Our evidence-based ranking of Shintaro Higashi instructionals on BJJ Fanatics, with who each one helps most, key pros and cons, and links to in-depth reviews.
No Gi Judo: Foot Sweeps and Trips
Turn no-gi hand fighting into clean foot sweeps and trips.
Low Risk Judo Throws For BJJ
A BJJ-first throwing plan that favors safe entries and finishes.
Judo Basics
A clean fundamentals reset for grips, kuzushi, and stance.
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🥋 #1 No Gi Judo: Foot Sweeps and Trips by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: System Based, Drill Heavy
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 21 minutes
Volumes: 5
Biggest takeaway: Foot sweeps work in no-gi.
Techniques: De Ashi Barai, Kouchi Gari, Ouchi Gari, Osoto Gari, Russian Tie, Arm Drag, Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi
- No-Gi Judo Throws – Broader throw menu if you want more than sweeps.
- Low Risk Judo Throws For BJJ – Designed specifically around common BJJ stances.
- Demystifying Ashi Waza – Deep dive on the same sweep family in gi.
You learn a no-gi first-contact plan that builds to reliable foot sweeps and trips. The structure trains your timing through short drills before adding higher-amplitude finishes. You will not get a random move dump or gi-first grips that fail in no-gi.
✅ Pros
- Built around realistic no-gi ties and reactions.
- Drill flow makes timing click faster than rote reps.
- Entries chain into safe finishes without giving backs.
⚠️ Cons
- Some overlap with his free channel content.
- Limited depth on wrestling-style finishes.
- Not a full takedown curriculum for gi specialists.
💡 I saw the biggest gains by repping the hand-fighting to de-ashi drill daily for five minutes. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Low Risk Judo Throws For BJJ by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 14 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Safer throws beat guard pulls.
Techniques: Kouchi Gari, Ouchi Gari, Tomoe Nage, Yoko Tomoe Nage, Sumi Gaeshi, Leg Pick, Grip Fighting
- No Gi Judo: Foot Sweeps and Trips – Pick this if you train mostly no-gi.
- Demystifying Ashi Waza – Want higher foot sweep success instead of turn throws.
You learn takedowns chosen for BJJ posture, grips, and rule sets. The focus is keeping your chest and back safe as you off-balance and finish. You will not be forced into big turn throws that risk back exposure.
✅ Pros
- Directly addresses BJJ stances and pullers.
- Teaches bailouts that preserve position.
- Covers sacrifice throws without reckless exposure.
⚠️ Cons
- Mostly gi grips and lapels.
- Not for wrestling-heavy game plans.
- Less depth on clinch finishes than wrestlers teach.
💡 I liked how every entry includes an immediate bailout to avoid giving the back. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #3 Judo Basics by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: Beginner
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 8 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Win grips, then win takedowns.
Techniques: Grip Fighting, Kuzushi, Osoto Gari, Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, Ouchi Gari, Combinations
- Mastering Judo Combination Concepts – Bridge basics into linked attacking.
You learn how to win hand-fighting and balance before chasing throws. Sessions are short, so it is easy to drill between rounds. You will not get lost in advanced variations.
✅ Pros
- Structured path from grips to entries.
- Beginner-friendly pacing with short segments.
- Useful warm-up ideas for class leaders.
⚠️ Cons
- Limited detail on ground transitions.
- Less applicable to no-gi.
- Some repetition if you wrestle already.
💡 I found the right-vs-right grip tree is the fastest way to fix early mistakes. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 No-Gi Judo Throws by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: Technique Collection, System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Ties dictate throws.
Techniques: Tai Otoshi, Uchi Mata, Koshi Guruma, Sumi Gaeshi, Osoto Gari, Underhook Entries, Overhook Entries
- No Gi Judo: Foot Sweeps and Trips – Lower risk entries if throws feel scary.
You learn to turn ties into throw threats without the gi. Content is organized by tie rather than by throw name, which makes linking easier. You will not get collar-and-sleeve setups that fail in no-gi.
✅ Pros
- Tie-based organization mirrors live pummeling.
- Covers classic judo for no-gi situations.
- Pairs well with the no-gi sweeps set.
⚠️ Cons
- Riskier throws for point-focused BJJ.
- Thin on mat returns and chains after impact.
- Less detail on anti-wrestling counters.
💡 I liked practicing entries by tie first, then layering throw choices. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Demystifying Ashi Waza by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 27 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Kuzushi before contact finishes.
Techniques: De Ashi Barai, Kosoto Gari, Kouchi Gari, Ouchi Gari, Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, Uchi Mata
- Breaking Through The Judo Stiff Arm – Fixes a common defense that stops ashi waza.
You learn de-ashi, kosoto, kouchi, and ouchi with grips that create automatic reactions. The sequencing keeps you balanced and ready to chain. You will not waste time on huge turning throws.
✅ Pros
- Deep mechanics for timing foot sweeps.
- Compact format that is easy to drill.
- Pairs with guard-pull counters for easy scores.
⚠️ Cons
- Limited no-gi transfer.
- Some repeated ideas across his catalog.
- Light on wrestling-style finishes.
💡 I started landing kosoto by cueing the far-foot circle first, just like he shows. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 Mastering Judo Combination Concepts by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 43 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Reactions create combos.
Techniques: Osoto Gari, Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, Ouchi Gari, Kouchi Gari, Combinations
- Judo Basics – If you need fundamentals before combos.
You learn to set baits and punish reactions instead of forcing perfect throws. This is great if you coach or lead standup portions of class. You will not get exhaustive throw catalogs.
✅ Pros
- Reaction-first teaching improves chaining.
- Compact three-volume format.
- Easy to turn into class lesson plans.
⚠️ Cons
- Light on no-gi adaptations.
- Requires decent footwork already.
- Few details on ground follow-ups.
💡 I built a weekly combo focus using his osoto to sasae sequence. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 Breaking Through The Judo Stiff Arm by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 26 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Stance dictates counters.
Techniques: Sode Tsurikomi Ashi, Tomoe Nage, Korean Seoi Nage, Grip Stripping
- Demystifying Ashi Waza – If stiff arms block your sweeps, add kuzushi depth.
You learn to punish stiff arms instead of backing out. The stance-specific approach shortens decision time under grip pressure. You will not waste time on unrelated throw entries.
✅ Pros
- Solves a real, common gi problem.
- Clear right-vs-right and right-vs-left branches.
- Pairs with ashi waza sets for scoring.
⚠️ Cons
- Very narrow scope.
- Minimal ground follow-ups.
- Assumes decent movement literacy.
💡 I started scoring when I treated stiff arms as entries for sode, not roadblocks. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #8 Basic Judo Leg Grabs by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Gi grips feed leg attacks.
Techniques: Double Leg, Single Leg, High C, Kata Guruma, Leg Pick
- Low Risk Judo Throws For BJJ – If you compete IBJJF and rarely use leg grabs.
You learn to connect sleeve and lapel grips to doubles, singles, and kata-guruma. It is valuable for rulesets that allow leg grabs. You will not get a no-gi wrestling masterclass.
✅ Pros
- Practical leg-attack maps from gi ties.
- Good kata-guruma troubleshooting.
- Clear three-part structure.
⚠️ Cons
- IBJJF limits usefulness for many.
- Light on guillotine defenses.
- Terminology can be dated.
💡 I got better finishes by setting leg grabs from sleeve-dominant ties first. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #9 Mastering Tomoe-Nage by Shintaro Higashi
Instructor: Shintaro Higashi
Style: System Based
Best for: Advanced
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 34 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Tomoe is a system.
Techniques: Tomoe Nage, Yoko Tomoe Nage, Kouchi To Tomoe, Newaza Transitions
- Low Risk Judo Throws For BJJ – Safer scores for BJJ brackets.
You learn grips, steps, and timing for tomoe variants plus quick transitions to ground control. It rewards athletes who already throw. You will not get broader takedown coverage.
✅ Pros
- Well-structured progressions for tomoe family.
- Clean details on yoko options.
- Includes links to ground finishes.
⚠️ Cons
- High risk for many BJJ rulesets.
- Too narrow for generalists.
- Timing is difficult under pressure.
💡 I only added tomoe after I could reliably off-balance with kouchi first. Recommendation: Skip.
How we weighted this ranking
We prioritized r slash bjj reception and diversity of viewpoints, then the clarity of each course’s system, BJJ applicability, instructor authority, and production quality. Tie-breakers were recency, uniqueness, and how well the content complements common BJJ stances and guard-pull habits. If an item was strong but narrow (like tomoe-only), it fell behind broader, lower-risk options. When we could not verify duration or year, we left it blank and focused on verified structure, price, and contents.
Gi or no-gi first for standup in BJJ?
If you train mostly no-gi, start with No Gi Judo: Foot Sweeps and Trips, then add No-Gi Judo Throws. If you are a gi competitor, Judo Basics plus Demystifying Ashi Waza builds reliable off-balancing before branching to Low Risk Judo Throws For BJJ. Use tie-based drilling: five minutes of hand fighting to one sweep or throw entry per round. This keeps live-relevant timing while reducing injury risk.
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