The Essential Judo Throw

Each judo throw, okuri-ashi-harai (sweeping ankle throw), o-soto-gari (major external reaping) and o-uchi-gari (major inner reaping), is explained in detail in this article. Practise them all so you can use them to great effect against your opponent.

Okuri-ashi-harai (sweeping ankle throw)

Knowledge of the rolling motion of a rowboat will help you understand the nature of okuri-ashi-harai. If you try to upset the boat for fun, you must push its lower side so as to create the rolling motion. By doing this, you are making use of the law of the resultant. What we do in trying to upset a boat we may also do in throwing an opponent in judo.

You and your opponent hold each other in main natural posture. He advances to the left. Taking advantage of his motion, you push him in the same direction, as if to scoop him with both your hands and break his posture to the right. Remind yourself of the rolling of a boat.

When he has drawn his right foot close to his left foot and lets almost half of his weight rest on it, you sweep the sole of your left foot against his right, just above the ankle. At the same time you pull down his right sleeve with your left hand. He will then be thrown because both his feet are swept away.

Key points:

a. A good chance to apply this technique is when your opponent draws his right foot close to his left foot and rests almost half his weight on it.

b. Your left leg should be extended as you sweep.

O-soto-gari (major external reaping)

In the judo throw o-soto-gari you must reap one of your opponent's legs when his weight rests upon it, just as a scythe cuts grass. Reap only after you have unbalanced him to his right or left back corner. If you apply your technique before this, the friction produced between his foot and the mat will resist your further reaping force. Let us study this technique.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. Stepping with your left foot to his right side, you unbalance him backwards so as to make his weight rest on his right heel. This makes it difficult for him to move his right leg. Now quickly strike the right side of your chest against his right chest. At the same time you reap his right leg with your right leg. He will then be thrown on his back.

Key Points:

a. You should reap your opponent's right leg quickly so that he cannot shift his weight from the right foot to the left.

b. Sweep with the calf of your leg.

e. Point the toes of the sweeping foot to create a stronger sweeping force.

O-uchi-gari (major inner reaping)
If you stand with your legs spread wide apart, you cannot shift your weight from one leg to the other quickly. O-uchi-gari takes advantage of this weakness in an opponent.You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. You pull him to his left front corner with both your hands.

Since this causes him to take a larger step than usual to the left front, you break his posture to his left back corner by pushing against his left shoulder with your right hand. Losing no time, you strike your right chest against his left chest and push him backwards with your right hand while reaping his left leg with your right leg in a circular motion from the inside. He will then be thrown on his back.

Key Points:

a. You must reap your opponent's left leg smoothly, just when he rests almost half his weight on it, so as not to create frictional resistance between his foot and the mat.

b. If he shifts his weight from the left foot to the right, your reaping action will be ineffective. Therefore you must push him with your right hand toward his left back corner to prevent him from putting his weight on his right leg.

Each of these is an effective judo throw which you can add to your repertoire.

By Desmond McKay 

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