Nage Waza - O Soto Gari

Nage Waza - O Soto Gari

One of my favorite throws (to attempt anyway) is O Soto Gari. In spite of my joking about being a "master" in my first post, in this case, you have the opportunity to learn from a real master: Yamashita Yahusiro. I've provided links below to video of instruction he gave at Georgetown University. Thanks to senseishin for posting these.

O Soto Gari, Video 1

Notes:

1. Notice how he turns in once before throwing, which I think drives uke onto the leg Yamashita wants to reap.
2. Always practice with big motions.
3. Step straight forward, not off at an angle.
4. Point your toe.
5. Step on the ball of the foot with the lead foot and grip with the toes. This is much stronger than planting flat footed.

O Soto Gari, Video 2 (Kazushi)



Notes:

1. Always use both hands.
2. Drive uke's chin up. It looks to me like this would be a good exercise. Do as Yamashita does in the demo and have students pair off and practice pushing each other's chin up, then throw.
3. In using your hands, find the dynamic that works for you: push up - pull down, push up - pull across, whatever, just use both hands.

O Soto Gari, Video 3 (Timing For Entry)

Notes:

Time the throw to catch uke when all of his weight is full on his foot and his center of gravity is such that he cannot step back without shifting his weight to his other foot.

O Soto Gari, Video 4 (O Uchi Gari/O Soto Gari Combinations)

Notes:
I've summarized below what I understood about the techniques he is demonstrating.

O Uchi Gari to O Soto Gari renraku waza

1. Attempt O Uchi Gari (turning the hip in to uke)
2. When uke steps back, follow and throw O Soto Gari with the same leg you attempted O Uchi Gari, but attack uke's opposite leg

The other variation he described was the feint.

O Uchi Gari to O Soto Gari feint

1. Pretend to do O Uchi Gari so that uke steps back with the leg you're attacking and stiff arms
2. Take a small step forward and past his forward leg with your outside leg attack his forward leg with O Soto Gari with the same leg you attempted

O Soto Gari to O Uchi Gari feint

1. Pretend to do O Soto Gari so that uke steps back with the leg you're attacking and stiff arms
2. Pretend a second time (or third time)
3. When uke steps back, turn your hip in and attack his forward leg with O Uchi Gari

Drill (Combo: De Ashi Harai, O Uchi Gari, O Soto Gari)

Bow to Your Sensei!

It's been on my mind for some time now to start a Judo-focused blog.

The first martial art I ever tried was Judo. At a young age, after checking out some books on the subject from the local library, I spent several weeks inducting my younger brothers and sisters into my one man Judo club, often as they crossed the yard, looking for other things to do. My invitation to them was usually unexpected, always impossible to decline, and invariably involved them playing the role of uke. Shockingly, my little club wasn't popular and didn't last long.

Later, I tried other things - wrestling in elementary school and junior high, Tae Kwon Do in high school, and Tai Chi for several years in my mid-thirties - before returning again to Judo. Once again, I'm in it with my family, but this time, of their own free will and choice. Each Tuesday, I participate in a local club with my son and two of my three daughters. It's great fun and a great way to exercise as a family.

While there are disadvantages to getting started again in Judo later in life (think "younger, stronger opponents" and "older, weaker body"), there is one advantage: thanks to my age, I'm already a "master". Never mind that, in my case, I'm only a green belt with about a year and a half of experience. In Judo, if you're over thirty, you're considered a master.

As a master, I want to use this blog to dispense some of my wisdom. So, what will that look like?

Since getting started in Judo again, I've realized I'm not that great at it. Wait a minute, now, you must be asking yourself, if you're not so great at Judo, why should I listen to you? Let me tell you - I've found that the people who struggle the most to learn something are often the best teachers precisely because of what they learn through their struggle. As someone who struggles a lot, I hope to pass on to you what I'm learning. To that end, each week, I'll hunt down, think up, or make up tools, tips, and drills to help improve my technique. As I do, I'll document what I'm doing and what I learn from it. Where something actually helps me improve, I'll let you know and where it doesn't, I'll do the same. Along the way, I hope you'll comment if you find something I share helpful or if you have your own tips to share.

So, with that, let's get started.