Judo instructor and YouTube personality Shintaro Higashi recently sparked conversation in the judo community after posting a video suggesting that leg grabs may be making a comeback, at least in Japan.
The development stems from a notable shift in how All Japan Championships competitions are being conducted, and Higashi had a lot to say about what that means for the sport.
It started with an unusual tournament result. Higashi noted that out of four semifinalists, three were not in the 100-plus kilogram (220-plus lbs) category.
“It was a 100 kilo (220 lb) guy, two 90 kilo (198 lb) guys. And it was a 90 kilo (198 lb) 90 kilo (198 lb) final, which I’ve never seen,” he said. The result that really turned heads, though, was when a 66 kg (145 lb) competitor named Takeo defeated a 120 kg (265 lb) opponent, a matchup that circulated widely on social media.
Higashi initially made a YouTube video reacting to the event with the framing that leg grabs were back, then quickly walked that back.
“Kind of not really,” he admitted, before clarifying what was actually happening. “In the old Japan’s, yes. In the US, the IJF, not really.” The distinction matters.
The All Japan Championships were allowing leg grabs, which led to competitors going for techniques like uchimata pickups and leg picks that had largely disappeared from high-level competition after the IJF banned direct leg grabs in 2010.
The return of these techniques in that particular competition produced the kind of dynamic, cross-weight-class action that got people excited. Higashi pointed to the atmosphere of the event as something special. “What a cool event that was,” he said.
On the technical side, Higashi took time to walk through how leg grab entries integrate with traditional judo throws and even jiu-jitsu positions. He emphasized the value of winning grips before attempting any leg attack.
“If I’m trying to take the guy down with a single, I’m trying to create a free arm,” he explained, noting that having one hand free dramatically increases the likelihood of a successful offense.
He also addressed the defensive value of going for a leg when outmatched physically. “When the guy’s much bigger and stronger and they have this overhand dominant position, I’ll go in on the leg. Even if I don’t get it, now from here, I’m not getting thrown anymore. It’s like pulling guard,” he said.
For Higashi, the takeaway is that integrating leg attacks with throws creates a more complete and unpredictable game, something the All Japan results seemed to confirm. Whether the IJF ever revisits the ban remains to be seen, but the results from Japan have at least renewed the conversation about what judo could look like with leg grabs back in the mix.
