[T3.02] Kosoto-gari: (Minor Outer Reap)

Translation: (Ko) minor, (soto) side, (gari) reap

Kosoto-gari is a traditional throwing technique. It is a root technique. This technique can be a counter to Tai-otoshi. The sweep is made with the bottom of the foot. If you can step over tori’s throwing leg during the execution of tai-otoshi, you are set up to sweep their foot because the momentum is traveling with you. The student will practice this throw as if it were the intended technique, but remember it is more versatile. The AOKK version of this throw is slightly different than those of judo.

Warning: Do not attempt these techniques without a qualified AOKK instructor’s supervision.

Technical Information:

Traditional Throwing Method: Break the opponent’s balance to the left-rear-corner to get him/her to lift their right-foot. Pull down and forwards on uke’s right arm with your left-arm. Grasp the adversary’s shoulder or the back of his/her collar with your right-hand and push their left shoulder backwards. When the opponent leans backwards, drive your left-foot to around the attacker’s right-leg when he/she lifts it off the mat. Twist your hips to throw uke to the mat. 

Note: In the AOKK we drive this throw to the ground by twisting and throwing our weight forwards in a circular motion.

Note: Push the attacker to the left rear corner and use the edge of uke’s left-foot as your pivot point to get him/her to lift the right-foot. Then drive your lead leg behind their right-leg and reap uke’s leg.

Karate Throwing Method: The attacker punches or reaches for you. Block the punch or garb and trap the attacker’s right-arm with your left-hand. Pull the attacker forwards and down.  Palm-heel strike or elbow strike the attacker’s head. This will drive the adversary backwards. Grasp the back of the attacker’s collar and push the opponent’s left shoulder backwards. Sweep the attacker’s right-foot from the outside to the inside with your left-foot. Drive the attacker to the ground.

Note: If you go to the ground, land on top the attacker and place him/her in a choke or lock.

Counter:

We do things in karate that do not, upon first glance, make a lot of sense. Many karate systems teach stepping in a sweeping half-moon motion. The foot is never completely lifted from the ground but always makes contact with the surface. This type of stepping makes kosoto-gari more difficult. The very nature of stepping in this manner keeps the karateka in balance, and during the step, the majority of your weight is on the rear leg. Walking or normal stepping is a process of controlled falling. There is a normal forward lean to this process that makes unbalancing the opponent forwards an easy task. Controlling the motion counters the catching of the foot as it is lifted to move forwards. Fighters have learned that stepping is problematic in a conflagration, so a shuffling movement has been developed to maintain balance during sparring and randori. In Judo, boxing, or kick boxing you will seldom see a fighter purposely step forwards.

Opening Technique:

Grip the opponent.  This can be done from a clinch. You can also make this throw by trapping an attacker’s punch.

Note: This throw is made with the bottom of the foot, and it is more of a sweep than a throw. The sweep is made with a scooping motion. To make the throw effective the sweep must be made with force to reap uke’s leg. Kosoto-gari is demonstrated from the clinch in the photos.

Execution:

• Make your grip.
• Pull down on uke’s elbow and twist the opponent’s shoulders to push the opponent up on his/her toes.
• Step forward with and place your foot to the side or slightly behind of uke’s.
• Pull down with the (LH) and push uke’s shoulder backwards with the (RH).

Note: You cannot be gentle and make the technique work.

• When uke’ weight is mainly on one leg, trap his/her foot at minimum or sweep the foot at best.
• It is imperative that you pull down on uke’s right shoulder while pushing on his left.

Note: Most of the technique is made with upper-body strength. Once the majority of uke’s weight is on one leg they can be thrown more easily. Do not be gentle, but in practice control uke’s fall.

Grips:

1. The traditional judo grip is left hand on uke’s right sleeve and your right hand on uke’s left lapel. Remember to bend your elbow to lift uke and pull him/her in tight. Turn uke in the direction of the leg that is being swept.
2. Collar and elbow grip. (Clinch)

Warning: Never go to the ground if there are multiple opponents.

Note: If you choose to follow uke to the mat strike with punches and elbows followed by an arm-bar, or simply remain standing walk away. In sport you may choose to apply a choke or lock the opponent to gain a submission.