JUDO: DRILLING HARAI GOSHI

Tonight's practice we worked on a Harai Goshi. Personally Harai Goshi isnt one of my favorite techniques. Harai Goshi usually works better for taller judoka. I am only 5'10" my personal favorite throws are Seoi Nage, Tai Otoshi and I like alot of the Ashi Waza techniques. But working to improve your weaker or least liked throws is goo

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d training as well.

Harai goshi is one of the original 40 throws of Judo as developed by Kano Jigoro. It belongs to the second group of the traditional throwing list in the Gokyo no waza of the Kodokan Judo. It is also part of the current 67 Throws of Kodokan Judo, and classified as a hip technique (koshiwaza). Russian Prime Minister and former President Vladimir Putin is known for his Harai Goshi.

Starting from a right-side grip:

1. Simultaneously: pull the opponent’s sleeve up and towards you with your left hand, pull in with your right arm (gripping back of collar, lapel, or belt), and step your right foot to the front corner of their right foot.
2. Step your left foot behind your right foot - right between their feet. Bend your knees. Stay low. Stay on the balls of your feet. Make contact with the side of your hip into their hip or upper thigh.
3. Simultaneously: pivot on the ball of your left foot, lift with your left leg, stretch your right leg to the outside of their right thigh while swinging it up to the ceiling, and twist your body to the left (you’ll end up standing on your left toes with your body and right leg horizontal).
4. The opponent will fly over your right shoulder.
5. Keep the grip on the opponent’s sleeve and pull up slightly as they hit the mat. This allows you to maintain control and softens the impact for your partner.

Kuzushi

As with every judo takedown, kuzushi (or breaking the balance) is the most important element to master. When the opponent is off balance, they’ll be easier to throw, which means you’ll spend less energy achieving a stronger throw. For harai goshi, the bulk of the kuzushi comes from giving the opponent’s sleeve a hard pull up and towards you. This will cause them to move forwards and up on their toes - the perfect position for you to get your hips right under their centre of gravity.

Attack With a Low Center of Gravity

After kuzushi, the most important element of harai goshi is attacking with a low center of gravity - lower than your opponent’s. When this is done properly, almost all of the throw’s power comes from the legs rather than the back and upper body. That means a more powerful throw that requires less effort and reduces the risk of injury.

Leg Position in Harai Goshi Blocks the Opponent’s Counter

One of the counters to ogoshi is to simply jump around the opponent and get back to facing them. By getting off of and away from their hip, you take yourself out of the danger zone. The beauty of harai goshi is that the leg is positioned outside of the opponent’s hip, making it much more difficult for them to jump around and get off of your hip.

Some have asked me why I am doing this blog. Rather unexpectedly it has become quite clear to me that my blog is definitely becoming an aide in my training. As a martial artist and competitor I know I make mistakes and the blog is one way That allows me to address them and instill proper technique by writing it down in words It helps in my retention of existing skill sets and new skill sets.