How to Do a Perfect De Ashi Harai | Gordon Ryan
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Standard De Ashi Barai·Gordon Ryan·Added by Admin
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Standard De Ashi Barai
Genus出足払い(De Ashi Barai)
TraditionalTranslation: advancing foot sweep
Overview
Standard De Ashi Barai is the classical execution of the advancing foot sweep where the thrower uses the sole of the foot to sweep the opponent's lead foot laterally as it advances, while both hands (tsurite lifting and hikite pulling) direct the opponent's upper body over the swept leg. [1] The sweep is performed with a snapping motion of the ankle, contacting the opponent's foot at or just above the ankle joint and brushing it in the direction of travel. [1],[2] The technique scores when the opponent, deprived of their advancing support, falls to the mat from the combined effect of the sweep and hand direction. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
De ashi barai is considered one of the purest expressions of judo's efficiency principle — when timed perfectly, it requires minimal physical effort to produce a clean ippon. [1] Mifune described it as the technique that best demonstrates seiryoku zenyo (maximum efficiency, minimum effort). [2] Its effectiveness depends almost entirely on timing rather than strength, making it equally applicable regardless of the size differential between fighters. [3]
Lineage
Competition Record
De ashi barai is regularly scored at IJF World Tour events and Olympic Games, valued as a counter-attack and as an opportunistic technique during transitions. [1] Its scoring frequency increases at the highest levels of competition where fighters possess the timing sensitivity to exploit momentary weight transfers. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Pulling and lifting with the arms to load the opponent over the shoulder or upper back
Joints Involved — Attacker's shoulders (loading point), elbows (pulling action), hips (turning under the opponent)
Force Vector — Forward and downward rotation — the pulling arm creates circular momentum while the body turns underneath
Kuzushi (Off-balancing) — Forward — breaking the opponent's balance forward over their toes allows the turning entry
Position & Entry
From judo grip — Use push-pull timing (kuzushi) to catch the opponent as they step, sweep the support foot in the direction of their movement
From clinch (collar tie) — Push or pull to make the opponent step, sweep the stepping foot at the exact moment it lifts off the mat
Variants
Forward sweep — sweeping the foot in the direction the opponent is stepping
Rear sweep — sweeping the foot backward as the opponent retreats
Combination sweep — chaining sweeps to both feet
Counter sweep — timing the sweep as the opponent initiates their own attack
Videos
De-Ashi-Harai Tips | Riki Judo Dojo
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Standard De Ashi Barai·Riki Judo Dojo·Added by Admin
Riki sensei showed us the fundamental way of doing de-ashi-harai / de-ashi-barai (advancing foot sweep) during judo clas…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
De ashi barai is a foot sweep executed against the opponent's advancing foot, recognized across both judo and grappling contexts as highly effective despite often being underestimated. Gordon Ryan (Gordon Ryan channel) emphasizes the technique from a rear body lock position in no-gi grappling, prioritizing the creation of forward or backward movement to break the opponent's balance before executing the sweep. Ryan stresses timing the sweep to the moment the foot leaves the floor during the opponent's step, rather than when it is planted, and outlines a progressive drilling sequence: mirroring footwork with hands on hips, catching the elevated foot, locking the hands, adding a hip pop, and finally integrating full-body mechanics to execute the throw while maintaining control position. Riki Judo Dojo (Riki Judo Dojo channel) approaches de ashi barai from a traditional judo perspective, highlighting the critical role of kuzushi (off-balancing) through the pulling hand (hikite) moving downward and inward, and the pushing hand (tsuite) rotating to generate power. Both instructors agree on the importance of timing and full-body commitment, though they differ in context—Ryan focuses on control and transition in no-gi grappling, while Riki emphasizes the violent throwing power and proper grip mechanics essential to judo. Riki additionally stresses maintaining a straight leg during the sweep to preserve energy transfer and warns against prematurely abandoning the technique if initial contact fails.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Gordon Ryan — How to Do a Perfect De Ashi Harai | Gordon Ryan: Detailed progressive drilling sequence for de ashi barai from rear body lock in no-gi grappling, emphasizing timing the sweep to the foot's elevation during the step, creating movement for off-balancing, and maintaining control after the throw for scoring.
- Riki Judo Dojo — De-Ashi-Harai Tips | Riki Judo Dojo: Traditional judo instruction on kuzushi mechanics, grip details (hikite pulling down and inward, tsuite rotating), the importance of a straight sweeping leg to maximize power transfer, proper hand positioning on the sleeve, and the inherent violence and effectiveness of the technique when executed fully.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Foot sweeps use timing over force; lower impact but head strike risk remains
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— no leg attacks below waist
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFLegal
— IJF — Legal throwing technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— Unified MMA — Legal throwing technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓As uke steps forward with their right foot, sweep their right ankle with the sole of your left foot
✓The sweep travels from outside to inside in a short, sharp arc at ankle height
✓Simultaneously pull with both hands: the tsurite (lifting hand) pulls forward and up, the hikite (pulling hand) pulls sideways and down
✓The sweep and the pull must happen at the same instant — any delay between them reduces the throw's effectiveness
✓The sweeping foot stays close to the ground throughout — no more than a few inches of clearance
✓Follow through with the sweep past the opponent's foot, do not stop at the point of contact
✓Practise with a partner walking forward naturally and time your sweep to their steps
Common Mistakes
!Sweeping upward instead of across — the foot should travel horizontally at ankle height
!Not accelerating through the sweep — the foot must gain speed through the arc, fastest at the point of contact
!Pulling with the hands before the sweep contacts the foot, which warns the opponent
!Sweeping from too far away and only clipping the toes instead of catching the full ankle
!Standing too tall during the sweep — a slight knee bend gives you better sweeping mechanics
!Leaving your own balance on the sweeping leg — your weight should be centred on the support leg
!Not following through after the sweep connects — continue the pulling motion to drive the opponent to the mat
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to executeLift the Targeted Leg — raise the foot being attacked above the sweeping actionCounter-Throw — exploit the attacker's committed weight to throw them insteadGrip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configurationStiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry
Setup Chain
1Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) — establish the controlling grips needed for the throw
2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — break the opponent's balance in the throwing direction
3Entry (Tsukuri) — position the body for the throw by turning, stepping, or loading
4Execution (Kake) — complete the throwing action with full commitment and follow-through
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
Traditional Judo throwing technique 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 technique terminology (Kodokan Institute)
Community
Athletics
Requires
precise timing, ankle coordination, upper body kuzushi ability
Favours
excellent balance and quick reflexes
Key muscles
tibialis anterior, calves, hip rotators, forearms (grip)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a de ashi barai sweep?
Gordon Ryan emphasizes creating movement first by either pulling your opponent backwards or pushing them forward to get them off balance. This forces them to focus on not falling over rather than defending their hands, which makes them vulnerable to the sweep.
When should I attack the foot during de ashi barai?
Gordon Ryan advises not catching the foot when it's weighted, because you'll have no effect. Instead, monitor your opponent's footwork and catch the foot as they're shifting their weight and beginning to move.
What role does my pulling hand play in de ashi barai?
According to Riki Judo Dojo, your pulling hand (hikite) should come down to bend your opponent forward, and you must maintain proper distance so that your arm stays straight rather than bending at the elbow.
How should I use my hips when sweeping?
Gordon Ryan explains that you step in and lift with a slight pop of the hips, eventually bringing your full body into it—as you lift, you pop everything up, then sweep the foot while your right elbow rises and left elbow cracks down over the hip to put your opponent down.
How does the Standard De Ashi Barai work?
Standard De Ashi Barai is the classical execution of the advancing foot sweep where the thrower uses the sole of the foot to sweep the opponent's lead foot laterally as it advances, while both hands (tsurite lifting and hikite pulling) direct the opponent's upper body over the swept leg. The sweep is performed with a snapping motion of the ankle, contacting the opponent's foot at or just above the ankle joint and brushing it in the direction of travel.
Where does the Standard De Ashi Barai come from?
The standard form of de ashi barai has been taught in the Kodokan curriculum since 1895 and remains one of the first techniques introduced to beginning judo students worldwide. Its emphasis on timing over strength makes it an ideal introductory throw for understanding kuzushi.
Is the Standard De Ashi Barai legal in competition?
IJF: legal — Legal throwing technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle, banned in Greco-Roman (no leg attacks below waist); Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Standard De Ashi Barai?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — foot sweeps use timing over force; lower impact but head strike risk remains
How do I set up the Standard De Ashi Barai?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).
How do I defend against the Standard De Ashi Barai?
Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Lift the Targeted Leg — raise the foot being attacked above the sweeping action / Counter-Throw — exploit the attacker's committed weight to throw them instead / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the Standard De Ashi Barai?
Common variants: Forward sweep (sweeping the foot in the direction the opponent is stepping); Rear sweep (sweeping the foot backward as the opponent retreats); Combination sweep (chaining sweeps to both feet); Counter sweep (timing the sweep as the opponent initiates their own attack).
How effective is the Standard De Ashi Barai in competition?
De ashi barai is regularly scored at IJF World Tour events and Olympic Games, valued as a counter-attack and as an opportunistic technique during transitions. Its scoring frequency increases at the highest levels of competition where fighters possess the timing sensitivity to exploit momentary weight transfers.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard De Ashi Barai?
Top errors to watch for: Sweeping upward instead of across — the foot should travel horizontally at ankle height / Not accelerating through the sweep — the foot must gain speed through the arc, fastest at the point of contact / Pulling with the hands before the sweep contacts the foot, which warns the opponent / Sweeping from too far away and only clipping the toes instead of catching the full ankle.
What are other names for the Standard De Ashi Barai?
The Standard De Ashi Barai is also known as De Ashi Barai, De Ashi Harai, Classical Advancing Foot Sweep, Basic Foot Sweep.