7. How to Practice Throwing

Some advice on throwing techniques

1.         Where to hold

If you hold your opponent’s right sleeve with your left hand and his left lapel with your right hand, your techniques will be limited to only the right side. If you hold him by both sleeves, you can readily apply either right or left techniques such as hiza-guruma or de-ashi­harai, but this is not true in a number of other techniques such as hane-goshi, harai-goshi, or seoi-nage (hip and hand throws) . If you hold his jacket on both the right and left sides of his chest, you are well set to apply waist techniques but not seoi-rtage (shoulder throw) or de-ashi-harai and o-soto-gari, which are foot and leg throws.

Therefore the techniques are largely restricted by the choice of where you grip and how you stand. If your opponent has enough time to defend himself from your attack, he will be able to anticipate the kind of technique you will use. You should always change the place that you grasp according to the changing positions of your opponent and yourself.

2.         How to grasp

When you hold your opponent by his jacket, you should do so as gently as you would hold an egg in your hand. Always keep the forearms relaxed. If you stiffen your forearms, you are prevented not only from changing your grasp quickly but also from reading your opponent’s motions. You must remember that the feel in the gripping hand is just as much an indicator of your opponent’s motions as are your eyes. It is only at the moment when you apply your technique or break his posture that you must grasp tightly.

Besides these two factors there is another—perhaps the most im­portant one. Unless your arms are kept relaxed, you cannot make good use of the force of the waist and abdominal region, which, as we have observed before, is the foundation of judo. The force of both arms is only one part of the force of the whole body ; it plays its part in the harmony of the whole. Therefore, if strength is always concentrated in the arms, the over-all force of the body becomes weak.

3.         How to advance or retreat

To apply throwing techniques effectively, as we have studied in the first part of Chapter 3, you must first get your opponent off-balance. This technique is called kuzushi. It can be used most effec­tively when your opponent is advancing or retreating. All you have to do is advance or retreat farther than he pulls or pushes. This is done by making use of a special way of walking called tsugi-ashi (special footwork) , which we shall now explain.

There are two ways to walk. One is the normal way, by advancing the right and left legs alternately. In the other way of walking, a shuffle step, you first advance your right foot and then draw up the other foot until it rests about ten inches behind the right foot and is pointed outward at an angle. This is tsugi-ashi. In boxing too, as you know, both competitors advance or retreat in this fashion.

Which is better in judo? Of course it is tsugi-ashi, for it enables you to move faster than in the normal way. Furthermore, if you walk using the normal step, your posture is more vulnerable, since the time that you use to place your weight on one foot is longer than in tsugi-ashi.

Next you must keep in mind the correct angled-foot pattern that enables you to make the best use of the force of the waist and abdominal region. (This was studied in Chapter 3.) Then you must make the maximum use of the action of both your big toes through practice. If you can put your strength in them, you will be able to make your base larger—up to the length of the big toe. Its length amounts to one-fifth of the length of the foot. The sensory nerves running through the big toe are extremely sensitive to the loss of balance. If you take advantage of this sensitivity, your posture will be harder to break. When you put your knee on the mat, your big toe must be placed upright. This, too, will enable you to make better use of the force of the waist and abdominal region.

Ukemi:   the art of falling

In judo the method of falling is an art in itself. Mastery of ttkemi, or the art of falling, is essential not only for the execution of free and quick movements but also for the prevention of injury when you are thrown. Thus ukemi is the first technique for you to learn and master. First let us see how long it takes for a falling body to strike the mat.

When a body falling from a position at rest drops to the ground by means of gravitation, it travels 980 centimeters in the first second, 1,960 in the next second, and 2,940 in the third second. You will notice that an acceleration of 980 centimeters per second is produced uniformly every second during the fall. Since the body drops with a uniform acceleration, the average velocity is half the sum of the Initial velocity and the final velocity. Average velocity can thus be expressed in the following equations, in which Vav stands for average velocity, Vo for initial velocity, Vt for final velocity, t for time, and A for acceleration:

i.   Vav= ™+v°
and, since the acceleration is uniform,
2.         A= Vt~V°
t

which results in

3.         Vt= Vo+At
and, when Vo equals zero,

66. Force in an over-shoulder throw.

67. Falling backwards from sitting, squatting, and standing positions.

68. Falling to left side from sitting position.

69. Falling to left side from squatting position.

Now let us further study ukemi. Its key point is to make your upper and lower extremities strike the mat simultaneously just before your trunk makes contact. You can then utilize your shoulder, thigh, and knee joints as shock-absorbing springs to make the time t in the equation Ft=mv as large as possible. If you succeed in doing so, you can break your fall by dissipating the impulsive force.

In mastering ukemi you first learn how to strike the mat with both your arms and hands to prevent your head from hitting it when you fall backwards. This is shown in Figure 67. The arms are straight and make an angle of about 45 degrees with the trunk. Strike the mat as vigorously as possible with both arms and hands.

Next you must learn to make one arm and hand strike the mat sideways to the left. In Figures 68 and 69 the left hand and arm strike the mat toward the left. Then you must suddenly drop them on the mat and make them strike simultaneously and as strongly as possible. Repeat the practice alternately right and left in daily workouts.

Next, as shown in Figure 70, learn to make one arm and one hand, one leg and one foot, and the sole of the other foot strike the mat simultaneously as you fall. After you have learned these ways of striking the mat, you advance further to the practice of the forward roll illustrated in Figure 71. Here your arms and feet strike the mat as your body rolls forward in a motion like that of a somersault. Be sure that the hand which serves as a fulcrum is placed on the mat turned in at an angle of about 45 degrees so that you can roll over the bent elbow in such a way as to prevent injury.

In the technique illustrated in Figure 72 you advance your right foot forward a little, then put your right hand on the mat turned in. Push the mat with your left leg, and; your body will roll forward, completing a forward somersault. Your right elbow, shoulder, trunk, right side of the waist, outside of the left leg and foot, and sole of the right foot touch the mat in this consecutive order.

Next, try the variations illustrated in Figure 73.

70. Basic exercise in using feet and arms to break a fall.

71. Forward roll: start and finish.

72. Technique of right forward roll.

73. Practice in jumping over an obstacle.

Explanation of throwing techniques

1.    Uki-goshi (hip throw)

Momentum can be classified into two types. One is the force that acts along a curved line; the other is a force that acts along a straight line. The technique that best illustrates the former is uki-goshi (hip throw), while the one that shows the latter to best advantage is uki-otoshi (floating drop). Let us study uki-goshi first, since it demonstrates most effectively how to produce the largest curved-line momentum possible when you pivot against your opponent and at the same time induce momentum in him.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. Without making him bend his waist or his knees, you force him to lean toward his right front corner. Losing no time, you pivot to the left, putting your right foot inside his right foot and your left foot inside his left foot. Then put your loins and the right part of your back in close contact with his chest and abdomen by pulling his right sleeve with your left hand and pressing his back from the right side with your right hand and arm. Twist your loins from right to left, availing yourself of the strength with which you turn to the left. He will then be thrown as Figure 74 shows.

Dynamic explanation : When you turn to the left, the momentum mv is produced. This momentum is induced in your opponent with both your hands. Take the force produced by this as F. When the force F acts on his upper body, the small of your back, 0, serves as a fulcrum. Therefore your opponent is thrown down, rotating around your loins by the moment FL, as shown in Figure 74.

Key points

a.         When you  apply this technique,  you must twist your loins without lifting them.  You must make the maximum use of the momentum that works horizontally along a curved line.
b.         When you pivot, you must keep your body upright. Do not bend either your waist or your knees. This enables you to twist your loins

74.  Uki-goshi (hip throw). with greater speed. It also enables you to put both your loins and the right part of your back into close contact with your opponent's abdomen and chest in order to execute the throw correctly.

2.    Uki'Otoshi (floating drop)

This technique best illustrates the use of the waist and abdominal region to take advantage of momentum working along a straight line. In uki-otoshi you throw your opponent with momentum alone. You and your opponent hold each other in a right natural posture. As your opponent pushes you back, you withdraw more than he pushes. You break his posture to the front by taking advantage of his pushing force and the momentum produced when you withdraw. Suddenly you pull him down and forward with both hands, making use of the momentum produced when you drop your left knee to the mat. He is then thrown forward and down.

Dynamic explanation : As your opponent moves forward, the mo­mentum mv works on his body. As you withdraw in the same direc­tion, the momentum mV works in the same direction on your body. Taking advantage of the combination of the two momentums, you break his posture to the front. Losing no time, you pull him down by the momentum produced when you suddenly drop your left knee to the mat. Since you pull down his upper body with both hands before he can step forward and regain his natural posture, his right toes serve as a fulcrum in the throw. He is thus thrown in a 270-degree arc.

Key point : If you withdraw only as much as your opponent pushes, you cannot break his posture, nor can you pull him down by making his right toes serve as a fulcrum. Consequently, you must withdraw more than he pushes and at the same time put yourself in a position convenient to pull him down with the largest force and in the shortest time possible.

75. Uki-otoshi (floating drop)

3.    O-goshi (major hip throw)

If you can support your opponent's center of gravity, you can easily rotate him around your waist by applying a small force on his upper body. It does not matter how much he weighs. O-goshi is typical of the techniques applied in this manner. Let us study the technique.

You and your opponent hold each other in a right self-defensive posture. Slipping your right hand beneath his left elbow, you put the palm on his back as deeply as possible. Lift his body gently with your right hand and arm while you pull him to the front by pulling his right sleeve with your left hand. Now, bending your knee a little, you ad­vance your right foot inside his right foot so that it becomes parallel with it. Simultaneously you pivot your left foot near his left foot. Support his center of gravity from beneath with your back and waist, as shown in Figure 76. Twist your waist quickly from right to left. He will then be thrown, rotating around and over your hip.

DYNAMIC explanation : O-goshi looks a great deal like uki-goshi, but they differ considerably. In uki-goshi your hip serves as a fulcrum by being placed against your opponent's abdomen; in o-goshi it does so by supporting his center of gravity from underneath. Thus, in uki-goshi, you can make him rotate around your hip without any opposition from his gravity. But in o-goshi you must turn in against him with your hip lowered a little so as to support his center of gravity with your hip from underneath. In uki-goshi, on the other hand, you do not bend either your waist or your knees. Only P (see Figure 76) can be considered the force that throws him. This is the force with which you bend the upper part of your body to the left, twisting your waist from right to left with a quick spin, as if you were a spinning top.

Key point : The key point of o-goshi is to pull the upper part of your opponent's body forward with your hands and completely sup­port his center of gravity with the small of your back and your hip. Then throw him up and over the hip and down to the mat.

4.    Tai-otoshi (body drop)

In tai-otoshi you throw your opponent by making use of his own gravity and advancing force. You hold each other in natural posture. Making use of the force with which your opponent moves forward, you make him lean forward to his right front corner. Now you quickly turn to the left while pulling him down in his off-balance direction with both your hands, as shown in b and c of Figure 77. He will then be thrown in front of you, as shown in d.

Dynamic explanation : There is one force that you apply on your opponent. This is the force F, with which both your hands pull his upper body horizontally in the direction of the arrow. It is produced by the momentum mv arising from your turning to the left. Since F acts on his upper body, he falls forward (arm L) with his right foot serving as a fulcrum, as shown in Figure 77&, c, and d. Since your right foot is thrown in front of his right foot, he cannot regain his balance by advancing his right foot.

Key point : Your best chance to apply this technique is when your opponent has stiffened his body a little without bending his legs and is leaning forward or to his right front corner, as illustrated in Figure 77a.

77. Tai-otoshi (body drop).

5.    Tsurikomi-goshi (lifting hip throw)

Look again at the discussion of moment of force in Chapter 6. You know that the larger the arm of the moment of force (Figure 57), the more efficiently you can use the force. Therefore, in attacking your opponent, you must apply force with the longest arm possible. Tsuri­komi-goshi is typical of the techniques that make use of the moment of force.

It may be difficult for you to apply such hip throws as harai-goshi (sweeping loin) or hane-goshi (spring hip) on your opponent if he leans backward with his abdomen pushing forward. This, however, is a good chance for applying tsurikomi-goshi. With the principle of the moment of force in mind, let us study tsurikomi-goshi.

You and your opponent hold each other in a natural posture. You grasp the back part of his right collar with your right hand. The moment you break his posture to the front, you turn your body to the left while fully bending both your knees. You then put your lower back almost against his knees and your back against his abdomen, as shown in Figure 785. You pull down his upper body with both hands while lifting his lower body backwards with your hips by push­ing the mat with both your legs. He will then roll over your hip and down in front of you in the order of c and d in Figure 78.

Dynamic explanation : There are two forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force Q, with which you pull him down with both your hands. The second is P, with which your hip lifts his lower body up and backwards. Suppose that P is composed of the two forces P' and Q' and that Q' is equal and opposite to Q. Then the two forces Q and Q' work as a couple to rotate your opponent around your hip. The force P', which is the remainder, works to lift him. Therefore he is thrown down as shown in Figure 78c and d.

Key point : If you turn to the left with your hip fully lowered, the arm L becomes longer, and the force P, which lifts your opponent's lower body backwards, becomes larger also. Therefore little effort is needed in performing this technique.

78.  Tsurikomi-goshi (lifting hip throw).

6.    Harai-goshi (sweeping loin throw)

Harai-goshi evolved from uki-goshi. In harai-goshi the prob­lem of producing a momentum and inducing it in your opponent is the same as in uki-goshi, so when you pivot against him to apply force on him,

you can do it in the same way as in uki-goshi.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. Then you take advantage of the force with which he pushes you back, and you cause him to lean to the front or to the right front corner. Now you quickly pivot to the left, drawing your left foot near to his left foot and bringing your right hip just in front of him while pressing his chest against your right side with your left hand. At the same time your right hand, which is placed under his armpit, pulls his back forward. Now you sweep up his lower body with your right leg and loin, bending your upper body to the left. He will then be thrown to the mat easily, as Figure 79 shows.

Dynamic explanation : There are three forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force F produced by the momentum mv, which arises from your pivoting to the left. The second is the force P, with which you bend your upper body to the left. The third is the force Q, with which you sweep his lower body upwards. Suppose that P and Q serve as a couple. They then set your opponent in rotation, with your right hip as a fulcrum. As for force F, which is very large, a moment is produced with your right loin as a fulcrum. Your opponent is then thrown to the mat.

Key point : You must press your opponent's chest close to your right side with both your hands; otherwise, you cannot cause him to lean forward. If you fail to do this, his weight presses his feet against the mat, with the result that the friction created between the soles of his feet and the mat will prevent his body from being lifted from the mat.

79. Harai-goshi (sweeping loin throw).

7.    Hane-goshi (spring hip throw)

Hane-goshi is very much like harai-goshi in form, but actual­ly they are quite different. The latter evolved from uki-goshi, where the force works horizontally along a curved line, but the former might be considered a modified form of o-goshi, where your opponent's center of gravity is supported by your hip from underneath.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. Making him lean to the front or to the right front corner, you pivot to the left while lowering your right hip a little to support his center of gravity on it. At the same time you press the upper part of his body close to the right side of your body with both hands. You then lift him up with your right leg and hip and at the same time turn your upper body to the left. He will then be thrown, as illustrated in Figure 80d.

Dynamic explanation: There are four forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force F produced by the momentum mv, which is created by your pivoting quickly to the left. The second is the force P, with which you turn your upper body to the left. The two forces P and F combine into the larger force R, which rotates your opponent's body with your right hip as the fulcrum O. The third force is Q : the force with which your right leg lifts him up while your right hip serves as the fulcrum O. Suppose that the resultant R equals P' plus Q' and that Q' is equal and opposite to the force Q. Then Q' and Q work as a couple that turns your opponent about the fulcrum O. The remaining P' of the resultant R and the fourth force P", with which your left leg pushes the ground, produce a force that lifts him up and forward, as shown in Figure 80d.

Key point: You should bring your opponent's center of gravity above your right hip by the force F. If you do not achieve this, friction will be produced between his feet and the mat, since his weight presses his feet against the mat when your right leg strikes against his, as in the case of harai-goshi.

80.  Hane-goshi (spring hip throw).

8.    Hiza-guruma (knee wheel)

When you glide down a slope on skis, you bend both knees and lower your waist because this makes it much easier for you to control your balance. Consequently, if one knee cannot move freely, it will be difficult to balance yourself. The technique of hiza-guruma rests on this principle.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. You try to make him lean to the left front corner. The moment his weight rests on his left leg, which is bent a little at the knee, you put your left foot, with the toes turned in, to your left front corner near his right foot, as shown in Figue 81b, and break his posture to his left front corner. With your right hand, which holds his left sleeve, pull toward your right in a circular motion, at the same time putting the sole of your right foot on the outside of his left knee. Your left hand helps the pull of your right hand by lifting his right arm. His knee will then rotate around your foot, and he will fall to the mat.

Dynamic explanation: There are two forces that act on your opponent. The first is F, with which your hands pull his upper body in the direction shown by the arrow (Figure 81b). F is produced by the momentum mv, which arises from your pivoting to the right. The second is P', with which you prevent him from advancing his left foot. Suppose that F is equal to P plus Q and that P is equal and opposite to P'. Then P and P' will work as a couple to make your opponent rotate about his center of gravity. Since your right foot prevents his left leg from advancing, his left foot serves as the fulcrum 0. As the remaining Q of F works on his upper body, QL, the moment of Q, will be produced about the fulcrum 0 to make him fall forward. He will then be thrown in the order shown in Figure 81.

Key points :

a.         Pivot to the right with your left toes turned inside in order to make the rotating motion easier.

b.         Refer to Figure 81b for the direction in which to pull your opponent's sleeve.

9.    Harai-tsurikomi-ashi (lifting foot sweep)

When both knees are bent, they serve to change and control the balance of the body. Therefore, for instance, when your opponent leans forward toward the left, you attack his left knee with your right foot. But when he stands without bending his knees, it would be useless to attack the left knee. In such a case you should attack his left ankle instead of his knee, since the arm of the moment of force becomes longer. If you understand this rule, you will be able to understand harai-tsurikomi-ashi very well.

You hold your opponent by his right and left sleeves. When he is about to lean to his left front corner, you pull strongly with your right hand in the direction of your right back corner and push him to his left front corner with your left hand while letting your body pivot to the right, as shown in Figure 82b. At the same time you sweep between his knee and the outer part of his ankle with the sole of your right foot. He will then be swept and thrown forward.

Dynamic explanation : There are two forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force F produced by the momentum mv, which arises from your pivoting and twisting your body to the right. The force F works as the force with which you pull him forward by using both your hands. The other is the force P, with which you sweep his left leg with your right foot. Suppose the force that pulls him is composed of the two forces P' and Q and that P' is equal and opposed to P. Then P and P' work as a couple to rotate your opponent. The remaining force Q makes him fall forward, with his left toe as the fulcrum 0. He will then be thrown, making a 270-degree turn, as shown in Figure 82.

Key points :

a. You should pivot to the right with your left toes turned in to
make your rotating motion easy.

b. Your left hand pushes your opponent's body up and forward so as to help the pull of your right hand.

82.  Harai-tsurikomi-ashi (lifting foot sweep).

10.    De-ashi-harai (advanced foot sweep)

Imagine walking on a frozen road in the winter. Stepping carelessly, you sometimes slip and fall on your back on the road. What causes this to happen? The reason is that there is little friction be­tween your feet and the icy road. If you have noticed this, you will easily understand the principle of de-ashi-harai.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. When he advances inward with a larger step than usual (see Figure 835) you place your right foot at the back of your left foot. The moment he rests almost half his weight on the advanced foot, you sweep the ball of your left foot against the heel of his advanced foot just below the tendon of Achilles, at the same time pulling him to his right front corner. He will then be thrown, as Figure 83c shows.

Dynamic explanation: There are three forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force P, with which you sweep away his advanced foot. The second is the force Q, with which you pull him down with your left hand. The third is the momentum mv, which is produced when he steps forward with his right foot. The force P overcomes the friction between his right foot and the mat and enables you to complete the sweep. Both the force Q and the momentum mv act together to make him fall the instant his foot has been swept away.

Key points :

a.         You should apply this technique the moment your opponent has placed almost half his weight on his advanced foot and is just about to put his entire weight down. At this moment he cannot easily shift the direction of his advanced foot.

b.         Therefore timing is very important in the execution of this technique.

c.         When you sweep his advanced foot, you push his left shoulder with your right hand so as to make his upper body turn up.

11.    Okuri-ashi-harai (sweeping ankle throw)

Knowledge of the rolling motion of a rowboat will help you understand the nature of okuri-ashi-harai. If you try to upset the boat for fun, you must push its lower side so as to create the rolling motion. By doing this, you are making use of the law of the resultant. What we do in trying to upset a boat we may also do in throwing an opponent in judo.

You and your opponent hold each other in main natural posture. He advances to the left. Taking advantage of his motion, you push him in the same direction, as if to scoop him with both your hands and break his posture to the right. Remind yourself of the rolling of a boat. When he has drawn his right foot close to his left foot and lets almost half of his weight rest on it, you sweep the sole of your left foot against his right, just above the ankle. At the same time you pull down his right sleeve with your left hand. He will then be thrown because both his feet are swept away, as shown in Figure 84c and d.

Dynamic explanation : There are four forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force with which you lift his body with a scooping motion. The second is the force P, with which you sweep your left foot against his right one to overcome the friction between it and the mat. The third force is the gravity G. The fourth is the force Q with which you pull him down. The gravity G and the force Q act together to make him fall on the mat since both his feet have been swept away.

Key points :

a.         A good chance to apply this technique is when your opponent draws his right foot close to his left foot and rests almost half his weight on it.

b.         Your left leg should be extended as you sweep.

84. Okuri-ashi-harai (sweeping ankle throw).

12.    O-soto-gari (major external reaping)

In o-soto-gari you must reap one of your opponent's legs when his weight rests upon it, just as a scythe cuts grass. Reap only after you have unbalanced him to his right or left back corner. If you apply your technique before this, the friction produced between his foot and the mat will resist your further reaping force. Let us study this technique.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. Stepping with your left foot to his right side, you unbalance him backwards so as to make his weight rest on his right heel. This makes it difficult for him to move his right leg. Now quickly strike the right side of your chest against his right chest. At the same time you reap his right leg with your right leg as shown in Figure 85c. He will then be thrown on his back, as Figure 85 shows.

Dynamic explanation: There are two forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force F produced by the momentum mv, which arises from your chest striking against his. The other is the force P, with which you reap his right leg with your right leg; that is, the calf of your right leg. In Figure 85 the two forces are equal and opposite in direction. Therefore they act on him as a couple and set him in rotation.

Key points :

a. You should reap your opponent's right leg quickly so that he cannot shift his weight from the right foot to the left.

b. Sweep with the calf of your leg.

e. Point the toes of the sweeping foot to create a stronger sweeping force.

85. O-soto-gari (major external reaping);

13.    O-uchi-gari (major inner reaping)

If you stand with your legs spread wide apart, you cannot shift your weight from one leg to the other quickly. O-uchi-gari takes advantage of this weakness in an opponent.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. You pull him to his left front corner with both your hands. Since this causes him to take a larger step than usual to the left front, you break his posture to his left back corner by pushing against his left shoulder with your right hand. Losing no time, you strike your right chest against his left chest and push him backwards with your right hand while reaping his left leg with your right leg in a circular motion from the inside, as shown in Figure 86c. He will then be thrown on his back, as Figure 86 illustrates.

Dynamic explanation: There are three forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force F, with which you push his chest backwards with your right hand. F is produced by the momentum mv, which arises from your striking your chest against his. The second is P, with which you reap his left leg. The third is Q, with which you immobilize his right arm. Suppose that F is equal to P' plus Q' and that P' is equal and opposite in direction to P. Then P' and P work as a couple to make your opponent rotate about his center of gravity. Since the remaining Q' of F acts on his upper body to make him fall back­ward, his right heel serves as the fulcrum O. Therefore the moment Q'L about the fulcrum 0 works to make him fall backward, and he will be thrown on his back, as shown in Figure 86cZ.

Key points:

a.         You must reap your opponent's left leg smoothly, just when he rests almost half his weight on it, so as not to create f rictional resist­
ance between his foot and the mat.

b.         If he shifts his weight from the left foot to the right, your reap­ing action will be ineffective. Therefore you must push him with your right hand toward his left back corner to prevent him from putting
his weight on his right leg.

86. O-uchi-gari (major inner reaping).

14.    Ko-uchi-gari (minor inner reaping)

If you stand with both your feet wide apart, you will have difficulty shifting your weight from one leg to the other quickly, as we observed in discussing o-uchi-gari above (Figure 86). If you stand with both your knees bent a little, your waist lowered, and your feet wide apart, the same condition will exist. If your opponent stands in such a bad posture, it becomes easier for you to throw him down, since his center of gravity is lower than yours, and his position prevents him from changing his stance quickly. Ko-uchi-gari is the technique that takes advantage of this condition.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. When he spreads his legs more widely than usual and lowers his waist a little, you unbalance him to his right back corner by pushing with your right hand while pulling with your left hand, as shown in Figure 87&. At the same time you push him backwards with your right hand by taking advantage of the force with which you strike the right part of your chest against his. You pull his right sleeve downward with your left hand while reaping his right heel from the inside with your right foot. He will then be thrown on the mat, as shown in Figure 87.

Dynamic explanation : There are four forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force P, with which you reap his foot. If you reap his right foot, he is forced insufficiently to support his body weight on one leg only. The second is the force Q, with which you pull his right sleeve downwards with your left hand. The third is the gravity G, which acts on him vertically. The force Q, with which you pull downwards, and the gravity G result in a larger force that also pulls him downwards. The fourth force is F, which is produced by the momentum mv created when you advance your body against his. Force F acts on him to push him down and back. When he is thrown back­wards, the heel of his left foot works as a fulcrum, as shown in Figure 876 and c.

Key points :

a.    You should reap your opponent's leg as soon as you push his upper body, but never before. In fact, it is better to push before reaping.

87. Ko-uchi-gari (minor inner reaping).

b. You must push him back in the direction perpendicular to the straight line passing through both his heels; otherwise, he will shift his weight to his left foot.

15.    Tomoe-nage (circle throw)

We sometimes see a boy clinging to his father's shoulders with his hands. As a result, the father staggers forward. What causes this to happen? The reason is that a new center of gravity is created between the father and the boy and that its position is outside the base of the father's balance. If the boy throws himself backward and at the same time pushes up the lower part of his father's abdomen from underneath with his foot, what will happen? A clear understanding of what happens in this case will help you to understand why a large man can be thrown by a small man. Let us study the technique of tomoe-nage.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. Availing yourself of the force with which he pushes you backwards, making his left foot advance, you unbalance him forward. You quickly slide your left foot as far as possible between his feet and simultane­ously place the sole of your right foot against the lower part of his abdomen. If you bring your right knee in contact with your own chest, the placement of your right foot against his abdomen will be naturally correct. Falling on your back, you pull his upper body downward with both your hands while springing up his lower body with your right foot. He will then be thrown over your head in a circular movement.

Dynamic explanation : There are two forces that act on your opponent. The first is the force F, with which you pull his upper body with both your hands. Force F is produced by the momentum mv that is created by throwing yourself downwards to the mat. The second force is P, with which you push up his lower body with your right foot. Since the two forces P and F act on him together, they carry him over your head, as shown in Figure 88c and d.

Key points :

a.         Slide your left foot between your opponent's feet as deeply as possible.

b.         Drop your hip as close as possible to your left foot. This will produce a center of gravity between you and your opponent that will enable you to rotate him with ease.

88. Tomoe-nage (circle throw).

c.    Bend the knee of your throwing leg and touch your own chest with it before you execute the throw.

16.    Uki-waza (floating throw)

In uki-waza you apply with both your hands the momentum produced when you throw your body down to the side. There is a similarity between this technique and uki-otoshi (Figure 75).

You and your opponent hold each other in right defending posture. First you pull him to his left front corner. Next, you sway him to his right front corner. When he advances to the right front corner to retain his balance, you unbalance him by using his advancing force. Plant your right foot on the mat and slide your left foot outside his right foot, dropping the left side of your body on the mat. Then pull the upper part of his body with both your hands toward your left back corner by making good use of the force with which your body falls to the mat. He will then be thrown in the order of movements shown in Figure 89c and d.

Dynamic explanation: The force that acts on your opponent is the force F produced by the momentum mv that is created when your body drops to the mat, as shown in Figure 89c and d. The force F creates a moment, and his advanced right foot is the fulcrum. The force acts on him before he has time to escape by stepping over your extended left leg, and thus he is thrown.

Key points :

a.         Since it may be difficult for you to throw your opponent in a full somersault with only the momentum mv, you must also take advantage of his advancing force.

b.         To apply momentum on him with your hands, you must drop your left shoulder on the mat so that you can support your body at three points—your left shoulder and both your feet—in order to correctly execute the throw.

89. Uki-waza (floating throw).

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