BaffledExperts by Adam Norman

7: Backward throws

I categorize backward throws as those where your opponent gets thrown backward relative to herself. You, of course, will still be facing forward.

According to the Kodokan, the throw I describe in the following section is, in fact, a reap. Tori (the person doing the throwing) reaps the legs out from under uke (the person being thrown). This is a quite different from a forward throw, where tori pulls uke over his own hips or legs to throw her.

Unbalancing your opponent is key to all reaps. It is very hard to reap the leg of someone who is standing up straight. Happily, it is very easy to make your opponent wobbly—just hurl yourself at her!

Principle 6: Hit them hard

Most beginners are afraid of pushing their opponent around while they are standing. Pushing, pulling, grabbing and colliding seem rather rude, after all. Being aggressive while standing seems to run counter to judo’s gentle spirit.

Beginners are wary because they have two misconceptions. First, they think that judo is gentle. Judo is not gentle. It’s a martial art and a sport. It’s not as tough as sport as football, probably, and not as tough as hockey, I hear, but it’s a lot tougher than badminton. I can say with confidence that the fighters in my club make badmintonians look like sissies.

More importantly, newcomers do not see the danger of a half-completed throw. A small investment in a little pounding before the throw often saves you and your opponent much pain later. Remind your opponents of that when you are shaking them up. Tell them that you are tenderizing them out of concern for their welfare.

Off-balancing your opponent will make her easier to throw and allow you to control her fall. It is, I suppose, only human to rail against loss and to fight to the end. It is too much to ask another fighter to accept her loss–and even embrace it. If she would only do so, it would save her, so you will have to make your opponent accept her fate. You will have to push her into it. Throw hard. And trust that, paradoxically, it will generally hurt less.[1]

Osoto gari
Osoto gari is the classic schoolyard trip. It is very effective. It’s one of the easiest and best throws in all of judo, and even experienced fighters get caught with it.

1. Step your left foot just to the outside of your opponent’s right foot (assuming he's right handed and fighting off-stance, like we all do). It is important that you make this a very big step. Close as much distance as you can.
2. Pull him hard towards you. Try to make him bend to his side, like a banana. This will put all of his weight on the foot you are about to knock away. Pull him back and onto his heel—you should be pulling, not pushing, because you should be almost behind him.

If you find that you are not able to bend your opponent over enough, play dirtier. Assuming you are attacking his right leg, as you step in, release your right grip and slide your right hand over your opponent’s left shoulder, moving your hand deep into the centre of his back. Smack your biceps into his chin, just a little, to push his head over. He should now bend nicely.

Swivel your hips around his. Bring your right leg behind his right leg and raise it a little, like you are following through after kicking a soccer ball.

To finish the throw, swing your right leg backwards, forcing your body to bend forward. Look over your left shoulder.

As your opponent comes down, lift his right arm to soften his fall. Point your toes.

Looking over your left shoulder feels awkward, as your right side is doing the rest of the work. But it forces your right shoulder into your opponent and pulls his right side outward, off balancing him. If the throw is done well, your right leg will do little. Instead, your bum cheek will be the pivot on which uke is thrown.

Your opponent will land sideways or slightly backwards (depending on how much you look behind you), in front of your left foot. Pulling up on his arm makes his life a lot easier as he tumbles down. It pulls him into a nice breakfall, and keeps his head off the ground. This, obviously, is important if you don’t want him to die.

To finish the fight, drop into a hold down (like kesa gatame) or step over his face with your left foot for an arm bar.

The most common beginner’s mistake is to not step far enough in with the first step. Beginners try to reach in with their legs for the sweep, but this hardly ever works. If you reach with your leg, you won’t have a strong enough foundation to pull someone off balance. You must close the distance entirely so that you are standing beside or even behind uke. Stepping in allows you to use your hands to knock someone around and to generate the full power from your leg. If you cannot (or will not) step in, you will have to throw the way I describe next.

A variation for stubborn fighters

If you will not or cannot close the distance with your opponent (perhaps because he is stiff-arming you), one variation is to sweep only his ankle. Instead of stepping beside your opponent, step out to the left at about 45º. With a quick snapping motion, like cracking a whip, reap your opponent’s right ankle out from under him. This is a very nice and quite gentle throw, and works well done against a fighter in a deep stance. It also works well as a follow up to a stuffed osoto gari. Turn almost 90º and keep pushing with your arms. Your foot will slide naturally down to his ankle.

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1. I should be very clear. Don't throw your opponent down hard. Throw him up hard. Start the throw with all your energy, but don't finish it like that. You'll often see a really good fighter save his opponent by pulling up on the sleeve to slow her opponent fall and spread her out into a nice landing.