Harai Goshi

Takedown

Harai Goshi (sweeping hip throw) is a judo-derived takedown where you rotate into your opponent, load them onto your hip, and sweep their legs out using your leg as a lever. From an overhook control clinch, the overhook side provides excellent kuzushi and hip entry, making this a high-percentage throw that lands you in side control or mount.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · Off-balance (kuzushi) your opponent forward and over their toes before entry using the overhook to pull them into you.
  • · Your hip must be lower than your opponent's hip at the point of contact to act as the fulcrum.
  • · The sweeping leg drives back and through both of their legs in a broad arc, not just one leg.
  • · Maintain chest-to-chest contact throughout the throw to prevent them from posting or creating space.
  • · If they resist by stiffening and pulling back, use that momentum to re-pull them forward for a stronger entry.

Execution

  1. 1 From overhook control, use the overhook arm to pull your opponent's weight forward onto their toes while stepping your lead foot between their feet.
  2. 2 Pivot on your lead foot, turning your back into your opponent while driving your hip across and below their centerline; your overhook arm stays tight, pulling them over your hip.
  3. 3 Extend your sweeping leg (same side as the overhook) back and across both of their thighs in a wide sweeping arc while pulling hard with both arms in a circular motion.
  4. 4 Drive your upper body downward toward the mat as your sweeping leg lifts, creating a wheel effect that rotates them over your hip.
  5. 5 Follow through with the throw, maintaining grip control to land in side control or knee-on-belly.

Common mistakes

  • × Entering without breaking opponent's balance first, resulting in stalling on the hip with no throw and exposing your back.
  • × Bending at the waist instead of loading opponent onto the hip, which reduces leverage and makes the sweep ineffective.
  • × Sweeping leg targets only one leg or goes too low, allowing opponent to step over and counter with a rear takedown.

Do it from

Positions and situations where the Harai Goshi shows up.

Overhook Control Clinch

Where it lands

The position you end up in.

Side Control Top