From the usual squared-off starting position, tori (the attacker) is gripping uke's (tori's partner) left lapel with his right hand and uke's right sleeve with his left hand. He/she takes a huge step (2 feet minimum) with his right foot and rotates his shoulders 180 degrees to the left so that he is standing beside uke, facing in the same direction. Tori's right foot is now beside uke's left foot. This step/hop should be sudden and decisive, tori maintaining good upright posture throughout.

The kuzushi (unbalancing-pull) which is initiated by both of tori's hands and the rotation of tori's shoulders should be simultaneous with this first step, causing uke to sprawl forwards.

Tori should visualize a large circle being described by the throw with him at the center and uke moving around the circumference. The direction of the hand movement is crucial. As well as tori's hands pulling in a circular direction to the left, the hands are also pulling uke up on to his toes. This pull is upwards at perhaps 45 degrees which has the effect of lessening uke's frictional contact with the tatami (mat), thus making him/her easier to throw.

Some players, when attacking with a left Hiza guruma prefer to switch to a left grip, but personally I am comfortable performing the technique on both sides from the right grip. An added benefit from using the right grip for a left attack is that tori can gain additional kuzushi by lifting up on uke's elbow during the initial rotation. But on the other hand, there is risk to tori when attacking left since uke's left arm is free and can be used to grab tori's outstretched leg, lift it and counter-attack with a right side O-uchi-gari.

The risk of this counter-attack being successful is elevated if tori's body is too close to uke, thus making it easy for him to grab the leg. This means that tori has not stepped far enough away from uke. The test for correct distance is the attacking leg. If tori's attacking leg is bent when his foot is on uke's knee, then tori is too close. Optimal distance is when tori's outstretched leg is straight when the foot is on uke's knee.

Tori has launched his kuzushi. Typically, uke will want to take a step forwards with the right foot in order to regain his balance. But tori blocks the foot and leg movement by placing the sole of his left foot just above uke's right knee. Throughout this early phase of the throw, tori should be leaning slightly back to the left in the direction of the kuzushi and turning his head and shoulders, aiming for a 180 degree turn, in the direction of the throw.

If uke's leg is successfully blocked at the knee by tori's foot, and if tori has successfully applied the kuzushi so that uke is seriously off balance to the front, uke should 'pop-over' in a tight, almost horizontal spinning motion onto his back.

A common failing in this throw is for tori to place the left foot below uke's knee which provides the opportunity for a skillful uke to bend the knee and step over tori's foot. This enables uke to recover his balance, avoid the throw and be in a good position to launch a counter attack since tori may be off balance at that point.