed with the shitate grip — arm beneath the opponent's arm and onto their belt. While the underarm grip (shitate) is generally the weaker of the two belt positions, a skilled wrestler can still use it to produce a powerful throw.
Shitatenage often appears when a wrestler is pressed close to the edge and needs to reverse the momentum quickly. The technique requires excellent upper-body flexibility and grip strength. Some wrestlers, including certain yokozuna, have built their style around a powerful shitate game, proving that technical mastery can overcome positional disadvantage.