Adults: Sticker Foot Sweep

So, we’ve gone over foot sweeps before, but they were mainly straight on foot sweeps. Previously, we started facing each other with an underhook and overhook, and we went over using our foot sweeps on either side. For those sweeps, the main force factor was hip rotation, allowing us to off-balance our opponent and trip them up.

Today, however, we’re going to work on a foot sweep called a “Sticker”. We’re going to grab a lapel on the side of our lead leg, and the sleeve on the opposite side. If their foot on our lead leg side is not forward, we’re going to use the lapel to get them to take a step.

Once their lead leg matches our lead leg, we’re going to get weight into our partner’s lead leg, and then manipulate their foot.

To enter, we’re going to do what’s called, in judo, a “T-Foot”. So, we’re essentially going to do a little hop, skip, where our foot comes to our heel, then we rotate on the ball of our foot to our hip in.

From here, I’m going to hook around the back of the Achilles, curling my foot around their foot like a hook. Now, do not try to lift their leg here. That’s a common mistake. I’m not lifting his leg. I’m going to break down the leg and pull the foot through the big toe. To break down the leg, my shin is driving down into their shin, and my knee pulls toward my planted knee.

I then drive through the big toe, in the direction of the big toe, to foot sweep.

This whole “Sticker” foot sweep movement is super efficient and effective because it allows us to combo two attacks naturally.

Everything is the same, except if I miss the timing on the “Sticker” hook, or if my weight distribution is wrong and they step out of it, they open themselves up to an uchi mata. My favorite throw!

We’re going to do the same hop, skip motion to turn our hip in. Except, instead of using the “T-Foot”, we’re just going to use the pendulum weight of our leg to get an additional skip. Our focus here is on getting a connection with our hips. Our hips should be under theirs. I’m backing it up on them! I need to ensure I off-balance them, so that their weight is on their now lead leg, and in their toes. I can do this by pulling their upper body to me. The motion with my grips to help me do this is simple. With the sleeve grip, I’m checking my watch. With the collar grip, I’m answering the phone.

To finish, I kick my leg back to make them weightless, turn my hip, and rotate them with the grips. My sleeve grip is pulling past me, and my collar grip is punching them into the ground, almost like a superhero landing.