Ashi-Waza Setup Chains Playbook

Mat Manual companion guide to "Block the Foot, Walk Into the Reap: Sasae Into O-Soto." Print it. The article explains why sasae tsurikomi ashi (propping drawing ankle throw) works in this chain as a stop rather than a trip: block uke's (the person receiving the technique) advancing foot, let the pull rock the weight back and across, and reap the loaded far leg with o-soto gari (major outer reap). This book builds that beginner chain at walking pace first: the block, the pull, the rock-back, and the reap as four separate skills, plus the hop defense and the smaller ko-soto gari (minor outer reap) answer it invites.

Name: ______________________________ Dojo: ______________________________ Grade: ______________ Start date: ______________ Lead side (circle): Left / Right Current week (Part 11): ______________

How this book is used: work the parts in order in the first cycle. The cards build on each other, the reaction cards assume the mechanics cards are passed, and the free-practice formats in Part 13 assume every reaction card has been passed singly. Bring the book to the mat, fill the logs in pencil during the session rather than from memory afterward, and let the pass standards, not the calendar, decide when you move on. In a second cycle you may enter at the part your review in Part 27 names, but the safety block and the read check are re-run at the start of every cycle without exception.

BEFORE ANYTHING: PARTNER SAFETY AND AGREEMENTS ☐ Ukemi (breakfalling) is checked before any throw progression in this book, for both partners, at the landings the chain actually produces. A pair that has not passed the check trains the cards at entry speed only, with no completed throws. This gate is pass/fail and is never waived for seniority. ☐ All throwing runs at agreed speed and agreed intensity, stated out loud before each drill. Either partner can lower the speed or stop the drill with one word, and the drill obeys instantly. ☐ Stop on any pain, dizziness, or loss of control, from either partner, with no argument and no finishing the set first. Log what happened in the session log. ☐ No technique in this book is finished by force against a partner who is defending correctly at drill speed. A rep that needs force to land is a failed rep, and it is logged as one. ☐ Ukemi (breakfalling) is checked before any o-soto gari progression in this book, for both partners, at drill speed first. A pair that has not passed the check trains blocks and pulls with no completed reaps. This gate is pass/fail. ☐ The sasae block is placed, never kicked. The sole meets the front of the ankle or low shin with a firm foot and no swing. A block that bruises a partner's ankle is a failed rep and the set stops to re-teach it. ☐ Reaps in this book take the leg from behind at drill speed agreed out loud before each set. Nobody reaps a partner whose weight they have not first felt through the grips. ☐ Beginners train this chain at walking pace until Part 8's timing standards are passed. Speed is earned in this book, never assumed, and either partner can call the pace back down with one word.

Part 1: The Chain at a Glance

One chain, three spoken beats: block, rock, reap. If a rep misses a beat, name the missing beat rather than speeding up.

Chain law: reap the loaded leg, which is the far leg from the block. Near is not loaded. A rep that attacks the blocked leg is a fault however strong it felt.