Ko Soto Gari

SubFamily

Translation: minor outer reap

Range & classification

Overview

Ko Soto Gari (minor outer reap) is a foot sweep subfamily where the attacker reaps the opponent's heel or ankle from the outside using the sole of the foot or the heel, while driving the opponent's upper body backward over the reaped leg. ^[1] The 'minor' designation distinguishes it from o soto gari (major outer reap) — ko soto gari uses a smaller, more precise reaping action targeting the ankle rather than a full leg sweep. ^[1],[2] The upper body drives the opponent's weight backward onto the heel, and the reap removes that support point. ^[2] Ko soto gari is effective at close range and from various clinch positions. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Ko Soto GariJP^[1]Minor Outer Reap^[2]Small Outside Reap^[3]

Used in

Judo Sambo MMA Wrestling Shuai Jiao

History & Origin

Ko soto gari is one of the original judo throws classified in the Kodokan gokyo-no-waza (five sets of techniques) and has been a competition technique since judo's early years. ^[1] The technique has been adapted into sambo, wrestling, and MMA as a close-range trip. ^[2],[3]

Country of origin· shown in random order

Japan小外刈り(Ko Soto Gari)Judo
RussiaSambo
BrazilMMA
USAMMA, Wrestling
GreeceWrestling
ChinaShuai Jiao

Effectiveness

Ko soto gari (minor outer reap) reaps the opponent's foot from the outside while driving them backward, a small but effective unbalancing technique. ^[1] It is often used as a setup or combination technique. ^[1],[2]

Lineage

Ko soto gari is part of the Kodokan judo syllabus, classified as ashi-waza. ^[1] It is taught in judo, sambo, and has been adopted into MMA training. ^[2]

Competition Record

Ko soto gari is used in judo competition at all levels, frequently as a combination technique with forward throws. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Penetrating step and level change to attack the opponent's legs — disrupting their base of support

Joints Involved — Attacker's knees and hips (level change), opponent's knee or ankle (controlled point)

Force Vector — Forward and downward — closing distance and driving through the opponent's lower body

Takedown Mechanic — Removing one or both legs from the opponent's base forces them to fall or be driven to the mat

Position & Entry

From collar tie and sleeve control — Step outside, reap the opponent's leg from the outside while driving them backward with upper body pressure

From clinch (high collar tie) — Control the head, step to the outside of the lead leg and sweep it while pushing the opponent over

Videos

welcomematstevescott

Ko Soto Gari to O Soto Throws

Ko Soto Gari·welcomematstevescott

This is a common and effective throwing combination. Ko Soto Gari is often used as a set up for a variety of O Soto thro…

Seiryoku Zenyo

Integrated Attacks - Ko Soto Gari

Ko Soto Gari·Seiryoku Zenyo

Mark Gilston, 4th degree judo black belt, shows an integrated attack sequence beginning with the minor outer sweep. http…

2 videos

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Moderate4/10

Timing-based sweep; lower force than trips

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Restricted

— leg-to-leg contact prohibited

UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF

Legal

— ashi-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— 2 points

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal takedown technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— ADCC — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal — all takedowns permitted

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

— 2 points

NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDF

Training Notes

✓Drive the opponent's weight backward over their heels with a strong push-pull hand action

✓Reap the loaded heel from the outside using the sole of your foot in a backward sweep

✓The reap and the push happen simultaneously — one without the other won't work

✓Step in close before reaping; you need to be at chest-to-chest range

✓Your body weight drives through them as you reap, not just the foot

✓Ko soto gari is effective as a counter when the opponent pushes forward — redirect their momentum backward

Common Mistakes

!Reaping before pushing the opponent's weight backward — they can lift the targeted foot

!Standing too far away to effectively reap the heel

!Reaping with the top of the foot instead of the sole — less control and less surface area

!Only pushing with the hands without following through with body weight

!Reaping too high on the calf instead of at the heel or ankle

!Not breaking their balance backward first — the reap finishes the off-balance, it doesn't create it

Related Techniques

Underhook — foundational clinch control that enables this takedown entry Sprawl Defence — the primary defensive technique against this takedown

Counter Techniques

Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt Underhook — establish inside position to control distance and prevent the takedown entry Post and Circle — post on the attacker's head and circle away to break their angle Level Change Defence — recognize the shot early and react with appropriate hip defence

Setup Chain

1Establish Contact — use grip, tie, or clinch to control the opponent

2Create Off-Balance — use push-pull action to disrupt the opponent's base

3Execute the Takedown — apply the specific takedown mechanic with commitment

4Follow to Ground — maintain control as the opponent goes down to secure position

Sources & References

Primary Source

Kodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

1BookKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

Traditional Judo throwing/takedown terminology (Kodokan Institute)

2SyllabusKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification

Official Kodokan ground technique classification system

3SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)

4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)

Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)

5CitationKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification

Traditional Judo throwing/takedown terminology (Kodokan Institute)

Community

Athletics

Requires

timing, balance, upper body control for push-pull

Favours

good coordination and sense of opponent's weight distribution

Key muscles

core stabilisers, hip adductors/abductors, calves

Sub-techniques

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

Standard Ko Soto Gari

Genus

The Standard Ko Soto Gari executes the fundamental minor outer reap where the attacker drives the opponent's weight backward over their heels using a push-pull hand action, then reaps the loaded heel with the sole of the foot in a backward-sweeping motion. [1] The attacker steps to the outside of the opponent's foot, places the sweeping foot behind the opponent's ankle, and uses a sharp backward reap while simultaneously pushing the opponent's upper body in the opposite direction. [1,2] The combination of upper body drive and heel reap creates a rotational fall backward over the reaped foot. [2] The technique is effective from collar tie, lapel grip, or clinch positions. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my Ko Soto Gari doesn't work?

You should have a follow-up technique in mind before attempting the throw. According to Seiryoku Zenyo, going in for one technique without a backup plan if it fails is a failing strategy—instead, you should be ready to transition to techniques like O Soto Gari or O Soto Garuma if your opponent defends.

How can Ko Soto Gari help me improve my footwork?

Ko Soto Gari drilling teaches fast foot movement, foot manipulation, body posture, and shin timing, according to welcomematstevescott, making it an excellent practice tool for developing these fundamental skills even if you're not focusing on the throw itself.

Is Ko Soto Gari a good setup for other throws?

Yes, Ko Soto Gari works well as a setup or fake for O Soto Gari and O Soto Garuma, according to welcomematstevescott, allowing you to flow into these larger throws when your opponent defends against or escapes the initial Ko Soto Gari attempt.

How does the Ko Soto Gari work?

Where does the Ko Soto Gari come from?

Ko soto gari is one of the original judo throws classified in the Kodokan gokyo-no-waza (five sets of techniques) and has been a competition technique since judo's early years. The technique has been adapted into sambo, wrestling, and MMA as a close-range trip.

Is the Ko Soto Gari legal in competition?

IJF: legal — Legal (ashi-waza) — trips executed without grabbing opponent's legs are permi…; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, scored as takedown (2 points); UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle, restricted in Greco-Roman (leg-to-leg contact prohibited); Unified MMA: legal — Legal takedown technique; ADCC: legal — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal — all takedowns permitted; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, scored as takedown (2 points)

How dangerous is the Ko Soto Gari?

Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — timing-based sweep; lower force than trips

How do I set up the Ko Soto Gari?

The standard setup chain: Establish Contact → Create Off-Balance → Execute the Takedown → Follow to Ground.

How do I defend against the Ko Soto Gari?

Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt / Underhook — establish inside position to control distance and prevent the takedown entry / Post and Circle — post on the attacker's head and circle away to break their angle / Level Change Defence — recognize the shot early and react with appropriate hip defence.

What are the variants of the Ko Soto Gari?

Common variants: Standard trip (blocking or sweeping the support leg while driving the up…); Combination trip (chaining an inside trip with an outside trip when the opp…); Counter trip (using the trip as a counter when the opponent attacks); Clinch trip (executing the trip from a tight clinch position).

How effective is the Ko Soto Gari in competition?

Ko soto gari is used in judo competition at all levels, frequently as a combination technique with forward throws.

What are common mistakes when doing the Ko Soto Gari?

Top errors to watch for: Reaping before pushing the opponent's weight backward — they can lift the targeted foot / Standing too far away to effectively reap the heel / Reaping with the top of the foot instead of the sole — less control and less surface area / Only pushing with the hands without following through with body weight.

What are other names for the Ko Soto Gari?

The Ko Soto Gari is also known as Ko Soto Gari, Minor Outer Reap, Small Outside Reap.

ko soto gari takedown trip takedown foot sweep judo sambo mma wrestling minor outer reap small outside reap