As I learn judo, I look for techniques that can be done in a wide variety of situations. Throws like taiotoshi or uchi mata work well when you have a gi, in a sparring situation. But what if I’m grappling no-gi, or worse, I’m in a less structured fight? I need to know what will work for me, wherever I am.

The kuchiki taoshi throw was not part of the original Kodokan, being added later as an effective single-leg ankle pick takedown. In its classic judo form, you have collar-and-sleeve control on your opponent. As they’re coming in, you bring them forward with the sleeve and off-balance over that leg. You drop down, and your other hand moves from the collar to the back of their ankle on the sleeve side (the one supporting all of their weight). A pushing motion in the opposite direction, while maintaining a block on the ankle, will drive them over.

In a no-gi scenario, my grips and focus go from the collar-and-sleeve to gaining control over one wrist (for this example, let’s say I’m going after their right wrist). I get both hands around one wrist for maximum power and control; no matter what happens, I want to keep this wrist, because my opponent will fight to get it back harder than he will against everything else I want to do. I drop down to both knees, keeping their wrist tight to my chest and driving it toward the mat in front of their right foot.

At this point, my opponent will be doubled over, off-balance and looking to straighten back up. As they try, I release the wrist with my right hand and trap the back of their right ankle. If I keep full wrist control, great, but I don’t need it – their momentum in coming back up will help me. I drive my right shoulder into the inside of their right knee and push them over, keeping the ankle pick tight.

The combination of an arm drag and ankle pick is also classically amateur wrestling; this is a very strong technique in both sports. It’s important to know how to do effectively, but I’m afraid I fail at it far more often than I’d like. When I make a mistake at kuchiki taoshi, it’s usually for one of these three reasons:

1) I don’t have the right space

In kuchiki taoshi, you don’t have a lot of margin for error when it comes to the starting space between you and your opponent. If you’re chest-to-chest, or your arms are nearly straight when you have collar-and-sleeve grips, it won’t work. Too far, and you’ll have to reach too far to get the ankle pick, without enough power and leverage behind it. Too close, and you’ll be pulling your opponent down on top of your back (TERRIBLE IDEA!).

You want your arms to be bent at between a 45- and 90-degree angle before you try and make the throw work. If it’s not there, that’s OK; try something else, or wait until your spacing is right. As with any takedown, it’s a matter of timing and opportunity.

2) I don’t fully commit

I have this problem with several throws where you drop in front of your opponent: seionage, kata guruma (fireman’s carry), etc. It feels like a really vulnerable position to be down low in front of a standing opponent. It’s not, if they’re off-balance. But they won’t be off-balance if you don’t fully commit to the technique and follow-through.

If I half-heartedly pull their wrist down, just using my arms, then hurry through to grab their ankle, I will lose control of both body parts, and then I really will be in trouble. The key is to bring my chest in to their wrist (again, this is where spacing is so important). I use my arms, back and overall momentum to bring that right hand down to the mat, a few inches in front of their right foot. Any feeling of vulnerability should be long gone; you’re in complete control at this point. Unless your opponent is The Hulk, it will not be that difficult for you to keep wrist control against your body with one hand, freeing the other to pick their right ankle.

3) I drive straight back

If I have good spacing and control, I can still fail to take my opponent down by trying to drive them down in the wrong direction. If I push straight into the front of their knee, they can support themselves by putting their other leg behind them. I’m trying to overcome their post, which will never happen… and in trying to do so, I can hyperextend their knee and cause serious damage. I don’t want to do this in anything but a real fight: tournament competitors and sparring partners should be treated with care and respect to their bodies.

If I put my right shoulder on the inside of their right knee and push sideways, away from their left leg, there is no post available to them. Nothing is resisting, and they have no choice but to fall over. This is preferable to straight backward in any circumstance because they land closer to you, in a perpendicular position, leaving them wide open for you to end up in top side mount control.

The sports of judo and jiu jitsu can learn a lot from wrestling techniques. We will all be better grapplers if we work on moves like the ankle pick and master them. Avoid my mistakes, and you’ll be better on the mat!