Combat Sports
O-Uchi-Gari Entry Drill
The O-Uchi-Gari Entry Drill practices the setup for judo’s major inner reap without completing the throw. It develops balance, hip control, and coordination with a standing partner.
- Intermediate
- Compound
- Moderate injury risk
- Rest 45 sec
How to do it
- Face your partner with your right hand gripping their left lapel and your left hand gripping their right sleeve.
- Guide your partner’s weight gently toward their left heel through your grips.
- Step your right foot between your partner’s feet.
- Bring your left foot close behind your right foot to support your weight.
- Circle your right foot inside your partner’s left leg, ending beside their calf.
- Return your right foot to the mat beneath you.
- Step back to your starting position.
Form cues
- Keep your shoulders relaxed.
- Keep your hips under your torso.
- Move your hands with your body.
Common mistakes
- Reaching from too far awayClose the distance with your entry steps rather than stretching your reaping leg toward your partner.
- Jerking the gripsApply smooth pressure so your partner can follow the weight shift without stumbling.
- Twisting on a planted support footReposition your support foot with a small step so its toes follow your knee’s direction.
Safety
Forceful leg contact can strain either person’s knee, especially if a foot stays planted while the body turns. Excessive backward pressure can turn the entry into an unintended fall.
- Use a clear training mat with a cooperative partner offering minimal resistance.
- Agree on the entry endpoint and a stop signal before starting.
- Keep your partner standing on both feet; stop before hooking, sweeping, or removing their support.
- Learn the entry through supervised judo instruction before increasing speed.
If either person has knee, hip, or ankle pain or difficulty balancing, use a grip-and-weight-shift-only version and seek advice from a physiotherapist before adding the leg entry.
Muscles worked
Primary muscles
Secondary muscles
Equipment
- Combat Training Mat
Sets and reps
- Sets
- 2–3
- Target
- 6–10 reps per side
- Rest
- 45 sec
Mirror the grips and footwork for the opposite side, prioritizing controlled positioning over speed.