BJJ Fundamentals

Lesson 43 – Osoto-Gari

Warm Up (10min)

Solo Drills

• Side Breakfalls

Partner Drills

• Static Osoto-Gari – Basic Off-Balance
  • Ensure uke doesn’t step out or resist the drill

Lesson (30min)

Static Osoto-Gari – Detailed Off-Balance

1. Start with a sleeve-lapel grip
2. Step forward outside of uke’s legs to off-balance them backwards
   • Uke should be off-balanced onto the heel of ONE leg; the importance of this will be shown later
   • Stay close to uke’s body; chest to chest, hip to hip
   • Don’t pull uke to you; move forward (if you lean back they can reverse the takedown)
3. Swing your own leg across the outside of uke’s body, but don’t follow through with the takedown

Static Osoto-Gari – Throw Execution

1. Continue from osoto-gari off-balance
2. Use a reaping motion to “cut away” the leg that uke’s weight is on
   • Your leg kicks behind you as your upper body pushes forward (opposite directions)
   • Uke should be off-balanced onto the heel of ONE leg; if their far-side leg carries weight, they will be awkwardly “lowered down” instead of thrown

Moving Osoto-Gari

1. Start with a sleeve-lapel grip
2. Practise moving uke around the mat in a way that feels natural
3. Uke is now allowed to step around
4. Use changes in direction and position to set up your osoto-gari
   • Think about moving uke’s leg closer and shifting all of their weight onto it
   • Hit the timing for osoto-gari before uke moves away or recovers balance

Ken-Ken Osoto-Gari

1. Start with a sleeve-lapel grip
2. Uke is now allowed to stiff-arm with their hips back
3. Instead of stepping forward with your far-side leg, hook behind uke’s knee with your near-side leg
4. Get to the the osoto-gari off-balance position by hopping towards uke
   • Safety tip: don’t chop sideways into uke’s knee, just hook and block
5. Tip uke over by pushing their upper body over your hooking leg