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(MMA) Hip Throw Takedown(Harai Goshi)🤼

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1. Objective and Purpose

The Harai Goshi or Hip Throw is a classic judo technique that can be highly effective in MMA for off-balancing and throwing your opponent to the ground. It involves using your hip as the central point of rotation to sweep your opponent’s legs from underneath them, while maintaining strong control of their upper body. The goal is to throw the opponent with controlled force, ideally landing in a dominant position.

2. Steps for Execution of the Hip Throw (Harai Goshi)

  1. Setup and Entry
    • Close the Distance: The first step in executing the hip throw is to close the distance and enter into a clinch range. You can do this through a series of strikes, feints, or by catching an opponent’s jab or cross to clinch up.
    • Establish Grip Control: Secure a strong grip on your opponent’s body or collar (if they’re wearing a gi), or on the back of their head/neck in an MMA scenario where the opponent is wearing no gi. Your goal is to control their posture and limit their ability to move.
    • Position Your Body: You need to position your body at a 45-degree angle to your opponent’s body. Your chest should be facing their chest while your hips are slightly turned to initiate the throw. This angle helps to utilize your hip as the pivot point for the throw.
  2. Execution of the Throw
    • Step Around and Place the Hip: Step with your lead leg around your opponent’s body, placing your hip against their midsection or just below their ribs. This positioning allows you to use your hips as a lever to unbalance them.
    • Pull and Rotate: Pull their upper body towards you while rotating your hips, using the momentum to lift and throw them. This is where your hip becomes the main driving force to sweep their legs out and off-balance them.
    • Sweep Their Leg with Your Own: While rotating your body, use your rear leg to sweep across your opponent’s far leg (typically the leg furthest from you). Your leg should make contact around their thigh or calf area, sweeping them off their base and sending them to the ground.
  3. Follow Through and Control
    • Land in a Dominant Position: After executing the throw, follow through by landing on top of your opponent, ideally in a dominant position like side control or mount. This ensures you can maintain control and transition into strikes or submissions.
    • Keep Your Head Close to Their Body: To prevent them from countering or escaping, stay tight to their body after the throw and use your weight to control their movement. Keep your grip secure to avoid them getting back to their feet.

3. Defensive Techniques Against the Hip Throw

  1. Breaking the Grip
    • Separate Their Hands: One of the key elements in preventing the hip throw is to break the grip your opponent has on you. If they have a strong grip around your neck or body, they can easily control your posture and execute the throw. Use your own hands to break their grip by framing their arms or wrists and pushing them away.
    • Deflect Their Reach: If your opponent reaches for a collar, head, or body grip, use your arms to deflect or block their reach, preventing them from getting a solid hold on you.
  2. Lower Your Center of Gravity
    • Sprawl to Prevent the Throw: If you feel your opponent setting up for a hip throw, lower your hips and sprawl backward. This makes it harder for them to get their hips under you and execute the throw.
    • Posture Control: Keep a low, strong posture when engaged in the clinch. The higher your center of gravity, the easier it is for your opponent to execute a throw. Keeping a strong base and lower body posture will prevent them from getting leverage on you.
  3. Leg Defense
    • Step and Pivot: If your opponent attempts the throw, you can try stepping around their body while pivoting away from the sweeping leg. This movement takes you out of their range, preventing them from getting a proper angle for the throw.
    • Leg Hooking or Blocking: You can also defend by using your legs to block or hook their sweeping leg. This prevents the trip and allows you to regain control or even counter with a takedown of your own.

4. Counter-Defense for the Hip Throw

  1. Counter with a Sprawl or Cross-Face
    • Sprawl: If the throw is attempted and you are unable to break their grip or avoid the entry, sprawling backward and down is an effective defense. By sprawling, you lower your hips and create distance, making it more difficult for them to lift and throw you.
    • Cross-Face: Use your forearm to push into your opponent’s face or neck while defending the hip throw. This will disrupt their control and balance, making the throw more difficult to complete. A strong cross-face can also off-balance them and set up a counter takedown.
  2. Leg Pummeling and Repositioning
    • Pummel for Control: If your opponent is attempting to hook your leg or secure control of your body, pummel your arms and legs to regain a more dominant position. By keeping your arms and legs active, you deny your opponent the ability to execute the throw and can work to reverse the position.
  3. Recovering from the Throw
    • Roll with the Throw: If the hip throw is already in motion and you cannot stop it, try to roll with it to minimize the impact. Use your arms and shoulders to absorb the fall and quickly recover to a dominant position, such as guard or half-guard.
    • Re-establish Guard or Butterfly Guard: If thrown to the ground, focus on recovering your guard quickly. Bring your legs into position to retain guard or butterfly guard, which allows you to work for sweeps or submissions while minimizing your opponent’s control.

5. Keys to Success

  • Timing and Control: The key to executing the hip throw successfully lies in your timing and control of your opponent’s upper body. If you can manipulate their posture and disrupt their balance, the throw becomes much easier to execute.
  • Proper Hip Position: Ensure that your hip is fully engaged against your opponent’s body to use your entire body as a lever to throw them. A poor hip position will make it difficult to execute the throw and give your opponent an opportunity to counter.
  • Follow Through: After the throw, always aim to secure a dominant position. Never simply throw and back off; instead, maintain control and keep pressure on your opponent to prevent any counterattacks.

6. Common Mistakes

  • Poor Grip Control: Failing to control your opponent’s upper body or head gives them the chance to resist or counter your throw. Always establish a secure grip first before attempting the throw.
  • Not Closing the Distance Enough: If you fail to get close enough to your opponent’s body, it will be difficult to use your hip as the fulcrum for the throw. Ensure you are at the right angle and proximity to execute the technique effectively.
  • Inadequate Follow-Through: Failing to follow through after the throw can allow your opponent to scramble and recover before you can secure a dominant position. Always land in a control position and follow through with your body weight.

The Hip Throw (Harai Goshi) is an excellent technique for both takedowns and positional control in MMA. Mastery of this throw, along with proper defense and counter-techniques, will greatly improve your grappling game in MMA. Whether in a clinch or from a standing position, this dynamic throw can change the course of a fight if used at the right moment.