3 Judo Foot Sweep Combo to Up Your Game
0
Foot Sweep·Shintaro Higashi
Brian Glick No Gi Foot Sweep Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OAt8Nntv0c Give him a Follow! 10% off Subscript…
Foot Sweep
Group足技(Ashi Waza)
Translation: Foot technique
Overview
The Foot Sweep group covers throwing techniques where the thrower uses their foot or leg to sweep, reap, hook, or trip the opponent's supporting leg, causing them to lose balance and fall — the most timing-dependent and technically refined techniques in all of martial arts. [1] Known as ashi waza in judo, foot sweeps are often called the 'gentleman's throw' because a perfectly timed sweep requires no strength at all — only precise timing that catches the opponent mid-step when their weight transfers to one foot. [1],[2] Judo master Kyuzo Mifune demonstrated that foot sweeps can be used by a smaller fighter to throw a much larger opponent, as the technique relies on timing and kuzushi rather than power. [2],[3] This group includes de ashi barai (advancing foot sweep — often considered the single most fundamental throw in judo), o soto gari (major outer reap), ko soto gari (minor outer reap), o uchi gari (major inner reap), ko uchi gari (minor inner reap), and sasae tsurikomi ashi (propping drawing ankle throw). [3]
Ashi WazaJPFoot TechniqueLeg SweepAshi BaraiJP
History & Origin
Foot sweeps have been central to judo since its founding by Jigoro Kano in 1882 — ashi waza was one of the original throw categories in the Kodokan Gokyo. [1] Kano reportedly considered de ashi barai the most important throw for developing proper throwing principles, placing it first in the original Gokyo. [1],[2] Kyuzo Mifune, the 'God of Judo' (10th dan), was legendary for his foot sweep mastery, demonstrating that perfect timing could overcome any size or strength disadvantage. [2],[3] The foot sweep concept appears across multiple martial arts — Muay Thai features the teep sweep and clinch sweeps, wrestling uses foot trips, and many traditional martial arts include sweeping techniques. [3]
Effectiveness
Foot sweeps are among the most efficient techniques in judo — when timing is perfect, they require almost zero physical effort while producing dramatic results. [1] In competition judo, o soto gari is consistently one of the top three scoring throws at the international level. [2] The combination of ko uchi gari and o uchi gari as setup throws for major techniques (seoi nage, uchi mata) makes them indispensable in any competitive judoka's arsenal. [3]
Lineage
Foot sweeps derive from the ashi waza category of Kodokan judo, which synthesised sweeping techniques from multiple koryu jujutsu traditions. [1] Kyuzo Mifune's mastery of ashi waza (documented in Canon of Judo, 1956) elevated foot sweeps to the highest art form in martial arts. [1],[2] Modern judo competition continues to feature ashi waza prominently, with o soto gari being one of the most commonly attempted and scored techniques at Olympic and World Championship level. [2]
Competition Record
O soto gari is one of the top three most-scored throws in international judo competition, frequently producing ippon at the Olympic and World Championship level. [1] Ko uchi gari and o uchi gari, while rarely scoring ippon on their own, are among the most commonly used setup techniques that create openings for other throws. [1],[2]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Using the foot or lower leg to displace the opponent's supporting foot at the precise moment their weight transfers onto it, removing their base of support
Joints Involved — Sweeping hip (drives the sweeping leg's arc through the target), sweeping knee (extends or retracts to control sweep range), sweeping ankle (makes contact with the opponent's foot or ankle), pulling arms (hands control kuzushi — the off-balancing pull that loads the opponent's weight onto the swept foot)
Force Vector — For forward sweeps (de ashi barai): lateral force against the opponent's advancing foot, combined with forward-downward pull from the hands, For reaps (o soto gari): backward force, driving the reaping leg through the opponent's thigh while pulling them backward, For inner reaps (o uchi gari): inward force against the inside of the opponent's foot/leg
Sweep Mechanic — Foot sweeps exploit the gait cycle — during walking or stepping, each foot passes through a phase of zero weight (when swinging forward) and full weight (when planted); sweeps target the foot at the exact moment weight is being transferred to it but before it has fully planted
Position & Entry
Advancing foot sweep (de ashi barai) — As the opponent steps forward with their lead foot, sweep it sideways with the sole of your foot at the exact moment it is about to touch the mat — the hands pull in the direction of the sweep to amplify the off-balancing [1]
Major outer reap (o soto gari) — Step alongside the opponent, drive them backward with a pull on the sleeve and push on the collar, then sweep their near leg backward with a powerful reaping action while driving chest-to-chest
Minor inner reap (ko uchi gari) — From clinch range, hook the inside of the opponent's heel with your foot and pull it toward you while pushing their upper body backward — a small technique that produces big results against a stepping opponent
Videos
Judo foot sweep drill.
0
Foot Sweep·Coach Scott
Practice you foot work with this simple but effective drill.
2 videos
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Foot sweeps are generally among the safer throws; the lower amplitude means less impact on landing compared to hip throws or sacrifice throws; primary injury risk is to the swept leg (ankle sprains if caught awkwardly) and to the head if the thrown person doesn't breakfall properly
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
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
✓De ashi barai is considered the most important throw in judo to master — Kano reportedly said it should be the first throw studied because it teaches timing and kuzushi better than any other technique (Kodokan Judo, 1986) [1]
✓Foot sweep timing requires thousands of repetitions — the window of opportunity is milliseconds long; only repetition builds the reflexive timing needed
✓Practice with moving uchi-komi — foot sweeps only work against a moving opponent; static drilling is nearly useless for developing sweep timing
✓O soto gari requires full commitment — the reaping leg must drive through the opponent's thigh with the same force as kicking a heavy bag; timid reaps fail
✓Study your opponent's footwork patterns — every fighter has habitual stepping patterns; identifying these patterns reveals sweep timing opportunities
✓Ko uchi gari is the best setup throw in judo — it forces the opponent to move their foot, creating openings for follow-up throws (o soto gari, seoi nage, uchi mata) [2]
✓In MMA, foot sweeps work best in the clinch — use collar ties or underhooks to control upper body while sweeping the feet
✓Train combination sweeps — o uchi gari → ko uchi gari → o soto gari is the classic judo sweep combination; the opponent's defence of one creates the opening for the next
Common Mistakes
!Sweeping too early — the foot must be swept at the exact moment of weight transfer; sweeping too early catches an empty foot with no effect
!Sweeping too late — sweeping after the foot has fully planted means trying to move a rooted, weighted foot; this requires too much force and usually fails
!Neglecting the hand pull (kuzushi) — foot sweeps without proper upper-body kuzushi are merely leg contacts; the hands must actively break balance to make the sweep effective
!Standing upright during o soto gari — the reaping action requires driving the chest into the opponent while sweeping; standing tall creates no forward drive
!Not following through with the sweep — the sweeping foot must drive completely through the target, not just touch it; a half-sweep rarely works
!Using the toes instead of the sole — the sweeping surface should be the sole or ball of the foot, not the toes; toes catch and bend painfully
!Only training one side — foot sweeps must be available from both sides because opportunities depend on which foot the opponent is stepping with
Related Techniques
Throws (Standing) — foot sweeps are often used as setup techniques for larger hip and hand throwsCombination Throws (Renraku Waza) — foot sweeps are the most common setup throws in judo combinationsTakedowns — wrestling leg trips share mechanical similarities with judo reapsClinch — foot sweeps in MMA and Muay Thai are executed from the clinch
Counter Techniques
Lift the Foot — when sensing a sweep attempt, lift the targeted foot so the sweep catches airCounter-sweep — sweeping the opponent's sweeping leg as it comes inStep Over — stepping over the sweep attempt and continuing forwardPost and Balance — posting the targeted foot firmly and absorbing the sweep with bent kneeCounter-throw — using the opponent's sweeping motion as kuzushi for a counter technique (e.g., countering o soto gari with o soto gaeshi)
Setup Chain
1Movement — use push-pull and circular motion to force the opponent to step
2Read the Step — identify which foot the opponent is about to transfer weight to
3Time the Sweep — initiate the sweep at the precise moment of weight transfer
4Coordinate Hands — simultaneously pull with the hands in the sweep direction to amplify kuzushi
5Drive Through — the sweeping foot must drive completely through the target
6Follow Up — if the sweep scores cleanly, follow to ground control; if partially successful, chain into the next throw
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo (Jigoro Kano, 1986)
1BookKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Description sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) on ashi waza as fundamental [2] Canon of Judo (Mifune, 1956) on timing principles [3] Best Judo (Inokuma & Sato, 1979) on ashi waza classification
2BookBest Judo (Inokuma & Sato, 1979)
History sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Mifune's legendary sweep demonstrations [3] Cross-martial arts sweep traditions
3BookCanon of Judo (Mifune, 1956)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Canon of Judo (Mifune, 1956) on efficiency [2] IJF competition statistics on o soto gari scoring rate [3] Combination throwing analysis
4BookJudo Masterclass: Ashiwaza (Yamashita, 1991)
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
6CitationKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Description sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) on ashi waza as fundamental [2] Canon of Judo (Mifune, 1956) on timing principles [3] Best Judo (Inokuma & Sato, 1979) on ashi waza classification
7CitationBest Judo (Inokuma & Sato, 1979)
History sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Mifune's legendary sweep demonstrations [3] Cross-martial arts sweep traditions
8CitationCanon of Judo (Mifune, 1956)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Canon of Judo (Mifune, 1956) on efficiency [2] IJF competition statistics on o soto gari scoring rate [3] Combination throwing analysis
9CitationJudo Masterclass: Ashiwaza (Yamashita, 1991)
Community
Athletics
Requires
timing sensitivity (the primary attribute — foot sweeps are timing techniques above all), balance (sweeping while maintaining own standing position), kuzushi skill (hands must coordinate perfectly with foot contact)
Favours
long legs (more reach for sweeps and reaps), good proprioception (feeling the opponent's weight shifts), quick feet
Key muscles
hip abductors/adductors (driving the sweep laterally), calves (controlling foot placement), forearms (pulling power for kuzushi), core (balance during single-leg support phase)
Sub-techniques
Notes
Foot sweeps appear in 172 passages across 46 books — extensively documented across judo, karate, and MMA sources. The timing-based takedown family — the attacker sweeps the opponent's foot during weight transfer. Considered the most technically demanding takedowns in judo. (46 books; Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most important thing to focus on when executing a foot sweep?
Coach Scott emphasizes that you should engage your hips and use your driving leg—hip engagement is critical to generating power for the sweep.
How can I set up a Ko-soto foot sweep when my opponent is attacking?
Shintaro Higashi recommends staying in place rather than shifting your body away when your opponent crowds you for the Ko-soto, then drive over them to finish the sweep effectively.
What's a strategy for stringing multiple foot sweeps together?
Shintaro Higashi suggests attacking Ko-sio to put weight off one leg, then immediately attacking the Ko-soto on the other leg to create a devastating combination.
How does the Foot Sweep work?
The Foot Sweep group covers throwing techniques where the thrower uses their foot or leg to sweep, reap, hook, or trip the opponent's supporting leg, causing them to lose balance and fall — the most timing-dependent and technically refined techniques in all of martial arts. Known as ashi waza in judo, foot sweeps are often called the 'gentleman's throw' because a perfectly timed sweep requires no strength at all — only precise timing that catches the opponent mid-step when their weight transfers to one foot.
Where does the Foot Sweep come from?
Foot sweeps have been central to judo since its founding by Jigoro Kano in 1882 — ashi waza was one of the original throw categories in the Kodokan Gokyo. Kano reportedly considered de ashi barai the most important throw for developing proper throwing principles, placing it first in the original Gokyo.
Is the Foot Sweep 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 Foot Sweep?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — foot sweeps are generally among the safer throws; the lower amplitude means less impact on landing compared to hip throws or sacrifice throws; primary injury risk is to the swept leg (ankle sprains if caught awkwardly) and to the head if the thrown person doesn't breakfall properly
How do I set up the Foot Sweep?
The standard setup chain: Movement → Read the Step → Time the Sweep → Coordinate Hands → Drive Through → Follow Up.
How do I defend against the Foot Sweep?
Standard counters include: Lift the Foot — when sensing a sweep attempt, lift the targeted foot so the sweep catches air / Counter-sweep — sweeping the opponent's sweeping leg as it comes in / Step Over — stepping over the sweep attempt and continuing forward / Post and Balance — posting the targeted foot firmly and absorbing the sweep with bent knee.
What are the variants of the Foot Sweep?
Common variants: De ashi barai (advancing foot sweep) (sweeping the opponent's lead foot as it advances; the mos…); O soto gari (major outer reap) (reaping the opponent's outside leg while driving them bac…); Ko uchi gari (minor inner reap) (hooking the opponent's inside heel and pulling it; a quic…); O uchi gari (major inner reap) (stepping between the opponent's legs and reaping their in…); Sasae tsurikomi ashi (propping drawing ankle throw) (blocking the opponent's ankle while pulling them over the…); Ko soto gari (minor outer reap) (a quick outside reap against the heel); Harai tsurikomi ashi (sweeping drawing ankle) (sweeping the ankle while pulling the opponent forward and…).
How effective is the Foot Sweep in competition?
O soto gari is one of the top three most-scored throws in international judo competition, frequently producing ippon at the Olympic and World Championship level. Ko uchi gari and o uchi gari, while rarely scoring ippon on their own, are among the most commonly used setup techniques that create openings for other throws.
What are common mistakes when doing the Foot Sweep?
Top errors to watch for: Sweeping too early — the foot must be swept at the exact moment of weight transfer; sweeping too early catches an emp… / Sweeping too late — sweeping after the foot has fully planted means trying to move a rooted, weighted foot; this requ… / Neglecting the hand pull (kuzushi) — foot sweeps without proper upper-body kuzushi are merely leg contacts; the hands… / Standing upright during o soto gari — the reaping action requires driving the chest into the opponent while sweeping;….
What are other names for the Foot Sweep?
The Foot Sweep is also known as Ashi Waza, Foot Technique, Leg Sweep, Ashi Barai.