Developing Your Judo #33

#33: Ballerina Judo

My ideal timing was when uke was bent over in a defensive position.  This is because you are not in a very stable and strong position when you are bent over, and so you are vulnerable to any kind of forward throw.

The most important thing to make this throw

successful is the kuzushi (breaking balance) by tori.  In addition, my collar grip is BEHIND uke's head, simply because it is extremely difficult to position your arm at the side of uke's body when he is bent over.

When starting the throw, it's important to apply a lot of upward pull on uke's sleeve so that you can pull it right across the front of your body.  At the same time, you take your first step in between uke's feet. As you bring your other foot into position under uke, move it PAST your first foot so that you go in nice and deep. Bend your supporting leg so you can get below uke's centre of gravity.  As you position the edge of your hip into uke's groin area, your body rotates forward at the same time pulling uke's sleeve around with you.  The final movement is the powerful 'elevator' lift of your first leg to the point that your whole body ends up supporting itself on your big toe.  Just like a ballerina.

By: Rainer Fischer (Canadian Olympian)