Technique Video of the Day: The Harai-Goshi

Those of you who caught the middleweight match-up between Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch and Nick “The Promise” Ring on the UFC 135 Live Prelims last Saturday were likely transfixed by the gorgeous judo throw Boetsch pulled off in the third round known as the Harai-Goshi, or Sweeping Hip Throw.

The Harai-Goshi is one of the forty fundamental throws created by the founder of Judo, Kano Jigoro. The above video, though not demonstrated in English, most properly demonstrates the necessity of foot placement in both the initial attack and sweep stages of the throw. From there, the throw trades in power for momentum, a basic principle of Judo.

Those of you who caught the middleweight match-up between Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch and Nick “The Promise” Ring on the UFC 135 Live Prelims last Saturday were likely transfixed by the gorgeous judo throw Boetsch pulled off in the third round known as the Harai-Goshi, or Sweeping Hip Throw.

The Harai-Goshi is one of the forty fundamental throws created by the founder of Judo, Kano Jigoro. The above video, though not demonstrated in English, most properly demonstrates the necessity of foot placement in both the initial attack and sweep stages of the throw. From there, the throw trades in power for momentum, a basic principle of Judo.

No stranger to brutal throws, “The Barbarian” showcased his “redneck judo” once again this past weekend and impressed a lot of people with his decision win over the previously unbeaten Ring.  As further proof of the effectiveness of Judo in MMA, here’s a video of the Cory Devela/Joe Riggs scrap from the Strikeforce: Strikeforce at the Dome event back in 2008, which ended just over a minute in after Devela pulled off a similar throw. Karo Parisyan would be proud. Enjoy.

-Danga