The aim of this study was to clarify the differences between the world elite and Japanese thrower by comparing the throwing motions in the discus throw. The performances of 12 male world elite discus throwers (the World group: WG) and 14 male Japanese elite discus throwers (the National group: NG) were analyzed. The main results were as follows: 1) In the first single support phase, WG had significantly greater hip rotation than NG, and twist angle significantly increased. On the other hand, at the left foot took off the ground, the right arm of NG was positioned significantly more forward relative to the hip than that of WG, and velocity of the center of gravity of the right arm was significantly higher. 2) In the non-support phase, NG had significantly greater shoulder and hip rotation, right arm-shoulder separation angle displacement, and twisted angle than WG, and their hips were significantly rotated at the right foot touched down the ground. 3) In the second single support phase, WG had significantly greater shoulder and hip rotation than NG, and the right arm was significantly positioned backward relative to the shoulder and hip when at the left foot touched down the ground. 4) In the delivery phase, WG had significantly greater displacement of the right arm-shoulder separation angle and left arm-shoulder separation angle than NG, and the right arm was significantly positioned forward relative to the shoulder and hip at release. Furthermore, NG had a significantly higher velocity of the center of gravity of the right upper limb and the athlete + discus system than WG, and the right arm was positioned in front of the hips but behind the shoulders at release. These results suggest that the world elite throwers emphasized trunk rotation in the first and last halves of the throwing motion and were able to utilize appropriate left arm "blocking" and "whip-like" movements. In addition, the Japanese elite throwers had a twisted back torso in the first half of the throwing motion, high velocity of the discus and the arm holding the discus, and acquired the twist angle in the non-support phase, but did not fully utilize the "blocking" and "whip-like" motion.
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