Harai Goshi
Sweeping hip throw that loads the opponent onto your hip and reaps the far leg — a classic judo attack adapted to BJJ clinches.
From StandingTo Top / Side Control
Overview
Harai goshi loads the opponent onto your hip line, then sweeps their supporting leg with a reaping action while rotating them over. In BJJ it is commonly hit from collar-and-sleeve or overhook clinches and rewards timing more than raw strength.
#Load the Hip
Get their weight onto your hip line.
- Establish collar-sleeve or overhook control
- Step in and place your hip across their centerline
- Break posture so they lean over the hip
- Feel their support leg become light or loaded for the reap
#Reap and Rotate
- Sweep the far/support leg with your reaping action
- Rotate hands and hips together through the throw
- Keep connection so they cannot hop free
- Commit through the fall
#Settle Top
The throw ends in a pin.
- Follow to side control or a stable top pin
- Clear immediate frames and turtle turns
- Establish cross-face/underhook
- Only then hunt submissions
Key Grips & Control Points
- Collar and sleeve (gi) or overhook / head-and-arm (no-gi)
- Hip contact that blocks their forward base
- Reaping leg sweeping the far/support leg after the load
- Hands steering the rotation through the throw
Timing & Movement Cues
- Load when they step or resist into your collar pressure
- Reap as their weight crosses your hip — early reaps hit air
- Finish when posture is already broken over your hip line
Pressure & Weight Distribution
- Create real hip load before sweeping the leg
- Reap through the support leg; do not gently tap
- Follow to a pin so they cannot turn to turtle or pull guard
Typical Counters to Expect
- Circling off the hip and sprawling the free leg
- Hip blocks and counters into their own trip
- Guard pulls as you overcommit the load
Follow-Up Options
- Side control or knee-on-belly after a clean fall
- Scarf-hold pins in the scramble
- Pass chains if they recover open guard on the way down
Setups & Entries
- Collar-sleeve pressure that forces them onto one support leg
- Uchi-mata feint that makes them plant the far foot
- Overhook clinch that turns their back toward your hip
Training Drills
- Uchi-komi style hip-load and reap reps
- Gi collar-sleeve harai entries to a controlled pin
- No-gi overhook adaptations with cooperative partners
Coaching Notes
- Hip load first, reap second
- Turn your body through the throw — arms alone stall
- In BJJ, prioritize safe landing and immediate top control
Related Study
Connect this movement with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
Harai goshi loads the opponent onto your hip, then reaps the support leg as you rotate. Win the load first, reap through second, and land ready to pin.