Okuri Ashi Barai

SubFamily

Translation: sliding foot sweep

Range & classification

Overview

Okuri Ashi Barai (following foot sweep) is a judo foot technique in which the thrower sweeps both of the opponent's feet simultaneously by catching the trailing foot as it moves to join the lead foot during lateral movement. ^[1] The technique exploits the moment when both feet are close together during a side-stepping motion, sweeping the trailing foot into the lead foot and displacing both in the direction of travel. ^[1],[2] The hands guide the opponent sideways with a strong lateral pull and push, creating the side-stepping movement that sets up the double-foot sweep. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Okuri Ashi HaraiJP^[1]Sliding Foot Sweep^[2]Following Foot Sweep^[3]Double Foot Sweep^[4]

Used in

Judo Sambo Shuai Jiao

History & Origin

Okuri ashi barai was included in the original Kodokan gokyo as a first-set technique, recognised as a fundamental expression of the judo principle of exploiting the opponent's movement. ^[1] The technique is particularly associated with uchikomi (repetition training) drills where both partners move laterally, and is frequently taught early in the judo curriculum. ^[2],[3]

Country of origin· shown in random order

Japan送り足払い(Okuri Ashi Barai)Judo
RussiaSambo
ChinaShuai Jiao

Effectiveness

Okuri ashi barai (sliding foot sweep) sweeps both feet simultaneously during lateral movement, exploiting the moment both feet are close together. ^[1] It requires exquisite timing but produces spectacular ippon scores. ^[1],[2]

Lineage

Okuri ashi barai is part of the Kodokan judo ashi-waza syllabus. ^[1] It is considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing throws in judo. ^[2]

Competition Record

Okuri ashi barai has scored ippon at the highest levels of judo competition, including Olympic Games and World Championships. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

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

Videos

welcomematstevescott

DRAWING OKURI ASHI BARAI

Okuri Ashi Barai·welcomematstevescott

Okuri Ashi Barai (Sliding or Send-After Foot Sweep) is one of the most effective throwing techniques used in any combat …

The Judo Coach

Okuri Ashi Barai Tutorial - Drill Development

Okuri Ashi Barai·The Judo Coach

Okuri Ashi Barai Tutorial - Drill Development - https://youtu.be/b6QvivOXWxs Ashi Waza is believed to be the essence of…

2 videos

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Moderate4/10

Foot sweeps use timing over force; lower impact but head strike risk remains

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Restricted

— no leg attacks below waist

UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF

Legal

— 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 RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Okuri ashi barai (following foot sweep) sweeps both of the opponent's feet by catching the ankle as they slide laterally

✓Move the opponent sideways with your grips — pull them into a lateral step — then sweep the foot that follows

✓The sweep catches the trailing foot as it slides to catch up with the lead foot — both feet leave the ground

✓This is one of the most spectacular throws in judo when executed perfectly — the opponent floats off their feet

✓Push or pull the opponent sideways to create the lateral movement first, then time the sweep to the trailing ankle

✓The entire technique feels like a wave: push, step, sweep — the sweep rides the lateral momentum

✓Okuri ashi barai is most effective when the opponent is circling or stepping sideways naturally

Common Mistakes

!Sweeping the lead foot instead of the trailing foot — the trailing foot is the one that is light during lateral movement

!Not generating enough lateral movement before attempting the sweep — the opponent must be mid-step

!Sweeping too early before the feet come close together — the ideal moment is when the feet are closest during the lateral slide

!Standing in place and trying to sweep from distance — you must move with the opponent laterally

!Using excessive force on the sweep, pulling yourself off balance

!Not following through with the hands in the direction of the sweep — the arms must guide the opponent to the ground

!Attempting okuri ashi barai against an opponent moving directly toward or away from you — it requires lateral motion

Related Techniques

Foot Sweep — complementary off-balancing technique using similar directional forces Breakfall (Ukemi) — essential receiving skill for safe practice of this throw

Counter Techniques

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 Stiff-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)

2SyllabusKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification

Official Kodokan ground technique classification system

3SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

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)

Sub-techniques

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

Standard Okuri Ashi Barai

Genus

Standard Okuri Ashi Barai executes the classical following foot sweep where the thrower guides the opponent into lateral movement, then sweeps the trailing foot into the lead foot with the sole as both feet come together. [1] The sweep must be timed to catch the trailing foot at the exact moment it is moving to join the lead foot, while the hands maintain strong lateral direction to amplify the sweeping force. [1,2] The result is a dramatic throw where the opponent's feet are swept out from under them in the direction they were already moving. [2,3]

Explore

Notes

Okuri ashi barai (following foot sweep) sweeps both of the opponent's feet as they step laterally. The sweep catches the feet as they come together during lateral movement. One of the most elegant throws when executed with correct timing. (Kano, Kodokan Judo)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the correct foot positioning before executing okuri ashi barai?

You should position yourself slightly behind your partner rather than squared up directly in front of them. The Judo Coach emphasizes that being slightly behind allows you to step with your partner and sweep in one fluid movement without missing the timing.

How do I avoid missing the sweep when my opponent is moving?

The key is to stay slightly behind your partner as they move, rather than trying to catch up from ahead. The Judo Coach stresses that you must step together with your partner while maintaining control of the lapel and speed to execute the technique effectively.

How does the Okuri Ashi Barai work?

Okuri Ashi Barai (following foot sweep) is a judo foot technique in which the thrower sweeps both of the opponent's feet simultaneously by catching the trailing foot as it moves to join the lead foot during lateral movement. The technique exploits the moment when both feet are close together during a side-stepping motion, sweeping the trailing foot into the lead foot and displacing both in the direction of travel.

Where does the Okuri Ashi Barai come from?

Okuri ashi barai was included in the original Kodokan gokyo as a first-set technique, recognised as a fundamental expression of the judo principle of exploiting the opponent's movement. The technique is particularly associated with uchikomi (repetition training) drills where both partners move laterally, and is frequently taught early in the judo curriculum.

Is the Okuri 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 Okuri 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 Okuri Ashi Barai?

The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).

How do I defend against the Okuri 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 Okuri 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 Okuri Ashi Barai in competition?

Okuri ashi barai has scored ippon at the highest levels of judo competition, including Olympic Games and World Championships.

What are common mistakes when doing the Okuri Ashi Barai?

Top errors to watch for: Sweeping the lead foot instead of the trailing foot — the trailing foot is the one that is light during lateral movement / Not generating enough lateral movement before attempting the sweep — the opponent must be mid-step / Sweeping too early before the feet come close together — the ideal moment is when the feet are closest during the lat… / Standing in place and trying to sweep from distance — you must move with the opponent laterally.

What are other names for the Okuri Ashi Barai?

The Okuri Ashi Barai is also known as Okuri Ashi Barai, Okuri Ashi Harai, Sliding Foot Sweep, Following Foot Sweep, Double Foot Sweep.

okuri ashi barai throw foot leg technique throw ashi waza foot sweep throw judo sambo okuri ashi harai sliding foot sweep following foot sweep double foot sweep