Martial intent
Break the opponent’s balance by attacking the supporting leg.
Create a backward fall by blocking the hips and reaping the leg from the inside.
In short
This is a fundamental throwing technique (Nage-waza) that fully lives up to its name, “major inner reap”.
The idea is simple: you reap your partner’s supporting leg from the inside, as if harvesting a stalk of grain with your leg.
This technique works because it removes the opponent’s main base of support at the exact moment when their weight is resting on that leg.
It is timing, far more than strength, that makes the real difference.
Video
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Source: official YouTube channel of the Kodokan Judo Institute
⚠️ This technique should be learned and practised in a club under the supervision of a qualified instructor. The explanations below do not replace supervised judo training.
Steps
- Kuzushi (off-balance): Break your opponent’s balance backward by pulling the sleeve and pushing on the lapel of the judogi.
- Tsukuri (entry): Step your right foot between your opponent’s legs while maintaining backward pressure.
- Tsukuri (final positioning): Bring your left foot behind your right while keeping your own balance stable.
- Kake (throw): Reap the opponent’s supporting leg with the back of your right leg (at calf level) in a wide, sweeping motion.
- Finalisation: Accompany the throw by pulling firmly backward and downward with the arms.
Key points
- The backward off-balance must be established before attacking the leg.
- Reap when the opponent’s weight is resting on the targeted leg.
- The sweeping action should be dynamic and slightly return toward you, not purely lateral.
- Maintain contact with the opponent’s leg throughout the entire reaping motion.
- Keep the toes of the reaping foot lightly in contact with the tatami.
- Coordinate the action of the arms and the reaping leg simultaneously.
Recommendations
Synchronise the reaping action with a diagonal backward pressure on your partner’s upper body.
Your attacking leg should make contact with the opponent’s calf at the precise moment you pull the lapel upward and drive the sleeve backward and downward.
This coordination creates an effective break in posture that greatly amplifies the effect of the reap.
Common mistakes
Beginners often try to hook the opponent’s leg and pull it toward themselves.
They rely only on leg strength without engaging the rest of the body, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of the technique.
How to fix them
- Engage your entire body by slightly leaning your torso forward and toward the side of the leg you are reaping.
- The toes of the reaping foot should remain in contact with the mat throughout the movement.
- Your hips must rotate naturally to accompany the reap, as if delivering a large circular kick while staying close to your partner.