From the triangle position, Dragin can move onto the next stage. He says there are 3 really important things to remember, to make sure Uke ends up in the correct position: Sleeve, Lapel, and hips.

To be able to attack the leg, Dragin needs to break Uke’s balance, positioning them up on their toes, leaning slightly forward and to the left.

It’s a quick skip out to the side while pushing Uke’s sleeve across their body, and lifting the lapel.

Now let’s look in greater detail at the legs

Dragin steps to the right with his right foot, rotating his hips.

This enables him to turn his foot out to the side, towards the throwing direction.

With the repositioning of the right foot, Dragin pivots on his left foot, rising up onto his toes.

The power for this movement doesn’t come from the feet. It’s all about the snap with the hips.

When repositioning the right foot, Dragin must pull up and out on the lapel.

He has to make sure he really lifts his elbow out to the side

Doing this not only helps to bring Uke up onto their toes, disrupting their posture and breaking their balance, but also moves them to Dragin’s right. Ready for the execution of the De Ashi.

At the same time as stepping and lifting the lapel, one option is for Dragin to push Uke’s sleeve across the front of their body.

Uke’s earlier reaction to Dragin acquiring the triangle position, decides what he does with the sleeve arm.

If Uke maintains the same position, Dragin drives the sleeve up and across his opponent.

He sends the sleeve diagonally over the top of the lapel arm.

Uke’s weight is shifted over the top of their left leg, causing them to rise up onto their toes.

Dragin now has the perfect situation to attack with the De Ashi.

However, if after Dragin has got into the triangle position, Uke becomes defensive and sticks their bum back, Dragin has to adjust the direction he pushes the sleeve.

Instead of driving the sleeve up, he takes it just over the top of the lapel hand.

Once over, Dragin drives the arm down.

Placing it on top of the lapel arm.

This movement forces Uke off balance, and into a position for Dragin to execute the throw, even with Uke’s defensive posture.

Whether sending the arm up or down, Dragin says you must drive the elbow across the front of your opponent. Making sure their arm always goes above the lapel arm.

Dragin’s back leg is tensed, and slightly bent. This creates a strong position, ready to drive the leg through for the attack.