Kuzushi simplified. How to unbalance your opponent

Simplifying the principle of “kazushi” aka: unbalancing your opponent
--
Ramsey Dewey is a retired pro fighter, combat sports coach, referee, and fight commentator… and occasional musician based in Shanghai, China.
----
Thanks to my channel sponsor:
Xmartial: catering to all kinds of combat sports athletes from BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai etc. find rash guards, fight shorts, grappling spats, boxing gloves and other training gear. Use my code RAMSEY10 for a 10% discount on everything at
www.xmartial.com/?ref=AyJ_EjP...
This video features original music by Ramsey Dewey
Follow me on Instagram at: / ramseydewey
---
I fought professionally in Mixed Martial arts, Sanda, Muay Thai, K1 and American kickboxing from 2004-2011 when I was forced to retire due to a broken skull and being blinded in one eye. I hold a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Black belts in multiple traditional martial arts, including Taekwondo and kyokushin karate. I also train in catch wrestling, sambo, taijiquan, judo, and boxing.
I currently coach at the Animal MMA gym, the Extreme Fight Lab, and the Mordor Fight Club, all in Shanghai, China.

[@3halfshadows]

The true judo nerds know leg grabs are in fact part of judo.

[@edwhlam]

Especially us old guys.

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Yeah

[@NakThai]

I remember when I was a kid and practicing Judo, the leg grab was allowed and I took a liking to kata guruma especially! Does that mean I'm old at 33? :O

[@edwhlam]

@@NakThai I am older than you. I liked kouchi and ouchi with leg grab, and of course kata guruma and te guruma. Morote gari (double leg) was taught as a follow up to ippon seoi. There was a Sambo guy at our dojo who was great at single leg.

[@NakThai]

@@edwhlam It's too bad they got banned, all solid techniques!

[@altaydogahan342]

We need more principle videos for grappling like this. The knee-on-the-floor penetration step thing is such bs that got me guillotined and squashed under much heavier opponents since I was a beginner so I was glad you talked about it around the 6th minute.The generic basic technique given in BJJ seldom worked and I gave up on attacking legs for a long time. Only recently did I wisen up by discarding all that stuff in classes and tried what seemed to work for myself outside of the gym with friends and discovered what really works. Unfortunate that it took me this long to figure it out.

[@g8trg8tr30]

Playing around with concepts on your own is so underrated. There should be a point in every serious martial artist’s development where they question EVERYTHING they’ve been taught. A great example is keeping one hand glued to the cheek as you punch. It can be good practice. In certain situations I’d highly recommend it. It can also stifle your strike and significantly limit your hand-speed and power. Go watch some good punchers and see how often the opposite hand is glued to the other cheek. It’s pretty damn rare. No matter what training situation you find yourself in, I assure you there are gaps in the available knowledge in the room. Don’t be afraid to question, be afraid to stop developing yourself. And at some point it’s not your coach’s responsibility, it’s your own.

[@richarddeyell2177]

Yup!!! ;) @@g8trg8tr30

[@blockmasterscott]

1:17 “What is a walk, but a fall”. We have in Tai Chi what we call “Tai Chi walking” which is basically controlling that leg that is going down to the ground without falling.

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Also done in other arts

[@valygomu]

Coach i've been doing judo for a year, I feel "unlocked" I've been working and working with mixed results. But now I understand ! Now I know that my next session will be way more productive. I just couldn't figure out this whole "unbalance him first"

[@Xzontyr]

This video has to be one of your best instructionals. All of your material is quality. You're a great mma coach. However, this video is special because it should be video #1 in anyone's playlist that is considering learning mma or any grappling art. The first thing most judoka, wrestlers, and sambists should learn are basic movement principles, which includes understanding balance. From what iv noticed is allt of mma fighters, and fighters in general like to run before they can walk. Nothing wrong with being reminded to practice the basics. A master at the basics can be a problem for the scholar of the complex. Iv learnt this personally.

[@mikekempf1456]

Striking can be kuzushi too. Atemi-waza is what we call that. It softens the opponent for a throw

[@NakThai]

Well executed striking will unbalance the opponent, either physically or neurologically, or both!

[@christophervelez1561]

Speaking of terribly taught wrestling/judo in bjj I cannot stand that a lot of places do takedowns statically. The first couplf of times learning the movement ok. But you cannot go from a static method to doing it live. You have to set things up and make your opponent step into the takedown, same as sweeps.

[@carl6167]

Before another pedantic physicist comes here: Yes, the explanation and position of the center of gravity lies is wrong. But who cares? It's a useful approximation! It gives useful, practical intuition: The position of the head is an amazing indicator of the side on which the center of gravity is with respect to the base, which works in almost every realistic fighting scenario. Brilliant Video!

[@morenoh149]

A video like this breaking down the Thai sweeps would be great. I feel like that has not been demystified yet on KZbin. Like do you sweep as their leg lands or as their knee goes up

[@cahallo5964]

This video made me notice that I am real bad at leg takedowns

[@pastlast158]

Now, that Dale dude is gonna send you another long letter 😅

[@BerserkerX]

Love you, Coach! Great teaching style

[@ausreir]

I really like this video. They're clear, succinct, and based on solid body mechanics. Records indicate the founder of Yang style Taiji could touch people's knees with his shoulders. At first, I simply thought it was a show of flexibility but after watching this, it's clear how effective such an ability would be in grappling. On a slight tangent, many people have lamented that MMA killed traditional martial arts. I disagree strongly. In fact, I think MMA is the best thing to ever happen to traditional martial arts because it gives us a way to validate the techniques and principles.

[@maxzhao8331]

this video’s brilliant! I’m going to more judo open mats these days and this info is incredibly helpful!

[@owenli7180]

Now I just have to figure out how to make someone do an involuntary cartwheel while boxing...

[@hailhydreigon2700]

Awesome, I was just looking this up.

[@Druid_Ignacy]

This is great, thank you!

[@fernandojsantos09]

Awesome! Very good video content!

[@icapfordollars9214]

Great tutorial

[@pastlast158]

One of the best instructional videos 👏👏

[@serociisfehim5793]

Your videos are very helpful. Thank you for the upload!

[@nathanv.4397]

Omg! Stoked for this one. Your not popping into my algorithm much these days. Glad I checked in

[@RamseyDewey]

Consider subscribing so you can see what you want instead of relying on the KZbin homepage/robot overlord brainwashing to tell you what to watch.

[@nathanv.4397]

@@RamseyDewey I subscribed over a year ago! (I think in the winter, maybe longer).

[@nathanv.4397]

I was rooting for you during the self defense championships. Your one of my favorite martial arts channels.

[@kaizenproductions00]

This video somehow comes out after I was having trouble unbalancing someone during gi BJJ rolling when we started standing. Thank you!

[@Sbv-25]

A kuzushi video! Awesome! It’s one of the things i’ve been struggling to understand and now the Coach is giving us a video!

[@B..B.]

I'm sincerely grate to you. Since my eyes opened to grappling and wrestling as a option and not the last resort I'm a happier martial artist. Thank you. Great video, with plenty of knowledge to reflect upon.

[@ChaosKnight06]

Great video. I'm making a curriculum from scratch, so I will incorporate drills like this from the beginning to prevent bad habits. Please make more videos like this.

[@medeirosinc.8567]

Needed this

[@wikingagresor]

Judo is a simple but brilliant invention: Jigoro Kano analyzed old techniques with focus on fundamentals of mechanics of the human body. 'The techniques' are just a set of moves that use application of force, momentum and leverage to give you the most advantageous position against your opponent.

[@anon2034]

9:50 Wonderfull explanation of the Butterfly sweep. 14:00 I like the little exercise.

[@monkpato]

I don't think center of gravity is based on beheading but otherwise I agree with this video.

[@Ramboldt]

And then there's also the throws where you take the leg that does have the weight on it.

[@eddard9442]

The video quality is nice

[@zedusan2141]

These guides are very helpful! Another question: Where and when should you feel tension in your muscles? I'm aware that the body should be relaxed, and that you should tense at the point of impact. But which muscles should feel the most tension? Should I exert force with my left leg for a right cross? How much shoulder work should I put in? And does this change for different strikes? Thanks so much for your knowledge and insight.

[@evankalis]

Perfect timing for my judo tournament tomorrow!

[@Xzontyr]

Goodluck. Don't forget to stand your hair up like Paul pheonix. The judges will love you.

[@kevinsim1514]

Hi Ramsey, China has a kuzushi tradition known as 摔跤 (shuai jiao : trip the leg) and grappling known as 擒拿手 (chin na shou: trap and grab hands). Do ask around while you’re there.

[@guytakamatsu7326]

Thank you for your video. I kind of wish you a good my judo teacher 50 years ago. Yes, I remember reading Jigoro Kano stating he discovered it was easier to throw people if he got them off balanced first. Do you think too many judo school spin too much time on throwing techniques and not enough time on unbalancing the opponent first?

[@raincitysumo]

Great video, Ramsey! We also use this concept extensively in Sumo as well!

[@Xzontyr]

I was going to mention sumo in my comment. I don't do sumo, but habe a great interest in it. For a while I had a knuckle on my left hand that healed terribly and thoightninwas going to have life long nerve damage. Took about half a year to heal, but for a while there I could only palm strike. I originally come put if a sambo gym, so I was thinking about giving sumo a go, even if I had to drive a few hours once or twice a month to get a good session in a d otherwise just trian in distance somehow. Wish sumo would spread across Canada. Such an interesting art.

[@raincitysumo]

@@Xzontyr there is some Sumo in Canada! I’m aware of two clubs, one in Vancouver and the other somewhere in French Canada

[@Xzontyr]

@raincitysumo on Google maps it just shows one in Ontario. Google Terrible for martial arts clubs however. Thanks for the heads up. I'm a good distance away from either. Stuck in thr middle of the country.

[@raincitysumo]

@@Xzontyr that’s okay, start your own club!

[@Xzontyr]

@raincitysumo Theres alot of underground private clubs in my city that atleast have a blue or purple belt in bjj running the show, or someone that's had a decade of sambo experience, and I give those sort of gyms credit, bit the problem with them is that they all hit a platea, and are primarily for hobbiests that don't want to spend alltnof money or have the time. I respect them because atleast it's still somewhat qualified instruction. However, there has been some very imaginative gyms open up for a while and be a fad, with very suspicious instructors with questionable qualifications. I would never want to be one of those guys lol. I think id jabe to get some pro training g First in respect of the art before I tried to open a club and try teach it. I don't want to end up on one of Robs episodes of Mcdojo life, because I hosted the strangest sumo dojo known to man lol. I love the idea of it though. Beyond myself, iv been told by some credible combat sports athletes, that they think alot of sumo techniques are underrated and would do great in mma. It'd be curious to see it done someday.

[@obi501]

You've got a window into my mind I swear

[@TheAdamk12]

Wow this caught me off guard 😏

[@agricolaurbanus6209]

To be honest, when I saw the thumbnail first on my phone, I thought this was about barefoot iceskating.🤭

[@RamseyDewey]

Do you watch a lot of barefoot iceskating videos?

[@agricolaurbanus6209]

​@@RamseyDeweyNo. It looked very novel to me. I just saw this in suggestions, very small pic, and the posture reminded me of icescating. Maybe subconsciously because winter has arrived in Germany. Then I saw you were barefoot and I thought "Wow, how alpha is that!"😂

[@taekwondave]

What do you think? Is Sun Hang Do viable in a Kickboxing or MMA bout?

[@BMO_Creative]

I just like saying Kuzushi! LOL

[@TBRMWW]

Hi Ramsey. Hope youre well. i still dont know what happen to Red chucks. Do you know anything?

[@RamseyDewey]

Yep. I’ll be releasing a video about a recent boxing match he had. Look forward to that.

[@TBRMWW]

Thanks 🙂@@RamseyDewey

[@cranerigging3604]

Sometimes the Suzuki RM 250 will unbalance me ..... Damn power band ! LOL 😁

[@peteragren7568]

I usually tried to unhinge my training partners :D

[@BobSaint]

@RamseyDewey This is way more serious theme than Your playful way of explanation shows. I beleive that if someone finds the way to teach Judo the way Danaher teaches BJJ, or Roach teaches Boxing, it could be a greatest thing since the first UFC showed the world there's a system of fighting on the ground. Imagine a whole new generation of mma fighters realising there are waaaay more efficient methods of takedowns than shooting for the single or double leg all the time. Just think how everybody would jump on it, knowing You could learn it in a reasonable span of time, instead having to start as a kid, like Parisian or Emelianenko. A great "if".

[@richardforde1]

Maybe I have brain damage but I always thought the best way to mess with the other guys balance was to bait them into doing something. Like you bendy walk towards a guy in freestyle to the point he has to push your head away to avoid a simultaneous headbutt, thank you for the arm kind sir. Maybe its a shitty thing to do because if they don't do anything you're going to burst their eyebrow but the game is the game

[@koalaseatleaves1277]

Judo leg grabs are banned by the International Judo Federation but are taught in Judo.

[@user-bj8mm4lv6b]

You can even off balance them with your strikes and then perform a takedown

[@lochlanmcmullen1772]

I believe you can takedown most purple belts after watching this video 😂

[@pangopod2969]

:)

[@Oguyaka.]

Glad to see you healing well, The-Danger Sen'Sei : ) Maybe one day, modern medicine will provide you a superhuman form for your teachings

[@RamseyDewey]

Healing? Nope. My knee is still screwed up dude.

[@christophervelez1561]

It was easier to have him fight back because his Chi is moving. Don't believe this simplified version of kazushii! You MUST be opening the heart Chakra, and align your method of fighting with the window to the Ki not chi. Common mistake. Also you gotta call out your finishing move duh!

[@benjones2490]

Ahh basic physics and basic principles of any grappling art.

[@thisismagacountry1318]

My 357 unbalances many opponents.

[@VelhaGuardaTricolor]

RAMSEY, I think you should be a little bit more respectful towards your training partner. He needs to understand what you are trying to do, BEFORE he is slammed into the mat. At the end there he seems rightfully annoyed with it.

[@RamseyDewey]

Nobody got slammed to the mat in this video.

[@VelhaGuardaTricolor]

@@RamseyDewey fair point. I should have been more specific. I should have said, tripped and made to fall. Love your content btw. Thanks for all great tips!