“Tonight we are going to do Osoto Gari (Major Outer Reaping Throw). Hold the sleeve like this, grab the lapel like this, step with your foot and sweep the leg.” Sweep the leg…if only Judo could be that easy? There has to be more to it right??? Really with a little bit of practice, time, effort and experience you can start to do Osoto Gari. Sometimes you just need to find the best way for you.
The classic way to do Osoto Gari is executed as a rear throw and taking the opponent to the rear corner with his or her weight distribution. One of the greats of Judo was Masahiko Kimura. In the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community, he is known as “Kimura!” Many practice the bent armlock that bears his name after defeating Helio Gracie in Brazil (1951). Interestingly when you watch Kimura footage, you will observe that he used Ostoto Gari that was executed to the side. This type of approach is moving training partners to step in such a way or to recover their footing after being strategically off-balanced to be thrown to the side with a technique such as Osoto Gari is very powerful.
Movement and technique (Waza) can create this type of angle to lead to the side. Many times a follow-up technique or secondary throw does the trick to create a poor footing for your training partner. He is almost pointing with his toes the new angle to the side which is essentially a new forward throw or rear corner throw. Think of Kimura at this moment. The Japanese have a technique of stepping to create an excellent movement to throwing, countering throws or techniques of striking, etc. This is called Taisabaki and relates to whole-body movement or repositioning (1). In the video below, John Saylor Sensei uses taisabaki to position his training partner into a nice Osoto Gari “TO THE SIDE:
The next video is a detailed look at the Judo throw Osoto Gari with a new twist from Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii Sensei. This movement and technique are taught from a lefty stance, so you will need to mirror the movement on the right if that is how you stand. Nonetheless, Satoshi showcases a few examples of Osoto gari and how he likes to use movement to execute a side angle Osoto Gari:
What I like about this approach to Osoto Gari is that one it works; two, because attacking Osoto Gari to the side is an excellent secondary or third attack in a chain of throws with doing a drop style throw; and third, attacking with movement to the side with Osoto Gari is a great method to protect yourself again bigger and stronger Judo players that like to counter you first attack. The moving and Taisabaki style side Osoto Gari cut through all of that.
People always say that Osoto Gari is the first throw you learn in Judo and is one of the hardest to master. Yet like all basic techniques that people give up on, with experience and knowledge that is applied over time, there are moments are the practitioner finds the right feel. The right time. And, the opponent’s weak point. Maybe you have not been looking in the right direction when trying to do Osoto Gari. Kimura and others have already shown a successful way to look.
To The Reader
The author will be most happy to receive your comments, including criticisms and suggestions. Noteworthy comments may be included in future editions or books on this series.
Sources
(1) For more information on Tai Sabaki, visit here.
For more information about Steve Scott and John Saylor, visit here.
For more information about Satoshi Ishii, visit here.
For more information about Tony Pacenski’s books and instructional in Martial Arts, visit:
www.soulfight.net – Books, Instructionals, and Gear.
www.gunjiuniversity.com – Military Arresting Technique – Books, Instructionals, and Certifications.
– Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
Yokota Air Base – Tokyo Japan
www.tonypacenski.com
