Lesson Plan - Breaking Collar and Top Grips, O Soto Gari, Ko Uchi Gari

Lesson Plan - Breaking Collar and Top Grips, O Soto Gari, Ko Uchi Gari

So I've been away for a while working on other things, like a new job (which is now my old job) and a masters degree, but I'm back now, and I've advanced to Sankyu, which means I'm sometimes responsible for running classes. Here's what I've got planned for my next class:  

Overview

Review

Discuss:

• What did we do last week?  What did you learn?
• What are the 8 throws of Dai Ikkyo?
• What are the 5 common osaekomi?

Skills

Dai Ikkyo
Execute each throw 5 times with a partner, alternating so your partner gets to throw.  If you know them, make the quick, crisp, and clean.  If you don't, just go with the flow and make them quick.

Breaking Grips
This YouTube video from Matthew D'Aquino, an Australian judoka who competed in the 2008 Olympic games, describes how to break the standard collar grip and the top grip:



Practice breaking the standard collar grip 10 times with a partner, alternating so your partner gets to practice.  Have your partner gradually increase his/her resistance.  Keep in mind the following:

• Grab uke's sleeve, pulling down to make it tight on uke's wrist
• Bend your knees while maintaining good posture
• Put your other hand on top of uke's wrist
• Stand up and push uke's hand toward his/her belt
• Don't let go - get your own grip and move into position for a throw

Think sleeve-knees-top-belt, then throw.

Practice breaking the top grip 10 times with a partner, alternating so your partner gets to practice.  Have your partner gradually increase his/her resistance.  Keep in mind the following:

• Keep your posture
• Grip uke's sleeve at the elbow
• Put your chin on uke's wrist and break his/her posture (torque his/her body)
• Quickly put both hands on uke's sleeve and break

Think elbow-chin-torque-break.

O Soto Gari
Practice O Soto Gari progressing as described in this video from Wind Song Dojo:

1. Execute static uchi komi 10 times with a partner, alternating so your partner gets to fit as well.  When you're uke, advance your right foot to give tori something to target.
2. Execute moving uchi komi 10 times with a partner, moving forward and back, alternating so your partner gets to fit as well.
3. Execute nage komi 10 times with a partner, alternating so your partner gets to fit as well.

Ko Uchi Gari
Practice Ko Uchi Gari.  Keep in mind the principles described in this video from Wind Song Dojo:

1. Execute static uchi komi 10 times with a partner, alternating so your partner gets to fit as well.  When you're uke, advance your right foot to give tori something to target.
2. Execute moving uchi komi 10 times with a partner, moving forward and back, alternating so your partner gets to fit as well.
3. Execute nage komi 10 times with a partner, alternating so your partner gets to throw as well. 

Ko Uchi to O Soto Combination (Renraku Waza)
Practice starting with Ko Uchi Gari and finishing with O Soto Gari as shown in this video from IBC Judo Peru:

1. Execute moving uchi komi 10 times with a partner, moving forward and back, alternating so your partner gets to fit as well.
2. Execute nage komi 10 times with a partner, alternating so your partner gets to throw as well. 
3. Execute sute geiko 5 times with a partner, having your partner try to dance away from your attempted throws (light or no upper body resistance).  Alternate so your partner gets to throws as well.

Randori
Practice what we learned today.

 Closing

Discuss: What did you learn today?

Additional Information: See my earlier O Soto Gari post for additional tips.

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)