Kuzushi

Balance breaking or kuzushi is an important part of the grappling martial arts. Any takedown or reversal of position is predicated on disrupting an adversary's balance. Focusing on a multi-directional approach to your attack sequences greatly increases efficiency in this skill area. People comprehend movement significantly better one direction at a time, therefore I can up the effectiveness in off-balancing attacks by imposing a choice and exploiting the secondary option's weakness.
The Clock:
If you think of human balance like a clock, understanding multi-directional attacks becomes easier. In the middle of the clock, I am strong moving at 3,6,9, and 12. Moving towards all other numbers requires either two motions(back or forward + to the side)  or moving in a way that compromises my base. This is the physiological functioning we must exploit for successful implementation of balance breaking principles. In either situation the decision the brain makes to stay standing under normal conditions becomes counterproductive, as it leads to a predictable reaction you can use in your favor.