Combat Sports
O-Soto-Gari
O-Soto-Gari, or major outer reap, is a judo throw that takes a partner backward over a reaped leg. It develops balance, coordination, and controlled hip drive.
Higher injury risk. Read the safety notes before adding weight.
- Advanced
- Compound
- Higher injury risk
- Rest 1 min 30 sec
How to do it
- Face your partner with your left hand gripping their right upper arm and your right hand controlling their left shoulder.
- Step your left foot beside the outside of their right foot.
- Shift their balance toward their right rear corner using your grips.
- Swing your right leg forward past the outside of their right leg.
- Sweep your right leg backward against the back of their right thigh to reap their supporting leg.
- Guide your partner backward onto the mat with your grips.
- Release your grips once your partner has settled on the mat.
Form cues
- Keep your chest close to your partner.
- Reap from your hip, not your knee.
- Look forward, not down.
Common mistakes
- Reaping before breaking balanceEstablish your partner's weight over their right heel before starting the reap.
- Reaching from too far awayAdjust your supporting foot closer rather than stretching your reaping leg toward your partner.
- Dropping onto your partnerKeep your weight over your supporting foot so you can remain standing through the landing.
Safety
An uncontrolled backward fall can injure your partner's head, neck, or shoulder. Sideways pressure or twisting against a planted leg can injure the knee.
- Learn the throw under a qualified judo instructor before attempting full repetitions.
- Use an impact-rated throwing mat with a clear landing area.
- Practice only with a cooperative partner who can reliably perform the required backward breakfall.
- Begin without resistance and stop when fatigue reduces your control.
Choose the entry drill instead of full throws if either partner cannot safely land, or seek medical guidance first for existing knee, neck, back, or shoulder problems.
Muscles worked
Primary muscles
Secondary muscles
Equipment
- Combat Training Mat
Sets and reps
- Sets
- 2–3
- Target
- 3–5 reps per side
- Rest
- 1 min 30 sec
Treat these as deliberate skill repetitions rather than a conditioning set; the steps describe the right-sided throw.