O Soto Gari

O Soto Gari (sometimes spelt Gare) or the Major Outer Reap / Sweep. A basic sweeping throw and the foundation of many other sweeping throws.
Key points:
  • Correct grips are key here
  • Keeping a good posture, step level with uke's feet with your outside foot
  • You should have contact along your arms and chest at this point and your uke should already be off balance 
  • Your hips should be aligned with your uke's and you should be pointing in exactly the opposite direction - check your angle!
  • Bring inside knee through and sweep, raising your sweeping foot high into the air behind you
  • Your head needs to come down for your foot to come up - aim for a horizontal back
It's very important to learn the principle of not over-reaching and tipping backwards with this throw, as this is a principle which you will carry on to many more throws further up the syllabus.  You are not looking to push your uke over your leg and this is not a 'clothes line' throw.  You are aiming to control your uke with your upper body and the actual sweep itself all comes from the legs.  When you do this throw correctly at first it may feel like you are over-exaggerating your sweep.  In practice this throw should be used when your uke's weight is pushing or moving backwards.