Judo Level 3: De Ashi Barai — Read the timing of the advancing foot

The official Japanese name is 出足払, read de-ashi-harai. The article preserves De Ashi Barai from the clip collection; this romanization difference does not create a second technique article.

Kodokan describes the moment of stepping and weight transfer. The sweep connects to the partner’s movement and the hands guiding the upper body. Read the timing rather than treating the leg as a late, separate action.

De-ashi-barai depends on the transition within a step. Kodokan refers to the advancing foot and the moment of weight transfer. Watch a continuous sequence rather than only the instant of foot contact. Frames just before and after contact help reveal when uke's support changes.

Barai and Harai are not separate articles here. Okuri Ashi Barai sweeps the feet together, so do not interchange the names merely because both involve foot sweeps.

Okuri-ashi-barai brings the feet towards each other; de-ashi-barai focuses on the advancing foot. Treating every low sweep as identical misses the different timing condition and can encourage striking a foot already planted under a stable body.

Begin with a slow, controlled walking pattern chosen by your instructor. If the sweep starts after the partner settles their base, revisit step timing and hands rather than kick harder.

The Level here refers to the IMAC Dojo curriculum. Use the article and clips to prepare questions and review them with your instructor. Practical training needs a suitable partner, space and controlled conditions.

Ask your instructor to select a clear, slow stepping sequence, then follow uke's torso as well as the feet. The question is how the hands and partner's movement relate to the sweep, not how hard the sweep should be.