Reap

Ōsoto-gari (“major outer reap”) is a simple, fast, and effective takedown used in most marital arts; it is a hallmark of jūdō. Essentially, you push your opponent’s upper body backwards while knocking their foot out from under them. Like all takedowns, reaping is a three-step process:

1. Kuzushi (Destroying): Ōsoto-gari is an “away throw,” which only appropriate if you push the opponent, if they pull you; or if they are leaning back (usually after a strike to the face or chin). Do not use ōsoto-gari if the opponent is charging at you, pushing you, or is doubled-over after a strike to the abdomen or groin. In those cases, use a “towards throws,” like ō-goshi.
   
   7-3 outside, and force the opponent’s head up and backwards, usually by attacking with an uppercut or rising palmheel strike. If possible, same-side grab the opponent’s leading arm by the sleeve, just under the elbow, and also grab their jacket collar as high as possible. Push the opponent’s head back, and pull their arm down to destroy their balance; the motion is somewhere between throwing a reverse punch and making a sharp turn with your car’s steering wheel.
   
   
2. Tsukuri (Positioning): To maximize efficiency and reduce the risk of injuring your training partners:
   • You must be very close to your opponent. Kinetic energy and momentum transfer requires a solid, secure connection to your opponent. Your opponent must be snug against you so that no light can pass through the space between you and the opponent, irritating middle school dance chaperones. If you need to reposition your feet and/or pull the opponent in, then take the half-second to do so while your opponent is off-balance.
   • You must perfectly face the opposite direction. The leading-leg's toes must point 180° away from the opponent’s leading-leg's toes. This ensures the correct reaping angle. If you need to reposition your feet, then take the half-second to do so while your opponent is off-balance.
     
     
3. Nage (Throwing): The reap itself is a front exercise kick variant. Assuming that you are facing #1, lock your knee, and swing your rear leg the outside, next to the opponent (i.e., to #2 if using the right leg, or to #8 if you are using the left).
   
   Then, swing your leg back through your opponent, as your return into a stable front stance. Your calf should strike the opponent’s leading-leg calf, knocking their foot out from under them. At the same time, you should push the opponent’s head or opposite-side shoulder back and down. When done properly, your opponent will rotate about their center, and in a single, spectacular, fluid motion, and landing a side breakfall.

[video of osoto-gari from the front and side, fast and slow]

Please be aware of the two common mistakes when performing ōsoto-gari:

• Under-committing. For whatever reason, many students stop upon touching their opponent’s leg, and then try to push their opponent over from this position. This results in a weak takedown which uses muscle, not momentum. Additionally, this leaves you open to a counter-takedown; the standard defense against an ōsoto-gari is to execute a faster ōsoto-gari. Don’t be polite about it; swing your leg as though the opponent is not there; they’ll move. When correctly aligned, the injury risk is minimal, as your calf will strike the opponent's calf, and muscle is nature’s safety pad.

• Over-committing. An over-energetic throw will cause you to lean forward, compromising your balance. If this happens, keep pushing forward, because any attempt to catch your balance will only help stabilize your opponent. Instead, deliberately fall forward to add momentum to complete (and augment) the takedown, making it into a “sacrifice throw”. You will land on top of your opponent, automatically placing you in an advantageous position for the wrestling/grappling match to follow.

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