A step by step guide on how to do the Osoto Gari Judo Throw

The Osoto Gari is one of the most common Judo trips and has been used for generations. Part of this is to do with its simplicity, part of it is also to do with its great effectiveness. As a result, it’s common to see this being pulled off during randori or in Judo competitions around the world. The mechanics of the throw work by tripping the opponent over your foot, as a result it is regarded as an ashi waza foot sweep. Unlike certain other throws, it isn’t fancy either, nor does it rely on great strength or athleticism.

Lastly, the Osoto Gari is good due to being considered a low-risk throw. Again, unlike certain other throws, if it fails then you are still in a decent position. This is not always the case in Judo as some throws can result in counters or reversals that put you in danger. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use the Osoto Gari, from start to finish.

Setting up the Osoto Gari

To begin the Osoto Gari, you want to begin with traditional Judo grips. Here, a collar and tricep grip will suffice with a lead leg too, creating the ideal starting stance. The next point is to close the distance on the opponent on your terms. With the Osoto Gari, this requires both stepping into the opponent and moving forward, as well as physically bringing them to you.

Basically, you want to step forward with your lead leg and follow with the trailing leg. Simultaneously, you also want to drag the opponent closer. To do this, you should bring them closer with your upper body grips by physically pulling at the lapel and shoulder. In short, you get closer to the uke with your lower body and use their upper body to get closer to you.

At this point, there are two key details regarding your legs. Firstly, the lead leg should have stepped back a little at the foot. This is to create a solid base to avoid counters and keep your leg out of trips or reaps. Further on, this leg will be used to trip the opponent. The trailing leg should also come out to the side of the opponent. In other words, your outside foot should be parallel with the foot of the uke. This is done to make the trip more efficient as you’re now lined up with the opponent.

Finishing the Osoto Gari

As mentioned, the lead leg should be behind the trailing leg at this point which is in line with the opponent’s body. At this point, you then want to do a big step with the inside, leading leg. This should go to the outside of the opponent’s body too. This leg does the trip so should be placed behind the leg of the opponent. In other words, your right leg should trip the right leg of the opponent. To do this, you should swing the leg forward and then kick backward. The idea of the swing is to generate enough power in the leg to trip and misplace the leg of the opponent.

However, your upper body should also be working on the throw too. This means pushing the opponent towards your tripping leg. Basically, you want to force them into the trip so they fall over. The idea is to re-distribute their body weight to go backward, where your leg is waiting to trip them over. Not only this but your hands should also not just push back, but also upward at the same time.

The point of this is to get the opponent’s weight off their feet. This is a typical Judo move as it removes base and gravity. As a result, it’s much easier to throw the opponent using this method. Lastly, your arms should twist forwards as well, twisting the body of the opponent as a result. All of these methods are used to remove any weight from the opponent and make them as light as possible.

Remember, a key tip to making it land properly is to kick back against the calf. The higher up the leg you are with your own leg will hinder your progress of the throw. However, if you also go too low towards the heel, the opponent could potentially remove their foot if your attack is too slow. By hitting the calf, you are hitting the sweet spot. Not only this but ideally, your own calf should be generating most of the trip. As your calf is quite a strong muscle, this will only add to the power of the throw.

To finish the move, you can stay standing and keep your body over the uke. Alternatively, you can jump with the throw and remove your feet from the floor. Ideally, you would land this throw in a kesa gatame position with your body pinning the opponent down. If done correctly, this can create an Ippon and end the match instantly. In BJJ and MMA, landing in kesa gatame is equally as fruitful as it puts you in a dominant position to start working attacks such as strikes and submissions.

How do you counter Osoto Gari?

Like all moves in Judo, there are certain counters. One counter to the Osoto Gari is the Uki Waza which relies on speed and timing. To do this, you want to time it so that when the opponent goes to reap your leg, you step this leg back and avoid the trip completely. This is the hard part that will take practice. From there, you then want to set up the Uki Waza by kicking the base of the opponent on their other foot.

As their supposed reaping leg will be off-balanced already, you just need to remove the base of their far leg. This is a sacrifice throw that also relies on the upper body grips to control the movement. Mostly however, the point is to quickly remove the foot that is meant to be attacked by the opponent, and then to focus on their standing leg as a result.

Even if the opponent does manage to make you fall backward with the reap, you can still enter the Uki Waza whilst falling by spreading out your free leg onto their other leg. Remember, a lot of the success surrounding the Uki Waza is dependent on the upper body throw. This isn’t a suplex but you will need to put effort into flinging the opponent as sweeping their foot may not be enough.

For those wondering, this doesn’t make the Osoto Gari pointless. As said, all Judo moves have weaknesses and aren’t perfect. For instance, the Uki Waza is certainly a great counter. However, it also takes great practice and timing. The reality is against most Judoka’s, a good Osoto Gari will result in a throw most of the time anyway.

Final Thoughts

The Osoto Gari is one of the original Judo techniques that is still used commonly today. The move is very effective against all body shapes and sizes and is endorsed by the likes of Travis Stevens who has successfully used the move at the highest of levels. Because of this, it is an ideal move for both beginners and advanced Judoka to learn. It is also good to chain in with other throws such as the Osoto Gake which has a similar set up and mechanics.

Due to this, it’s a diverse movement that is worth learning and should be one of the first moves that is taught in any Judo dojo. Another example of its diversity is that it can also be modified for use in MMA. As the Osoto Gari isn’t as reliant on grips compared to other throws, you can set this up from a clinch without wearing the gi. From white to black belt, the Osoto Gari offers a practical and effective trip that is useful in many situations.