Osoto Gari

What it is

Osoto gari, the major outer reap, is a judo throw where you break your opponent's balance back onto one heel, step in beside them and reap that leg from behind with the back of your leg. They fall straight backward. It is one of the most common throws in BJJ, and because the fall is backward, control matters for both players.

When to use it

• They stand upright with their weight on their heels.
• They step forward toward you with the leg you want to reap.
• You have a sleeve and lapel grip, or a collar tie and wrist in no-gi.

How to do it

1. Grip their sleeve with one hand and their lapel or collar with the other.
2. Pull the sleeve down and push the lapel hand up and back, so their weight goes onto the heel on the sleeve side.
3. Step your support foot in beside and slightly past their foot on that side, your chest close to theirs.
4. Swing your other leg past their leg and reap it back from behind, the back of your thigh against the back of theirs.
5. As they fall, keep the sleeve and pull up on it so they land on their back and side, not their head.
6. Follow them down onto your knees beside them, ready for side control or knee on belly.

Key details

• Break the balance first. Reaping a leg that has no weight on it does nothing.
• Chest close. If your upper body is far away, the reap pushes you over instead of them.
• Keep the sleeve through the whole throw. It controls the fall and keeps their head off the mat.
• Partner safety: drill slowly at first, and only with a partner who can breakfall backward with the chin tucked.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: reaping before their weight is on the heel. They lift the leg and you end up off balance on one foot.
• Mistake: letting go of the sleeve. They fall uncontrolled and can land on the back of the head.
• Mistake: falling on top of them with your full weight. You land on their ribs or neck and hurt them.

What they will try

• They step back out of the reap and keep their weight on the other leg.
• They counter with their own osoto gari as you swing your leg in.

Gi and no-gi

Without a sleeve and lapel, use a collar tie or an over-under clinch and hold a wrist or an underhook to steer the fall. The throw is harder to control, so be even more careful with your partner's landing.