Kazushi (Breaking Balance)

Kazushi is the principle of disrupting your opponent’s balance to create openings for attacks. By manipulating weight, posture, or base, the practitioner forces the opponent into unstable positions that are easier to control, sweep, or submit.

Effective kazushi combines leverage, timing, and subtle movement. Whether pulling, pushing, or angling the body, the goal is to exploit the opponent’s center of gravity. This principle underlies nearly every throw, sweep, and takedown in BJJ, illustrating how strategic manipulation of balance can overcome strength or size differences.