| If you want a great crowd pleaser, this is it. | | | | Now the sweep: |
| Everyone loves to see a fighter take down their | | | | 04 |
| opponent, especially with a sweep that sends | | | | With the left leg planted on the ground and your |
| them flying in the air. This tactic will even work if | | | | hips close to your opponents, you can swing the |
| you are smaller and your opponent is a small | | | | right leg up in the air in front of you and then with |
| giant. Once you have done this technique | | | | power and speed, swing it back down chopping |
| successfully, you too will feel like a giant. | | | | into your opponent's right leg or both legs if |
| The Super Sweep is one of my favorite martial | | | | possible. In the Martial Science you will end in a |
| art combat techniques. I have used it in sparring | | | | Power Stance. |
| and I have used it in combat. It will be hard to | | | | 05 |
| teach in an article, but if you take the basic steps | | | | As you sweep, either twist and turn the |
| and apply them in training, you will be able to put | | | | opponent back to help in taking them to the |
| them to use. | | | | ground. You should let go before their back hits |
| I don't have a lot of street combat stories, but | | | | unless you want to go to the ground for grappling. |
| like any black belt instructor, I have a small list | | | | If you hold on - the opponent's weight might |
| that either sticks in my memory or has taught | | | | throw you off balance too. In self-defense class, |
| me a valuable lesson in the martial arts. This | | | | we usually teach the student to hold onto the |
| particular one involves the sweep. | | | | wrist only and follow up with some stomping and |
| I will cut to the chase and perhaps discuss the | | | | kicking to the head. |
| details of the battle later. I had just been | | | | Once you have learned the basic sweep, it will be |
| scratched in the face by my assailant's sloppy | | | | time to practice the advanced sweep (call it the |
| right cross and I had all but now given up hope on | | | | Super Sweep, the Flying Sweep, the Shuffling |
| a gentleman's self-defense strategy. I went in | | | | Sweep or even the Ninja Sweep). For this to |
| with a heavy round kick to the ribs and after my | | | | work, we want to add two keep components to |
| opponent backed up, I came in with my sweep. | | | | our foundational sweep: |
| He went face first into the pavement. This simple, | | | | 01 Set up the opponent |
| but extremely effective tactic was enough to get | | | | 02 Move in fast for the sweep |
| him to swap from warrior to mouse. That one | | | | The first part is simple if your opponent already |
| sweep ended the fight. Again, I don't want to | | | | has a reaction to your movements. For example, |
| focus on the details or fall into a bragging trap as | | | | if you fake a forward movement, will they lift |
| this fight actually was one that I felt I had failed | | | | their knee to block? If yes, this will set you up |
| in, even though the end result was a success. The | | | | perfectly to sweep the ground leg. You don't |
| main point to understand is that sweeps can be | | | | need them on one leg for this sweep to work, |
| very practical in combat and especially practical in | | | | but you will want them off balance or on one leg. |
| sparring. IF, you know how to use them. | | | | If they move back after a fake attack, this might |
| Any student that has worked with me long term | | | | be enough to get them off balance and then you |
| will know exactly what I am talking about. | | | | can shuffle jump forward and apply the sweep. |
| Moreover, even some of my instructors have | | | | You do the same Osoto Gari sweep as described |
| fallen to these martial arts sweeping techniques. If | | | | above, only you will do it all in one fluid motion and |
| you learn it too, you will have a great weapon to | | | | you will not be swinging the leg forward and down |
| add to your arsenal of empty-handed combat | | | | for the chop. Instead, you will be using your |
| tools. Okay, first - I will try to explain this sweep. | | | | momentum and creating a lower sweeping motion |
| You will start with the Osoto Gari (as popularized | | | | (from the left to right) closer to the ground to |
| in Judo) takedown. This basic Judo throw is how I | | | | attack more with your heel. This motion is also |
| learned to perfect the Super Sweep it in its most | | | | more like a sweeping motion. |
| basic form. The Osoto Gari is a rear leg sweeping | | | | You will need to practice this move with a partner |
| technique. This isn't the Super Sweep, but it is the | | | | numerous times to get the movements down. |
| first step to learn in order to master the Super | | | | Then, when in sparring, you can begin to put it |
| Sweep or what we could call the flying Osoto | | | | into use. Here are a few more tips: |
| Gari. Okay, let's learn it: | | | | 01- You must be committed to the sweep and |
| Essentially you are collapsing your opponents leg | | | | the attack |
| and body by swinging and catching your leg (say | | | | 02- If you hesitate, your opponent will be able to |
| the right leg) into your opponents matching (right) | | | | stop the motion or avoid it |
| leg. Here is a breakdown: | | | | 03- Be sure to break up the opponent first or |
| 01 | | | | they will see the sweep a mile away |
| Face your training partner. Grab the right elbow | | | | 04- Practice the clothesline push to help with |
| material (Gi) of your opponent with your left hand | | | | getting the opponent off balance |
| while placing (or grabbing) your right hand on his | | | | 05- Master attacking hard with the heel and often |
| left shoulder. You can also grab the WRIST, as | | | | even knocking your opponents heel forward |
| we teach this in our self-defense course. | | | | 06- Develop a light on the feet way to close the |
| 02 | | | | distance between you and the opponent |
| Now step forward with your left foot (to the | | | | Although this sweep is easier to take an opponent |
| right of his right foot) while keeping your center | | | | down onto their back, it is possible to sweep |
| of gravity LOW, yet leaning forward. At this point, | | | | people so that they land on their front too. Again, |
| you and your partner will be in almost matching | | | | it will take a lot of practice and timing to get it |
| positions and either of you could throw the | | | | right. Nevertheless, once you do, you will have a |
| sweep. The one with the most balance and | | | | takedown that will last you for the rest of your |
| momentum wins. | | | | fighting days. |
| 03 | | | | Once you do sweep your opponent, they are |
| Now from this point you can either do a PULLING | | | | now vulnerable to a hard kick to the head |
| sweep or PUSHING sweep. Pulling meets that | | | | (especially if they use their hands to get up) or a |
| first, you will pull your opponent forward by their | | | | ground / grappling attack. Depending on how you |
| uniforms before sweeping them back. Pushing | | | | sweep your opponent, this move will usually |
| means that you will push the shoulder back or get | | | | knock the air out of them too. It can be a fun |
| your forearm under the chin (like a clothesline | | | | way to dominate a sparring session without |
| attack) to push them back and or lift up the chin. | | | | risking much injury to your opponent. |
| Practice will help you determine a good strategy. | | | | Best of luck in your training. |