Understanding Kuzushi: The Art of Off-Balancing in Grappling

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and judo, success often hinges on more than strength or speed—it’s about balance, timing, and control. One of the most powerful yet often underappreciated concepts in grappling is kuzushi—the art of breaking your opponent’s balance.

Mastering kuzushi can elevate your takedowns, throws, sweeps, and even submissions. At ROLLBLISS, we’re passionate about sharing concepts that not only improve your technical game but also sharpen your grappling IQ. So let’s unpack what kuzushi really is, how to use it, and why it might be the missing link in your game.

Key Takeaways

• Kuzushi means breaking your opponent’s balance before applying a technique
• It is essential in throws, takedowns, sweeps, and even submissions
• If your moves feel like a fight, it may be because you skipped the kuzushi phase
• Learn to feel weight shifts, reactions, and posture breaks
• Train kuzushi deliberately to develop better timing, setups, and flow

What Is Kuzushi?

Kuzushi (崩し) is a Japanese term that translates to “unbalancing” or “breaking balance.” It’s a core principle in judo, used to disrupt an opponent’s posture, structure, or center of gravity—making them vulnerable to throws or attacks.

But kuzushi isn’t just for judo throws. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it’s applied in:

• Takedowns
• Guard sweeps
• Submission setups
• Transitions between positions

At its core, kuzushi is about manipulating your opponent's base before applying force. Instead of pushing or pulling directly against resistance, you shift them off-balance so that your next move is easier and more efficient.

The Three Phases of a Throw (Judo Perspective)

Understanding kuzushi often starts with judo’s classic three-phase model:

1. Kuzushi – Breaking balance

2. Tsukuri – Fitting in (entering the throw)

3. Kake – Execution (completing the throw)

If you skip the first step—kuzushi—you’re relying purely on strength, and that rarely ends well against a skilled opponent.

In BJJ, this concept is just as crucial. For example:

• You don't just hit a scissor sweep—you first off-balance them forward or to the side.
• You don’t just shoot a takedown—you pull or push to create a reaction first.
• You don’t force a submission—you create an angle by disrupting posture and balance.

ROLLBLISS Takeaway: If your techniques feel like a struggle, you might be missing the kuzushi.

Kuzushi in Takedowns and Throws

Whether you favor double legs or foot sweeps, kuzushi is the glue that makes them stick. Let’s break down how it applies in common takedown scenarios.

1. Collar Tie and Snap Down

Snapping the head down breaks the opponent’s posture, forcing them to react. That momentary reaction—raising their hips or standing up—is your window to shoot.

2. Uchi Mata or Harai Goshi (Hip Throws)

You use the grip on their collar and sleeve to tilt their weight forward and to the side, making them "float" just enough for your hip to lift and throw them.

3. Kouchi Gari (Inside Trip)

You pull them forward onto their lead leg—then reap. Without that weight shift, the trip has no bite.

Drill Idea: Practice simple forward pulls with a partner in a static grip, then add movement. Learn to feel their weight shift.

Kuzushi in Guard Sweeps

Most BJJ sweeps are essentially judo throws from your back. That means kuzushi still applies, just from a different angle.

1. Scissor Sweep

You must first break their posture and pull them slightly forward or to the side. Without that initial off-balance, they’ll just post and kill the sweep.

2. Flower Sweep (Pendulum)

Requires you to load their weight onto your hip by pulling their arm and tilting their base. Only then can your leg pendulum lift and flip them.

3. Lumberjack Sweep

Once they stand in your guard, you control their ankles and pull their upper body forward. That combination removes balance and topples them like a tree.

ROLLBLISS Tip: If your sweeps are stalling, go back to the basics of kuzushi—where is their weight, and where should it be?

Kuzushi in Submissions

Yes, you read that right. Even submissions rely on kuzushi principles.

 Triangle Choke

You break their posture first. If they’re upright and strong, the triangle has no bite. Once their posture collapses and their shoulder shifts across, the choke sets in.

 Armbar from Mount

You must make them post their arms first—often by attempting a choke or isolating one side. Once their balance is disrupted, the arm becomes vulnerable.

 Omoplata

Often initiated with a collar drag or hip angle change that causes them to lean forward or sideways. That kuzushi opens the door to the finish.

Key Point: Submissions are not just about isolating limbs—they’re about controlling the opponent’s structure. Break the structure, and the submission becomes inevitable.

The Four Directions of Kuzushi

In judo, kuzushi is traditionally taught in eight directions, but for simplicity, let’s break it down to four:

1. Forward

2. Backward

3. Left

4. Right

Every technique starts by shifting your opponent’s weight in one of these directions. For example:

• A collar drag pulls them forward.
• A foot sweep shifts them sideways.
• A guard retention frame pushes them backward.

Training tip: While drilling, have your partner pause after you break their balance. Feel where their weight is and observe how their structure collapses.

Developing a Sense for Kuzushi

You don’t need to be a black belt to understand kuzushi—but you do need mat time and awareness. Here’s how to sharpen your feel:

 1. Train With Resistance

Live drilling and positional sparring force you to “earn” kuzushi. Look for the exact moment their base shifts.

 2. Study Movement, Not Just Technique

Watch how high-level athletes create movement before they attack. That’s often the kuzushi phase at work.

 3. Shadow Drill Kuzushi Mechanics

Practice movement patterns like collar drags, forward pulls, or angle changes without a partner to build muscle memory.

 4. Film Your Rounds

When you fail a throw or sweep, ask: Did I break their balance first? Often, that’s the missing piece.

ROLLBLISS Challenge: For one week, focus on kuzushi only. Don’t go for submissions or passes—just look for balance breaks and structure shifts. Watch how your openings increase.

Conclusion

Understanding kuzushi isn’t just for judokas—it’s a grappling superpower that applies to every martial art that involves control, movement, and leverage. In BJJ, it can be the difference between an ineffective sweep and a clean reversal, a failed takedown and a highlight-reel throw, or a messy submission and a clinical finish.

At ROLLBLISS, we believe that training smarter means mastering the fundamentals—and kuzushi is one of the most important fundamentals there is. Whether you’re rolling in gi or no-gi, your ability to manipulate posture and balance will shape your entire game.

So next time you're struggling with a throw, takedown, or sweep, ask yourself: Did I break their balance first?

Master kuzushi, and you don’t just react to your opponent—you control them.

FAQs

1. Can you apply kuzushi in no-gi BJJ?

Absolutely. While grips are different, the principles of off-balancing through body positioning, frames, and movement remain the same.

2. What are good drills to improve kuzushi?

Start with grip fighting, footwork drills, and light partner drills that focus on pulling or shifting your opponent’s weight in various directions.

3. Is kuzushi more about technique or timing?

It’s both, but timing makes the difference. You need solid mechanics, but knowing when to apply kuzushi makes it effective in live rolls.