Developing Your Judo #24

#24: Big Action-Reaction Combo

A combination that I personally have used successfully over the years is a left-to-right, action-reaction combination.  The success of this technique is based on setting up uke and then using his reaction against him.

My favourite setup method is by attacking with left osoto-gari or uchimata (moving to your right) a few times to impress upon your opponent that that is how you intend to throw him!  By doing this, you will be setting up uke not just consciously, but also subconsciously. In other words, he will react to your initial attack by attempting to block it with a reaction in the opposite direction (your left), even without thinking about it.

As you attack to his left, he will react to his right.  This is when you immediately change direction, and attack with hiza-guruma (knee wheel) or sasae-tsurikomi-ashi (lift pull ankle block), this time pulling hard to your left.  If you have done a good job in setting him up, he will almost be throwing himself when you change directions.  I have thrown people without even using my foot because the reaction by uke was so strong.  Keep in mind that your initial attack is NOT a full attack - if you enter too far into the initial technique, it will be harder for you to back out and follow through with the second 'reaction' technique. 

By: Rainer Fischer (Canadian Olympian)