O Soto Gari (major outer reap) is a very commonly used throw. It’s often the first throw we teach to beginners – not because it’s easy to do against a resisting opponent, but because it’s mechanically simple. There is none of the combination bending and twisting that you see in forward throws like seoinage or uchimata.
Remember there are three parts to every throw – off balance, body positioning, and the execution of the throw (in Japanese it’s kuzushi, tsukuri, and kake). USUALLY these are done in order – off balancing first, then putting your body in the right spot relative to the person you’re throwing (your uke). Later on when you get more advanced you can combine these steps and sometimes even do them out of order, but that’s a topic for later. As beginners and even up to ikkyu brown belt, you should always be doing these in a strict order – off balancing, body position, and then the throw.
In this solo o soto gari drill, you’re mostly working on the footwork, but remember to move your hands as if you are pulling your uke off balance to the corner.
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