The more I study the nage of judo, I feel like the more confused I get with regards to their names. My latest source of confusion arises from having performed and watched others perform ouchi gari and kouchi gari for several years now. And it has led me to this hypothesis:
- With a reap-type throw (gari), the weight is supposed to be *on* the foot that is reaped. Then, the foot is reaped out from underneath. This type of throw requires a good balance break and some strength to remove the weighted leg from underneath the opponent.
- With a sweep-type throw (barai), the weight is *about* to be placed on the foot in question, but then that foot is swept out from underneath at the last second. This type of throw requires almost no strength but perfect timing.
Okay, so that makes sense to me (and maybe it's obvious to most judoka, but it has only recently become clear to me ... assuming it's even correct). But then I notice that many judoka perform kouchi/ouchi gari as sweeps and not as reaps, ie, by sweeping the foot out just as their opponent is about to weight it. It seems like, in this case, the throw should be kouchi/ouchi barai (if there is such a thing!). Technically, should kouchi/ouchi gari be done as reaps, with the opponent's weight rooted on the foot about to be reaped, and hence the "sweep" versions are technically not kouchi or ouchi gari, but something else (kouchi/ouchi barai)?
Similarly for kosoto gari versus de ashi barai. Some claim that the difference is the direction of the sweep .... okay, so the direction is a little different (forward for kosoto gari, sidways for de ashi barai), but it seems like the main difference is that on kosoto gari the opponent's foot is rooted in place and has all their weight on it. Then, their balance is broken and the foot is reaped out from underneath. If, instead, you pull the opponent and make them step forward and then sweep their foot (whether forward or sideways) just as they are about to put their weight on it, it's de ashi barai.
Am I totally misunderstanding these throws? Or am I just looking too in-depth into the naming scheme and perhaps shouldn't take them so literally?
Any comments and elucidation would be greatly welcome. There are certainly those here with much more experience in judo's nage than I.