YR Sports Lab
You read the step coming and sweep, but all you catch is air. Or you do touch the foot, yet their weight never arrived and a small wobble is all it takes for them to stand firm. That is the classic miss of De Ashi Barai (出足払). It is throw No. 1 of Kodokan judo's first group, known in English as the forward foot sweep, and it targets the foot that has just stepped out but is not yet loaded. This guide covers its numbering, mechanics, timing window, what to do when it is blocked, and the IBJJF takedown scoring rules.
1. Origin and Story: Throw No. 1 of Kodokan Group One
De Ashi Barai has no verifiable single inventor or signature match, so this part sticks to cross-checked classification facts. Wikipedia states that it is one of the original 40 Kodokan throws developed by Jigoro Kano, belongs to the first group (Dai Ikkyo) of the traditional Gokyo no Waza, and is part of the current 67 throws of Kodokan judo, classified as a foot technique (ashi-waza). The entry gives the English names forward foot sweep and advancing foot sweep, and both romanizations, de ashi barai and de ashi harai, are in use.
The numbering matches across two sources: Wikipedia's Gokyo no waza entry lists De ashi barai as No. 1 of the 8 throws in group one, followed by Hiza guruma, Sasae tsurikomi ashi, Uki goshi, O soto gari, O goshi, O uchi gari and Seoi nage. Judo Info's group-one list also puts De-ashi-harai first, and notes that the syllabus originated in 1895 at the Kodokan in Tokyo and, from 1920 to 1982, consisted of 40 throws in 5 groups.
It sweeps the foot that is not yet loaded
Wikipedia contrasts De ashi barai with Kosoto gari: the former sweeps a foot that is off the ground and bearing no weight, the latter sweeps a foot that is planted and carrying some weight. That is why the window is so narrow: you must act the moment the step lifts, before weight comes down. The kanji 出足 points to the foot stepping forward and 払 means to sweep away; that reading is our inference from the characters, not something the sources spell out.
For other group-one throws in this series, see Ouchi Gari, Osoto Gari and Seoi Nage.
2. Mechanics: Load the Weight, Wait for It to Land, Sweep While Steering the Upper Body
FloGrappling's foot-sweep guide states the core idea plainly: remove the weight from the opponent's foot, then move the foot while pulling or pushing so they fall. Digitsu's entry on the outside foot sweep (de ashi harai) adds grips and steps; the table below follows it, with sources marked.
| Stage | Key points |
|---|---|
| 1. Grips | Start from a standing clinch or collar-and-sleeve grip and use push-pull grips to shift the opponent's weight laterally or diagonally forward (Digitsu) |
| 2. Load the weight | Get the opponent's weight onto one foot; best when they step forward or shift weight sideways (Digitsu) |
| 3. Sweep | As weight commits to the target foot, contact the ankle or low shin from the outside with the sole or instep and sweep in the direction they are already falling (Digitsu) |
| 4. Upper body | At the same time, pull the upper body across and down over the swept leg (Digitsu) |
| 5. Control the landing | Keep grip control and guide them down into a dominant top position such as side control or knee on belly (Digitsu) |
Digitsu lists three common mistakes: sweeping too early, before weight has committed to the target foot; using only the legs with no upper-body kuzushi, which lets the opponent step through; and leaning the torso away to reach with the sweeping leg, which hurts your own balance. FloGrappling adds that the outside sweep (de ashi barai) is easier to learn than the inside sweep because it removes the opponent's post, and suggests drilling the sweep motion alone first, then adding footwork and arm work, then timing with a partner.
3. Entry Timing and Setups
The timings below are drawn from Digitsu and FloGrappling and are technical descriptions, not statistics:
First, when the opponent steps forward. Digitsu lists a forward step as the classic setup, and FloGrappling describes the outside sweep as contacting the outside of the foot mid-step. The moment is when the foot has just left the ground and weight has not come down.
Second, when the opponent shifts weight sideways. Digitsu notes a lateral weight shift is also a window, and collar-and-sleeve push-pull grips can create that shift on purpose.
Third, after a failed Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi. FloGrappling explains that the outside sweep often follows a failed sasae tsurikomi ashi (the foot-block takedown): the recovery step the opponent takes to regain balance becomes the new target.
FloGrappling also describes Dan Camarillo winning a 1998 jiu-jitsu match with an outside foot sweep followed by an armbar, saying he waited for the opponent to rise, with one foot lightly weighted, and pulled down on the lapel grip as he swept. This is a single-source description, used here only to illustrate timing. For wrestling, the same article notes you can hop to create a sweep when the opponent grabs a single leg, though the risk of leg-grab posture and the extra grip of shoes make foot sweeps harder there.
4. Strengths and Limitations
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Needs little strength when timed well (Digitsu) | The timing window is narrow, so sweep, footwork, arm work and timing must be drilled separately (FloGrappling) |
| The outside sweep removes the opponent's post and is easier to learn than the inside sweep (FloGrappling) | Sweeping too early, before weight reaches the target foot, only kicks air (Digitsu) |
| Works in both gi and no-gi (Digitsu) | Without upper-body kuzushi the opponent can step through (Digitsu) |
| Can lead to dominant top positions such as side control or knee on belly (Digitsu) | Leaning back to reach with the leg weakens your own balance (Digitsu) |
| In IBJJF, top position held for 3 seconds earns 2 points (Exponential Jiu-Jitsu) | A takedown started after the opponent begins a guard pull does not earn those 2 points (IBJJF article 4.1.11) |
5. Common Counters
The sources cited here are written from the attacker's point of view and do not list dedicated defender counters one by one, so the points below are marked as stated by a source or inferred from one:
First, the opponent pulls back and refuses to give up their weight. Digitsu says that if the opponent resists by pulling back, the attacker should immediately chain into a forward throw or inside trip using the reversed momentum. From the defender's side, pulling back alone is not safe, because it merely swaps the sweep for another takedown entry (inference from the source).
Second, do not load the foot that can be swept. Working backward from "sweeping too early only kicks air", a defender who shortens the step and does not commit weight to the stepping foot all at once removes the window (inference from the source).
Third, turn the foot sweep into your own defensive counter. FloGrappling points out that foot sweeps can be offensive or a defensive counter, with the example of hopping on one leg against a single-leg attempt and sweeping. In other words, the person whose leg is grabbed can use it to turn the exchange around.
Follow-ups when it is blocked
If the opponent pulls back, per Digitsu, chain straight into a forward throw or inside trip and use their reversed momentum.
If your Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi did not drop them, per FloGrappling, the recovery step they take is the target for De Ashi Barai.
To study the receiving side, including falling and defense, see our BJJ takedown defense and ukemi guide.
6. Competition Frequency and Rule Legality
On the rules side, Exponential Jiu-Jitsu's summary of the IBJJF rulebook says that a takedown with top position stabilised for 3 seconds earns 2 points. Article 4.1.10 gives 2 points to a competitor who starts a takedown before the opponent begins a guard pull; article 4.1.11 says a takedown started after the opponent begins a guard pull earns no such points. The page was published in 2024/10 and does not state a rulebook version; its slam disqualification note is the author's commentary rather than a numbered rule. For real competition, check the latest IBJJF rulebook.
On frequency, IBJJF and ADCC publish placings and brackets but not per-technique statistics, and we found no reliable third-party frequency figure for De Ashi Barai, so we describe it qualitatively only: in BJJ instruction it is usually taught as a timing-based entry from standing grip fighting, often combined with other throws, rather than a standalone mainstream weapon.
7. Safety: Judo Injury Sites and Landing
We found no injury study specific to De Ashi Barai, so only whole-judo injury data is cited. A 2013 systematic review by Pocecco and colleagues in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reports an average injury risk of about 11 to 12% at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic judo tournaments; the most common injuries were sprains, strains and contusions, mostly at the knee, shoulder and fingers, with being thrown the most common mechanism, and serious injuries rare but mostly affecting the brain and spine. These are judo-wide figures and cannot be read as the risk of De Ashi Barai itself.
・The person swept falls sideways or backwards as the foot is taken away, so practise breakfalls (ukemi): chin tucked, back rounded, slap the mat with the arm, never reach out to post
・The sweeping foot contacts the ankle or low shin, so beginners should drill slowly and avoid kicking the ankle hard
・Control the landing after the takedown and do not slam the opponent into the mat; slams are disqualifiable in IBJJF (Exponential Jiu-Jitsu)
・Stop training and seek assessment if you have persistent knee, shoulder or finger pain
FAQ
What does De Ashi Barai mean?
De Ashi Barai is the Japanese 出足払, translated as forward foot sweep. Wikipedia describes it as a judo foot technique (ashi-waza) that sweeps a foot which is off the ground and not bearing weight, and it belongs to the first group of the Kodokan Gokyo.
What is the difference between De Ashi Barai and Kosoto Gari?
The difference is whether the target foot is bearing weight. Wikipedia explains that De Ashi Barai sweeps a foot that is off the ground and unloaded, while Kosoto Gari sweeps a foot that is already planted and carrying some weight. Both are foot techniques, but the timing differs.
How many points is a De Ashi Barai takedown worth in IBJJF?
Establishing top position for 3 seconds earns 2 points. Under IBJJF articles 4.1.10 and 4.1.11, a takedown started after the opponent has begun a guard pull does not earn those 2 points. The rules summary cited here does not list legal techniques one by one, so check the latest rulebook.
My De Ashi Barai only sweeps air. What is wrong?
Most likely you are sweeping too early. Digitsu notes that sweeping before weight has committed to the target foot only kicks air, and that using only the legs without upper-body kuzushi lets the opponent step through. Confirm the weight is about to land on that foot, then sweep.
Can I still sweep when the opponent pulls back instead of stepping forward?
Do not force the sweep; chain into a forward throw or an inside trip. Digitsu recommends that when the opponent resists by pulling back, you immediately use the reversed momentum for a forward throw or inside trip instead of chasing the foot.
References
1. Wikipedia contributors. De ashi barai. en.wikipedia.org/De_ashi_barai (retrieved 2026/11; supports one of the original 40 throws developed by Jigoro Kano, group one, current 67 throws, foot-technique classification, the forward foot sweep translation, and the difference from Kosoto gari in whether the swept foot bears weight)
2. Wikipedia contributors. Gokyo no waza. en.wikipedia.org/Gokyo_no_waza (retrieved 2026/11; supports De ashi barai as No. 1 of the 8 throws in group one and the other group members)
3. Judo Info. The Gokyo of Kodokan. judoinfo.com/gokyo1 (retrieved 2026/11; supports the 1895 origin of the Gokyo, the 1920 to 1982 syllabus of 40 throws in 5 groups, and De-ashi-harai as the first group-one throw)
4. Digitsu. Outside Foot Sweep. digitsu.com/t/outside-foot-sweep (publication date not shown, retrieved 2026/11; supports the grips, loading the weight, sweep contact point, upper-body coordination, landing in side control or knee on belly, setups, the three common mistakes, and chaining into a forward throw or inside trip when the opponent pulls back)
5. Grant T. The Ultimate Guide To Foot Sweeps In Grappling: BJJ, Judo, & More. FloGrappling, 2015/12/03. flograppling.com (retrieved 2026/11; supports the core foot-sweep concept, the outside sweep being easier to learn, the drilling order, following a failed sasae tsurikomi ashi, the Dan Camarillo 1998 match example, and the wrestling and single-leg counter notes; the article contains no statistics)
6. Exponential Jiu-Jitsu. IBJJF Rules, Takedowns. exponentialjiujitsu.com (published 2024/10, retrieved 2026/11; supports 2 points for 3 seconds of top position, the guard-pull rules in articles 4.1.10 to 4.1.12, and the slam disqualification note)
7. Pocecco E et al. (2013). Injuries in judo: a systematic literature review including suggestions for prevention. Br J Sports Med;47(18):1139-43. PubMed PMID 24255909 (supports the average Olympic judo injury risk of about 11 to 12%, knee, shoulder and finger sprains, strains and contusions as the common injuries, and being thrown as the most common mechanism)