Okuri Ashi Barai

Takedown · Judo Throws

A sweep of both feet from the grip fight standing to side control, for the moment he moves sideways and brings his trailing foot in toward the leading one. Move with him in the same direction, then speed up: lift with both hands so his weight comes up off his heels and carry him on in his own direction, which is the kuzushi. Stay upright and close, hips forward, and sweep the trailing foot with the sole of your foot from the outside of his ankle, driving it into his leading foot and on, so both feet fly out together and he falls sideways. It differs from de ashi barai: de ashi sweeps one foot, the stepping foot as it lands, and the hands pull down; okuri ashi sweeps both feet during a sideways move, and the hands lift. The common error is bending forward and kicking with the leg alone: the sweep comes from the hips and the lift. If he stops and widens the stance, ouchi gari; if he lifts the feet over the sweep, de ashi barai as the foot lands.

How to do it

Move sideways with them, holding sleeve and lapel, at their pace: one foot steps to the side, the other follows.
Speed up slightly and lift with both hands, so their weight comes up off the heels and keeps travelling sideways.
As their trailing foot slides in toward the leading foot, put the sole of your foot against the outside of that ankle.
Sweep it into the leading foot and on in the same direction, hips forward and body upright, so both feet leave the mat together.
Their feet fly out and they fall sideways; keep the sleeve and follow into side control.

Key details

Sweep the trailing foot into the leading one: you take both feet, not one.
The hands lift and carry, they do not pull down: this is the difference from de ashi barai.
Add speed to their own movement: sweep in the direction they are already going.
Stay upright with the hips forward; the sweep comes from the hip, the leg is long.
Sweep with the sole along the mat, low at the ankle.

Common mistakes

Bending forward and kicking with the leg. — The leg has no reach and no power, and it hurts the partner's ankle. — Body upright, hips forward, sweep from the hip.
Sweeping when the feet are apart. — The leading foot carries the weight and stops the trailing one. — Sweep as the trailing foot closes toward the leading one.
No lift with the hands. — Their weight stays on the feet and the feet do not slide. — Lift with both hands as you sweep, so they rise off the heels.

How to drill it

Side-stepping together across the mat, the partner moving at an even pace; sweep on every third step, 10 each direction. Then free movement for 1 minute.

Safety

Sweep with the sole, never kick the ankle. Hold the sleeve: the partner falls sideways and needs a side breakfall.

What comes next

RhizoBJJ

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