Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi
Takedown · Judo Throws
A propping ankle block from the grip fight standing to side control. Draw him forward with a small pull so he steps and puts his weight on the lead leg: pull first, block second. As he steps, put your whole sole on the front of his lead ankle, just above the joint, with your supporting leg straight and strong. Lift the collar hand and pull the sleeve diagonally forward with the elbow raised, keep your chest up and turn, driving into him rather than fading away: his head travels over the blocked foot and he falls forward into the space where you stood. The block is lower than in hiza guruma and stops the foot the instant it would step. If he steps over the block, ouchi gari; if he pulls back from the draw, osoto gari.
How to do it
- Grip sleeve and collar and draw them forward with a small pull, so they step forward and put their weight on the lead leg.
- As their stepping foot touches the mat, put the whole sole of your foot on the front of their lead ankle, just above the joint, with your supporting leg straight and strong.
- Lift the collar hand up and pull the sleeve diagonally forward, the pulling elbow raised, so their head travels over the blocked foot.
- Stay upright and close, chest up, and turn, driving into them rather than fading away, so they fall over the blocked foot into the space where you stood.
- Stay on your feet, keep the sleeve and follow into side control.
Key details
- Pull first, block second: the draw creates the step.
- Your supporting leg stays straight and strong: it is the pivot you turn on.
- The block is at the ankle, lower than hiza guruma: block with the whole sole just above their ankle.
- Step out to the side and throw them through the space where you stood.
- Lift the pulling elbow up and keep your chest up and back straight, without fading away: the lift brings their weight forward over the block.
- Set it up with push and pull: push them, and when they push or pull back against you, release and turn with their returning force.
Common mistakes
- No lift of the collar hand. — Their weight never comes over the blocked foot: they stumble but stay upright. — Lift up, then turn: the head must go over the foot.
- Blocking too early. — The foot is in the air and simply steps over the block. — Block as the foot touches the mat.
- Bending forward yourself. — Your weight goes the same way as theirs: you fall with them or get countered. — Keep the chest up and stay upright and close.
How to drill it
Moving uchikomi: 10 reps each side stepping backwards with the partner. Then 5 full throws each side on mats.
Safety
Block the ankle with the sole, never kick it. Hold the sleeve so the partner lands on the back and can breakfall.
What comes next
Where it comes from