WHY IT'S CALLED DE ASHI BARAI
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De Ashi Barai·welcomematstevescott
De Ashi Barai translates to Advancing Foot Sweep and in this video, we show why this throw is so well named. Go to www.…
De Ashi Barai
SubFamily出足払い(De Ashi Barai)
TraditionalTranslation: advancing foot sweep
Overview
De Ashi Barai (advancing foot sweep) is a foot sweep subfamily where the attacker sweeps the opponent's advancing foot at the moment it contacts the mat, using a lateral sweeping motion to knock the foot out from under the transferring weight. [1] The technique requires exquisite timing — the sweep must be executed at the precise instant the opponent's foot touches down and begins accepting weight. [1],[2] The attacker uses the sole of the foot to contact the outside of the opponent's ankle or lower shin and sweeps it in the direction of the opponent's toes. [2] De ashi barai is considered one of the purest expressions of judo's principle of maximum efficiency with minimum effort. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Penetrating step and level change to attack the opponent's legs — disrupting their base of support
Joints Involved — Attacker's knees and hips (level change), opponent's knee or ankle (controlled point)
Force Vector — Forward and downward — closing distance and driving through the opponent's lower body
Takedown Mechanic — Removing one or both legs from the opponent's base forces them to fall or be driven to the mat
Position & Entry
From collar tie and sleeve control — Step outside, reap the opponent's leg from the outside while driving them backward with upper body pressure
From clinch (high collar tie) — Control the head, step to the outside of the lead leg and sweep it while pushing the opponent over
Videos
Circular De-Ashi-Barai
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De Ashi Barai·Shintaro Higashi
Although it's possible to do de-ashi-barai from a static situation, it's much better to get uke moving. in circular de-a…
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Timing-based sweep; lower force than trips
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— leg-to-leg contact prohibited
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFLegal
— 2 points
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— Unified MMA — Legal takedown technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal — all takedowns permitted
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF— 2 points
NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓Pull the opponent forward with both hands to create advancing movement — you're sweeping the advancing foot
✓Sweep the foot at the instant it contacts the mat, before weight fully settles
✓The sweep goes in the direction the foot is already moving — amplify their momentum
✓Use the sole of your foot on the side of their ankle, sweeping laterally
✓Your hands pull in the direction of the sweep: tsurite lifts up and forward, hikite pulls across
✓Practice by walking with a partner and sweeping their front foot with every step to build timing
Common Mistakes
!Sweeping when the opponent is static — de ashi barai requires forward movement to work
!Sweeping the wrong foot (the back foot instead of the advancing front foot)
!Kicking into the ankle instead of sweeping across it — this hurts your foot and is less effective
!Not using the hands to create the forward motion that loads the target foot
!Sweeping after the weight has fully settled — too late, the foot is planted
!Leaning back during the sweep, pulling yourself off-balance
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attemptUnderhook — establish inside position to control distance and prevent the takedown entryPost and Circle — post on the attacker's head and circle away to break their angleLevel Change Defence — recognize the shot early and react with appropriate hip defence
Setup Chain
1Establish Contact — use grip, tie, or clinch to control the opponent
2Create Off-Balance — use push-pull action to disrupt the opponent's base
3Execute the Takedown — apply the specific takedown mechanic with commitment
4Follow to Ground — maintain control as the opponent goes down to secure position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
Traditional Judo throwing/takedown terminology (Kodokan Institute)
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
Traditional Judo throwing/takedown terminology (Kodokan Institute)
Community
Athletics
Requires
timing, balance, upper body control for push-pull
Favours
good coordination and sense of opponent's weight distribution
Key muscles
core stabilisers, hip adductors/abductors, calves
Sub-techniques
Notes
De ashi barai (advancing foot sweep) appears in 13 passages across 4 books. Masahiko Kimura famously practiced this sweep 10,000 times daily. It requires the attacker to catch the opponent's foot at the exact moment of weight transfer — considered the purest expression of judo timing. (Kano, Kodokan Judo; Kimura biography)
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my opponent tries to counter my de ashi barai with a throw?
According to Shintaro Higashi, keeping your hand higher than your opponent's as you attack significantly reduces the likelihood of them throwing you, since they'll have less control over your upper body. This hand position is crucial when there's a risk of your opponent going for a counter throw.
How do I set up a circular de ashi barai successfully?
Shintaro Higashi emphasizes that you must establish an advantage position first by winning the shoulder turn battle before attempting the sweep. Once you have positional control, step around your opponent to create circular movement, which makes the trail leg sweep available while keeping you safe.
What's the key balance principle when executing de ashi barai?
Shintaro Higashi stresses not committing yourself or taking yourself off your center axis during the sweep. Bring your leg across as far as possible without throwing your body to the side—the goal is to take your opponent's balance while maintaining your own so you can catch yourself if needed.
What should I do if I miss my de ashi barai attempt?
Shintaro Higashi recommends that even if you don't land the initial sweep, the off-balancing element you've created gives you the timing to transition to your next technique with more power.
How does the De Ashi Barai work?
De Ashi Barai (advancing foot sweep) is a foot sweep subfamily where the attacker sweeps the opponent's advancing foot at the moment it contacts the mat, using a lateral sweeping motion to knock the foot out from under the transferring weight. The technique requires exquisite timing — the sweep must be executed at the precise instant the opponent's foot touches down and begins accepting weight.
Where does the De Ashi Barai come from?
De ashi barai is one of the original 40 throws of judo codified by Jigoro Kano and is classified as an ashi-waza (foot technique) in the Kodokan system. The technique is frequently cited as the most difficult judo throw to master due to its absolute dependence on timing.
Is the De Ashi Barai legal in competition?
IJF: legal — Legal (ashi-waza) — trips executed without grabbing opponent's legs are permi…; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, scored as takedown (2 points); UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle, restricted in Greco-Roman (leg-to-leg contact prohibited); Unified MMA: legal — Legal takedown technique; ADCC: legal — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal — all takedowns permitted; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, scored as takedown (2 points)
How dangerous is the De Ashi Barai?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — timing-based sweep; lower force than trips
How do I set up the De Ashi Barai?
The standard setup chain: Establish Contact → Create Off-Balance → Execute the Takedown → Follow to Ground.
How do I defend against the De Ashi Barai?
Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt / Underhook — establish inside position to control distance and prevent the takedown entry / Post and Circle — post on the attacker's head and circle away to break their angle / Level Change Defence — recognize the shot early and react with appropriate hip defence.
What are the variants of the De Ashi Barai?
Common variants: Standard trip (blocking or sweeping the support leg while driving the up…); Combination trip (chaining an inside trip with an outside trip when the opp…); Counter trip (using the trip as a counter when the opponent attacks); Clinch trip (executing the trip from a tight clinch position).
How effective is the De Ashi Barai in competition?
De ashi barai has scored ippon at every level of judo competition, including the Olympic Games. It is one of the most commonly attempted ashi-waza techniques in IJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the De Ashi Barai?
Top errors to watch for: Sweeping when the opponent is static — de ashi barai requires forward movement to work / Sweeping the wrong foot (the back foot instead of the advancing front foot) / Kicking into the ankle instead of sweeping across it — this hurts your foot and is less effective / Not using the hands to create the forward motion that loads the target foot.
What are other names for the De Ashi Barai?
The De Ashi Barai is also known as De Ashi Barai, Advancing Foot Sweep, Forward Foot Sweep.