O-soto-gari - Ko-soto-gari

Having attacked with o-soto-gari, your opponent will either brace strongly forward in which case you must retreat or he will attempt to counter with the same throw by turning slightly. As your opponent will often try for the counter ko-soto-gari makes an excellent counter to a counter. Attack with o-soto-gari and as your man starts to swing round place your right foot on the ground swing round with your left leg and sweep the opponent's left leg. With this counter do not change direction. As your first throw fails, keep moving in the same direction - that is to say to the opponent's right back corner - and as you sweep his supporting left leg try to drop his body in the same direction.


De-ashi-barai - O-soto-gari

If your timing is wrong with the ankle sweep, either your partner's leg will dangle in the air or it will be rooted on the mat. In either case do not wait or try to force the throw, move your sweeping right leg across for o-soto-gari and throw the man down. If you should stumble your opponent with de-ashi-barai so that he ends up on one knee, still carry through with o-soto-gari but lift the man up so as to get some impetus in the throw.


Harai-goshi - O-uchi-gari

Having attacked unsuccessfully with harai-goshi you will often find that your partner, in expectation of another attack, will be braced back with his legs spread wide. Make as if to try harai-goshi, turning slightly and pulling forward, then, as you feel your partner stiffening and pulling back, suddenly change the direction by pushing to the opponent's left back corner and hooking his leg away in o-uchi-gari. This counter can also be used for o-goshi and its variations.


Ko-uchi-gari - Seoi-nage - Ko-uchi-gari

Ko-uchi-gari was mentioned briefly with o-uchi-gari earlier. The reaction to ko-uchi-gari is to take the leg out of the way and back. As your opponent takes his right leg back place your hooking right leg on the mat close to the opponent and swing through for the shoulder throw. If this fails it may be because your man is bracing back against the forward pulling action of the shoulder throw in which case try for the ko-uchi-gari again. Ko-uchi-gari is a rear throw and the seoi-nage is a forward throw. The idea of this sequence is to use the opponent's reaction of defence so as to move from one throw to the other.