Defence and counter to De-ashi-barai

Care in moving around is necessary to stop De-ashi-barai. Do not keep your feet too close together or make large steps forward. Do not skip about the mat on your toes. Instead move about with fairly small steps, always being ready to transfer your weight from the forward foot to the rear foot and vice-versa. There is one very spectacular counter for this throw which is extremely difficult to do. This involves taking your foot out of the way of the attacker's incoming sweeping leg, inserting it behind it and doing exactly the same sweep back on him using the impetus of his own attack. An easier counter is to keep your weight off your front (right) leg. Let your partner sweep your right leg a little and then, using this, move in for o-soto-gari.


Defence and counter to O-goshi

The thrower in this and other throws depends upon breaking your balance to the right front corner. It is his left hand pulling on your right sleeve which achieves this. To successfully stop these forward hip throws snatch your right arm and should back with a considerable jerk causing him to lose his grip. To counter this throw and its variations sweep away his supporting left leg once the attacker is in position with an action something like ko-soto-gari. This is not a very 'clean' counter, but if it is done with a lot of gusto it should be possible to scoop the attacker's legs right off the ground. As the attacker will be hanging on with his right arm round your waist or neck it will be necessary to drop to the mat as you sweep the legs. If your stand up as you sweep, the attacker will simply hang on to you. Take care when dropping to the mat, not to injure yourself or your partner. There are several counters to o-goshi but I think the beginner will find this the easiest to learn.


Defence and counter to Harai-goshi

Defence is the same as for the first hip throw. To counter, let the attacker get in position for the throw with his right leg across your thighs but do not let him break your balance forward
- keep upright! As soon as you have stopped the impetus of his throw, step with your left leg deep in between his two legs. Balancing on this lift up your right thigh under the opponent's right thigh so that he is lifted completely off the ground. Pivoting on the ball of your left foot swing round to your left and unload the attacker off your thigh on to the mat. This can often be a very heavy counter.