Combat Sports
Judo Kuzushi Drill
The Judo Kuzushi Drill practices moving a cooperative partner off balance without throwing them. It develops grip control, whole-body coordination, and timing.
- Intermediate
- Compound
- Moderate injury risk
- Rest 45 sec
How to do it
- Face your partner with your feet about shoulder-width apart.
- Grip their sleeve near the elbow with your left hand.
- Take their left lapel at chest height with your right hand.
- Draw your partner toward their front-right corner using a small backward-diagonal step with coordinated pressure through both grips.
- Ease the pressure as your partner begins one recovery step.
- Let your partner regain a balanced stance.
- Return to your starting position.
Form cues
- Keep your knees soft.
- Keep your elbows close.
- Stay tall through your torso.
Common mistakes
- Pulling with the arms aloneMove your hands with your body rather than yanking while your feet stay planted.
- Pulling straight into a strong stanceAim toward a corner of your partner's stance rather than directly along the line between their feet.
- Partner resisting or stepping earlyHave your partner stay relaxed and respond to the actual balance shift instead of bracing or anticipating it.
Safety
Sudden pulls can strain fingers, shoulders, or the neck. Excessive force or blocked footwork can turn a controlled recovery step into an unintended fall.
- Agree on the direction, light resistance, and a stop signal before starting.
- Use a clear, nonslip training mat with room for your partner to step.
- Exclude every sweep, trip, throw entry, and completed throw.
- Keep your fingers out of sleeve openings.
If you have finger, shoulder, neck, or balance problems, choose solo footwork practice or seek advice from a physiotherapist before partner work.
Muscles worked
Primary muscles
Secondary muscles
Equipment
- Combat Training Mat
Sets and reps
- Sets
- 2–3
- Target
- 6–10 reps
- Rest
- 45 sec
Count one off-balance attempt and reset as one rep; switch roles and practice the opposite direction between sets.