O Soto Gari

Student Objectives:

1. The student will demonstrate the O Soto Gari without verbal cues.
2. The student will maintain good balance while transferring weight between their feet and completing the takedown.

Teaching Cues:

• Standard Grips
• Shoulder to Shoulder
• Grab the Patch
• Toes in the Water

Lesson: O Soto Gari

The practicing student will take standard grips (same side collar grip and sleeve grip). The assisting student will take a neutral stance with their feet slightly wider than shoulder width.  

The practicing student will move into the shoulder to shoulder position. This places the child's dominant shoulder against their mirrored shoulder (for example the practicing student is using their right shoulder and placing it against the assisting partner’s right shoulder). Once the shoulders are in contact, the practicing student will take a deep grip over the back on the patch, or where the patch would be located.    

This will allow the student a clear pathway for their dominant leg to come around the outside of the legs and then cut back into the back of the assisting partner’s knee pit.  This should remove their base and facilitate a movement to the ground.    

Keep in mind the assisting student is not resisting, and the practicing student is responsible for not slamming their partner to the ground.

Possible Extensions:

• After the completion of the take down, the assisting student can Recompose Guard.
• After the completion of the take down, the practicing student can move into Mount.  

Possible Refinements:

• Have the student bend forward slightly during the initial entry of the movement (this is in direct opposition to the way that Judo teaches the movement).
• The reaping leg should not touch the floor between grabbing the patch and reaping out the base of the partner.

Reference materials:

Teaching Reflections:

• How did I do teaching?
• What could I do better next time?
• Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?

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