How to do the Tsubame Gaeshi Judo foot sweep

The tsubame gaeshi is one of the more interesting foot sweeps in Judo and is the ultimate humiliation to land on an opponent. This is because the tsubame gaeshi is effectively a counter or trap against the original foot sweep from your opponent. In brief, this relies on dodging the original attack by hopping out of the way. Due to the momentum of the opponent’s leg swinging, you can then sweep this foot yourself and turn defense into an instant attack.

If done correctly, you should be able to floor the opponent albeit this takes a lot of timing and practice. Although it looks effortless, there is actually a lot going on with the tsubame gaeshi. It can also be considered a fairly risky move to use if you try baiting the opponent into sweeping you. Obviously, if there is a large gap in skill then it is possible, but if your opponent is skilled then it may be worth pursuing the tsubame gaeshi as a counter rather than a trap.

Historical origins of the tsubame gaeshi

As mentioned, the tsubame gaeshi is genuinely more unique and interesting when compared to most generic Judo moves. As a testament to this, the term actually derived from ancient sword fighting. In feudal Japan, the art of tsubame gaeshi was used as a feint technique to lure the opponent into your attack. Here, you would purposely swing your sword into the ground. This would make the opponent come forward and then you could counter by swinging your sword up into an attack.

Whilst the tsubame gaeshi is more of a counter than a trap, it has similar qualities. In Japanese, the term translates to swallow counter. This is because it represents countering the opponent and swallowing their leg into the ground. Like many Judo terms, they may sound fancy in Japanese but the reality is the terms are actually very basic when translated.

The importance of footwork with the tsubame gaeshi

Imagine your opponent is trying to set up a foot sweep of their own. If they are too predictable and slow, then the tsubame gaeshi is an option. If their footwork is solid then it may not be viable. Now, as the opponent steps forward and commits to their own foot sweep, you must avoid it with your own foot. This means hopping on your other foot and lifting your attacked foot into the air to avoid the sweep. Remember, if the opponent’s foot hooks high enough then they may catch you in mid-air which is almost certain to result in you hitting the floor.

As a result, you shouldn’t just hop upward, you should also move your foot back a little. It’s important not to just step back either. Whilst this can successfully defend a foot sweep of your own, it can’t set up a counterattack. In short, you don’t want to remove your foot completely to avoid distance.

Instead, it needs to remain close to the opponent to be able to sweep them. Often, you may also need to move your back foot very slightly too. Sometimes a dangerous foot sweep can miss your first foot yet still hit the secondary foot, whether on purpose or on accident this can also cause problems and even trip you. Because of this, you may need to slightly jump with your other foot or at least move it back slightly.

Countering with a foot sweep of your own

Once the initial attack has been defended, you should instantly look to counter with a sweep of your own. As ever, timing is crucial with the tsubame gaeshi and you can’t wait for your opponent to land their foot on the floor. Instead, you need to strike the opponent’s foot whilst it is in mid-air. This means you’re relying on momentum to turn their foot against them. Imagine they are kicking to the right and their foot is in mid-air. Ideally, you want to catch in between the foot and the calf and go to the right with them. Due to the power of two legs going in the same direction at speed, you should be able to earn a takedown from this.

Unlike most Judo throws and sweeps, the tsubame gaeshi doesn’t rely on the upper body as much as other moves. Basically, you are letting the opponent do the bulk of the work and then capitalizing on their mistake. Whilst it is optimal to twist their gi into the direction of the sweep, it isn’t necessary. Basically, the momentum and body weight distribution alone should be enough to finish the sweep.

Issues with the tsubame gaeshi

Perhaps the main issue with the tsubame gaeshi is the likelihood of actually doing it. Whilst it’s fundamentally sound, it is dependent on a set of variables playing into your hands. Basically, you will need the opponent not only to go for a foot sweep but to do it poorly enough to counter. Even then, you still have work to do in finishing the technique.

With this said, there are more common Judo throws to go after. For instance, the Kari Ashi is a good trip that may be more likely to come up during randori. The problem with the tsubame gaeshi isn’t that it’s bad, it’s just a rare situation to stumble upon. Secondly, by it’s nature it’s a reactionary move rather than a proactive move.

Generally in Judo, you want to be the aggressor who pushes the pace. Whilst you can’t always set the tempo, ideally you would set up your own moves and attacks first. Having said this, the beauty of the tsubame gaeshi is that it is a fantastic counter move. To sum up, it’s a fine move, but it isn’t very common in the world of Judo. For those wanting to learn and progress quickly, it may be worth learning other moves first.

Nonetheless, the tsubame gaeshi excels in improving your general foot sweeps. As most foot sweeps rely on timing and momentum, learning the tsubame gaeshi will put you in good stead. Not just to defend moves, but actually to attack sweeps of your own. Because of this, it will also improve your overall Judo and not just your defensive qualities.