Osoto Gari

[joesteph]

I've had some practice with Osoto Gari at the new dojo, and I've been taught that the opponent's balance/stance has to be broken utilizing a strike and a twist of his shoulders. I have to work on coordinating my reaping leg with that shoulders twist, and then comes a twist by me of the opponent's unbalanced body to do the takedown.

These videos don't show breaking the opponent's balance by a shoulder twist, but by what's like an upright "body crash" or "hard bump" to me.

Demos of the throw itself:

http://www.ehow.com/video_2360725_do-jujutsu-osoto-gari-throw.html

Instruction on using the throw against a punch:

http://www.ehow.com/video_2360727_use-gari-throw-counter-punch.html

In these videos, tori is larger than uke. Is that a flaw in this instruction of Osoto Gari? Is breaking the opponent's balance by strike and shoulder girdle twist, as I'm taught, a compensation if outsized? What's your preference in performing Osoto Gari?

[Toptomcat]

Would you mind elaborating on exactly how you perform osoto gari, preferably with a video of your own method as well as the contrasting ones?

[joesteph]

I only have these videos from YouTube and eHow, Toptomcat.

If I'm with Sensei, and we're both in a right lead, he has me grab hold of his gi with two hands and do a jerking motion, say pulling with the left hand and pushing with the right, so that his shoulders aren't parallel to my body. Then I step over with my right (reaping) leg and twist further to take him down. I press but don't slam my upper body against him.

With Sempai, in the same right lead, I actually seize his shoulders at the sides to perform the jerking motion so that his shoulders aren't parallel to me. The rest is the same.

[Toptomcat]

I'm not hearing about the 'strike' you mentioned as off-balancing in the OP in either of those cases, which is what made me curious...

[joesteph]

I'm not hearing about the 'strike' you mentioned as off-balancing in the OP in either of those cases, which is what made me curious...

A hook punch is coming in to the left side of my face, and I block it with both hands as vertical knifehands. With my right elbow, I then strike under the opponent's jaw to stun him. Then I make the seize, etc. as in my second post.

[kamahlthedruid]

I think hip throws in the clinch are more effective.

Edited April 27, 2010 by kamahlthedruid

[Jay]

Its not exactly an osoto gari but I have learned a similar takedown.

I learned to unbalance by controlling the opponents head. I find this a particularily good way for myself as I don't weight alot, my instructor taught me this variation.

If im reaping with my right leg. I would first grast their shirt. Gi or shoulder with my left hand. I would then step around to reap while simultaeously lifting up their chin with my right hand basically lifting their head backwards.

[bushido_man96]

Being outsized may require something different when it comes to breaking balance. Strikes can be effective for this. I've got a brother that is quite a bit larger than I am, and I don't think about throwing him much at all, because he has such a good base and low center of gravity. But, if you can strike someone and get them reeling backwards, then that could be your opportunity to get the throw off.

[ps1]

The problem that arises when pushing the chin/twisting the shoulders is that it doesn't necessarily put the weight of the opponent on the foot that you're reaping. That means that they can simply lift their leg and step out of the throw. You need your weight to be driving the opponent toward and down into the leg you're going to reap. This is why it's a good move if you're taller than the person you're doing it to.

Additionally, the driving with the hand represents poor jiujitsu/judo anyway. That means you're pushing with just your arm against the muscles of the head and abdominal muscles. It's much more effective, as you mentioned you notice in the vids, to use you're entire body weight and bump the opponent in order to get them off balance.

[JiuJitsuNation]

While playing live. Try circling away from the leg you are going to reap. This will get them stepping forward with that foot. Make your entry. If you are to far away and you feel you are reaching with the foot, hook it anyway to scotch the leg and hop as if jumping behind them, which you are. The whole idea of breaking there posture back is to take the head out of alignment with the hips. Osoto gari can also be done in sequence with a shoulder throw. Osoto being part two. Which you will have more success with than a single entry. Train for 2 and 3. 1 is the setup.