Yasuhiro Yamashita

There are few throws in judo more powerful or more dramatic than osoto-gari; when an attacker connects properly with the reaping leg the effects can be devastating. Accordingly, it has been one of the top scorers in judo for generations.

It is, in fact, the favourite throw of Yasuhiro Yamashita, the most successful international competitior Japan has ever produced. Winner of the All-Japan Championships on nine occasions, World and Olympic Champion, Yamashihita was undefeated from 1977 until his retirement in 1985. during that time he became the most familiar figure in world judo.

Here, for the first time, Yamashita reveals his understanding of osoto-gari. He explains the basics, grips and posture before moving onto the different variations. Renowned as a technician himself, he emphasises the importance of good style, yet acknowledges the special demands of competition.

Forward

Osoto-gari has always been one of the most popular of judo throws in spite of its general classification as a technique used most frequently by middleweights and above. Despite its apparently simple mechanical principles, it is a throw as complex in its nuances and as rich in its variations as any of the other major throws.

There could be no better guide to osoto-gari than Yasuhiro Yamashita. Ever since he burst on to the international scene as a teenager in 1976, he dominated judo in a way that few would have thought possible with the growing international status of the sport. From that unforgettable day in the Tournoi de Paris until he retired, in 1985, he was unbeaten, winning a record nine All-Japan Championships, the Olympic Open title in 1984 and world titles in 1979, 1981 and 1983. As a competitor, his judo was underpinned by an intense determination to do his best. This was not merely a question of raw ambition but a deep-rooted vision of what a human being is capable of when faced with Mount Everest in the shape of a massive Russian opponent, Sergei Novikov, or his much larger Japanese rival, Hitoshi Saito. Yamishita never lost.

What was even more notable was that, throughout, his judo technique was distinguished by a high level of competence in both tachiwaza and newaza, backed by perfect preparation. Whatever his heart felt -- after all, judo is not an activity for the chicken-hearted -- Yamashita always maintained a courteous and considerate presence.

During his competitive career, he developed a particular understanding for a number of throws, including uchimata and ouchi-gari, but his osoto-gari always remained his tokui-waza (favourite technique). When invited to contribute to this series, he showed no hesitation in chosing osoto-gari.

Though he specialised in a particularly dynamic form of osoto-gari, he has made a continuing study of other variations. This book is the fruit of that study. It represents Yamashita's viewpoint, and a view of Japanese judo at its peak. In so doing it is an outstanding contribution to the Masterclass series.

Nicolas Soames
Masterclass
Series Editor

Contents

Foreword
Osoto-Gari: A Personal View
A History of Osoto-Gari
Techniques
Combinations
Defences and Counters
Training for Osoto-Gari
Self-Defence
Competition Osoto-Gari
Index… (meer)

from cover

Yashuhiro Yamashita is the most successful fighter in the history of judo, with a record that is unlikely ever to be matched. From 1977 to his retirement in 1985, he was unbeaten, winning 203 matches-mostly by ippon. He accumulated nine All-Japan titles, the Olympic gold medal in 1984, and four world titles.

Often smaller than his opponents, he relied almost entirely on pure judo technique honed to an extremely high degree. His main throws-osoto-gari, uchimata and ouchi-gari were based on a classical sleeve-lapel grip, His ground work, especially holds and strangles, were lethal. In this view of his life and judo, generously illustrated with demonstration and contest photographs, Yamashita considers his main techniques, isolating the details that make him such a remarkale competitor

Equally important, he discusses other aspects that are often not mentioned-the growth of his determined fighting personality; the mental preparations, the obstacles that needed overcoming.

The Fighting Spirit of Judo offers a unique insight inot one of the top figures in Japanese judo, a opportuintiy even more absorbing and significant since his appointment as manager of the Japanese national squad.

Foreword
One of the many pleasures of life is to be emotionally moved by another person. Although it was almost seventeen years ago, I remember being moved when a young man with a boyish face caught my attention in my home town of Kumamoto. I knew instantly that this particular young man had world class potential.
Two years later, he was defeated in the semi-final of the National High School tournament. I was deeply moved by the way in which, despite his loss, he competed in a dignified and sportsman-like manner. That young man was Yasuhiro Yamashita. His achievements since then are already well-known.
The reason why Yamashita appeals to so many people is of course, because of his brilliant technique, but also, in my view, because his techniques express his personality. There are many people who can do traditional or brilliant techniques but those who manage to attain a feeling of oneness in their spirit and technique are rare. From an early age, Yamashita was such a player.
I expected great things of Yamashita and he more than lived up to my expectations. However, these were not confined by the red tatami. I wanted him to study his chosen skill ever more diligently and in addition, apply the main principles in everyday life.
'When before us there is no road, we, should make a road behind us.'
I hoped that Yamashita would walk the path of a pioneer as embodied by the above saying. It is my great pleasure to say a few words on the occasion of this new technical publication and extend this hope to all his future endeavours. March 1991
Matsumae Shigeyoshi
Tokai University President
International Judo Federation Chairman
Introduction
I was very big when I was a child. I'd get into fights and make my opponents cry and on the way home from school, I'd discard my bag and run around the hills and fields. My misdemeanours and obesity naturally worried my mother, so she took me along to the local dojo. This was in the spring of my fourth year at primary school. In retrospect it was, for me, a fateful encounter.
Since then I have grown up with judo. What I am today has been shaped entirely by judo. I would like to thank my parents, all the sensei who have guided me in my career; Shiraishi sensei and Sato sensei and all my sempai. Especially I gratefully acknowledge the immense support given by Matsumae Shigeyoshi sensei, president of Tokai University. The realisation of my childhood dream, of seeing the Japanese 'Hi no Maru ' flag being raised at the Olympics was realised in Los Angeles through the support and encouragement of friends and colleagues.
It may be presumptuous of me, but I am basing this book of techniques on my own favourite techniques. Not that I didn't think twice about exposing my limited knowledge to the public but I am following the publisher's wishes in strictly confining the subject matter to consideration of my favourite techniques and my approach to contests. I can only indulge in the hope that my personal experience might perhaps be of some use to my kohai.
Nowadays, I spend every day teaching. From this standpoint I am only too aware that when it comes to contests, we in Japan face very tough international competition. Of course, winning isn't everything in judo as in any other sport but, for me, in contest, winning is indeed everything. This is because, if this is our ultimate aim, and we put all our strength into it, everything else will come to us.
With this in mind, I have not gone beyond my own techniques in this book, though it was my intention to recollect the spirit, techniques and physical training of the days when I was a player, and nothing would give me greater pleasure than if this were to be of some use to the coaches and players of today. Furthermore, as I am still practising myself, I would welcome any reader's comments on this book.
Also I would like to thank Mr. Ikuo Ikeda of Baseball Magazine for all his trouble on my behalf.
Yasuhiro Yamashita

Contents
Chapter 1. How to achieve maximum power

Introduction 14
Reasons for sustained success 16
Basic principles 18
Thinking for oneself 21
Turn your weaknesses into weapons 24
Learn from others - everyone has a chance 27
Learn from your defeats - do not be afraid of failure 29
Positive thinking 32
How to relax 34
When the going gets tough 37
Assume the worst 40
Overcoming the pressure of expectations 42
Knowing your opponents 45
Don't count your chickens - the Moscow Olympic Games 47
Enthusiasm on the wane - the battle with apathy 49
A desperate situation at the Los Angeles Olympics 51
My last All-Japan championship - judo does not belong to me alone 54
An analysis of my favourite techniques 58

Chapter 2. Nage-waza 60
Recollections of osoto-gari 63
Osoto-gari 1. Basics 64
Developing Osoto-gari 66
Osoto-gari 2. Against a taller person 68
Osoto-gari 3. If you cannot get your opponent's forward leg. 70

Contest Tips 1 Tsurite and Hikite 70
Osoto-gari 4. Against an opposing grip 72
0soto-gari 5. Gripping the belt against an opponent
with a defensive posture 74
0soto-gari 6. Combination: ouchi-gari to osoto-gari 76
Osoto-gari 7. Combination: osoto-gari to sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi 78
Osoto-gari in competition 80
Ideas that have sustained me 83
Recollections of ouchi-gari 85
Ouchi-gari 1. 86
Ouchi-gari Main points 88

Contest Tips 2 The importance of uchikomi 88
Ouchi-gari 2. Against a taller person 90
Ouchi-gari 3. Pulling your opponent in a circle 92
Ouchi-gari 4. Against an opposing grip 94
Ouchi-gari 5. Pulling up with outside grip against opposing grip 96

Contest Tips 3 Grip fighting 97
Ouchi-gari 6. Combination: osoto-gari to ouchi-gari 98
Ouchi-gari in competition 100
Recollections of uchimata 103
Uchimata 1. 104
Key points 106
Uchimata 2. While drawing your opponent forward 108

Contest Tips 4 Movement 109
Uchimata 3. Combination: ouchi-gari to uchimata 110
Uchimata 4. Combination: osoto-gari to uchimata 112
Uchimata in competition 114
Kosoto-gari against an opponent with a kenka-yotsu grip 116
Kosoto-gari in competition 118
Recollections of kosoto-gari 119
Tai-otoshi 120
Recollections of tai-otoshi 122
Tai-otoshi in competition 123
Sukui-nage against an ai-yotsu grip 124
Tani-otoshi against a kenka-yotsu grip 126
Uki-waza (floating technique) 1 against an ai-yotsu grip 128
Uki-waza (floating technique) 2 against a kenka-yotsu grip 130
Recollections of sutemi-waza (sacrifice throws) 132
Sutemi-waza in competition 133

Chapter 3 Katame-waza 135
Opening my eyes to groundwork techniques 137
Kesa-gatame Attacking an opponent on all fours 138
Yoko-shiho-gatame Attacking someone defending with his legs 140
Okuri-eri-jime Attacking an opponent on his knees 142

Contest Tips 6 How to finish it quickly 143
Important points of shimewaza (strangles) 144
Adaptations from okuri-eri-jime to osaekomi - to osaekomi
from shimewaza 146
Attacking an opponent who is flat on his stomach 148
Ashi-gatame (armlock using your legs) 150
Attacking with armlocks 152
How to put it on the arm (use of the legs) Basic practice 155
Combinations from Ashi-gatame --
ashi-gatame to kami-shiho-gatame 154
Combining Ashi-gatame and okuri-eri-jime 156
Ryote-jime (strangle with both hands) 158
Attacking a defensive opponent 159
Ude-gatame - putting it on while your opponent is standing 160
Combinations from nage-waza to katame-waza
Ouchi-gari to osaekomi (yoko-shiho-gatame, kesa-gatame etc.) 162

Contest Tips 7 Combinations 162
Tai-otoshi to osaekomi 164
(yoko-shiho-gatame, kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame) 165
Katame-waza in competition
Kuzure-kesa-gatame 166
Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame 167
Yoko-shiho-gatame 168
Sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi to yoko-shiho-gatame 169
Ashi-gatame to kuzure-yoko-shiho-gatame 170
Okuri-eri-jime 171

Chapter 4. Training 173
My training 174
Practice schedules and their application 182
Appendix -- Basic knowledge and movements 186

Chapter 5 -- A coach's view
Relationships between coach and players 190

Chapter 6 -- Path of Victory
Yasuhiro Yamashita -- The complete record 202… (meer)