Debana: Opportunity of Attack
Principles of Kuzushi
Judo Foot Position and the Line
Kyle Sloan
Some teachers use these three steps to help people with body position as students are learning new throws.
In Judo, we have three foot positions for throwing:
- on the line (ex: hiza-guruma)
- across the line (ex: osoto-gari)
- down the line (ex: o-goshi)
Interestingly, the position of our foot is the same!
Establish normal Judo grips and step on the line for hiza-guruma. I regulate my step based on my lapel grip, stepping on the line such that my right arm is straight. You must be exercising the Judo principle of gripping at your shoulder height in order for this to work correctly.
From this position, rotate on the ball of the foot to the across the line position. You’ll find you are in perfect position for osoto-gari.
From this position, rotate on the ball of the foot to the down the line position. You’ll find you are in perfect position for o-goshi.