The four most common mistakes when attempting O-soto-gari are: Not starting offset, Not enough Kuzushi, Leg is too farm and Focusing only on the legs.

Mistake 1: Not starting offset

For Osoto Gari it is important to not start your throw while standing directly in front of your opponent. Instead move slightly to the side so as to have room to charge forward. When executing the throw, You are standing directly adjacent to your opponent so start the throw slanted/diagonal relative to your opponents position.

Mistake 2: Poor Kuzushi

Kuzushi means balance breaking, and it is a crucial aspect of executing Osoto gari correctly. Often, people fail to break their opponent's balance, making it difficult to execute the throw. To avoid this mistake, you need to use your arms and legs effectively to unbalance your opponent in the direction you want to throw them.

Mistake 3: Wrong placement of the Leg

Another common mistake is placing your leg too far away from your opponent. If your leg is too far, it will be challenging to take your opponent down. Alternatively, if your leg is too close, you will not have enough room to sweep your opponent's leg. To avoid this mistake, you need to find the right distance between yourself and your opponent, ensuring your leg is in the correct position.

Mistake 4: Focusing only on the leg

People often focus too much on the sweeping leg and forget about their upper body. This mistake leaves you vulnerable to counter-attacks from your opponent. To avoid this mistake, you need to maintain proper posture and keep your upper body close to your opponent while executing Osoto gari. This will help you stay in control and prevent your opponent from launching a counter-attack.

Bonus Tip

Getting a high grip on the lapel with your tsurite (lifting hand) will give you an advantage. You will be able to push their upper body forward using more leverage. The higher up on you opponent you push the more their upper body will go backwards. The lower you push the more they are able to absorb the force of your push into their body mass.

Find the right instructor

Are you thinking of starting martial arts but not sure where to begin? Well, finding the right instructor is a crucial first step. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced martial artist, having a good instructor can make all the difference in your learning experience.

So, why is finding a good instructor so important? For starters, a good instructor knows what they're doing. They have the necessary experience and qualifications to teach proper technique and help you avoid injuries. Have you ever had an instructor who wasn't qualified or didn't know what they were doing?

Moreover, a good instructor should be able to explain things clearly so you can understand. Have you ever had a teacher who made things more confusing than they needed to be? A good instructor should make learning martial arts easy and enjoyable.

Finally, a good instructor should make sure you're in a safe and supportive environment. Martial arts can be physically demanding, and the last thing you want is to get hurt because of unsafe training practices. A good instructor will prioritize your safety and well-being while pushing you to be your best.