The Inside Trip
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Inside Ankle Trip·Team Hammer
A detailed instruction with live video examples of the famous wrestling move: the inside trip. This move is an equalize…
Inside Ankle Trip
SubFamily内掛け（足首）(Uchigake (Ashikubi))
TraditionalTranslation: inside ankle trip
Overview
The Inside Ankle Trip subfamily specifically targets the opponent's ankle from the inside, using the attacker's foot to hook or block the ankle while upper body pressure drives the opponent over the trapped foot. [1] The attacker typically uses a collar tie, underhook, or clinch position to control the opponent's upper body, then steps inside and hooks the near ankle with the instep or heel. [1],[2] Pulling the hooked ankle forward while driving the opponent's shoulders backward creates a sharp rotational fall. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
The inside ankle trip (ko uchi gari) is one of the most frequently scored ashi-waza techniques in judo competition. [1]
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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/wrist control — Step inside between the opponent's feet, hook or sweep the near leg while pushing with the upper body
From clinch (inside position) — When opponent's weight is on the lead foot, hook it from inside and drive them backward
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Ko-Uchi-Gari style; backward fall risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— leg-to-leg contact prohibited
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFLegal
— 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 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓From a clinch, step between the opponent's feet and hook their near ankle with your instep
✓Pull the hooked ankle toward you and forward while driving their upper body backward over the trapped foot
✓The hook-and-pull motion should slide the foot forward, removing their base underneath them
✓Keep your chest pressed against theirs to maintain control and add driving force
✓Use a collar tie or underhook to direct their upper body in the opposite direction from the foot pull
✓Drill the timing: their foot must be planted with weight on it for the trip to work
Common Mistakes
!Hooking the ankle before getting close enough — you need chest-to-chest range
!Pulling the ankle sideways instead of forward — forward removes their base more effectively
!Not driving the upper body backward while tripping, relying solely on the foot hook
!Trying to trip the unweighted foot — always target the weight-bearing foot
!Standing too far to the side, losing the inside angle
!Forgetting to maintain the clinch grip during the trip, letting them posture away
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attemptLift the Targeted Leg — raise the foot being attacked to avoid the reap or sweepStep Over — lift the targeted leg over the sweeping limb to evadeCounter-Throw — use opponent's committed weight shift to execute a counter technique
Setup Chain
1Establish Grip — secure collar tie, underhook, or body lock for control
2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — push or pull to shift opponent's weight onto the target leg
3Execute the Reap/Sweep — attack the loaded leg with the sweeping or tripping action
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
Traditional Judo throwing/takedown terminology (Kodokan Institute)
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What footwork should I use to set up an inside ankle trip?
Team Hammer emphasizes using a crow hop from your back leg as you step in perpendicular to your opponent. This allows you to swap feet and position your trip leg around your opponent's leg without overcommitting.
How should I position my hips when executing an inside ankle trip?
Send your hips in sideways as you step in perpendicular to your opponent, and lower your level toward their hips as you execute the trip. This positioning keeps you close and prevents you from getting strung out.
What's the correct leg motion for finishing an inside ankle trip?
Bring your heel high inside close to the leg you're tripping, then execute the motion in, around, and down. Keep your back leg coming up and getting closer as you complete the trip.
How does the Inside Ankle Trip work?
The Inside Ankle Trip subfamily specifically targets the opponent's ankle from the inside, using the attacker's foot to hook or block the ankle while upper body pressure drives the opponent over the trapped foot. The attacker typically uses a collar tie, underhook, or clinch position to control the opponent's upper body, then steps inside and hooks the near ankle with the instep or heel.
Where does the Inside Ankle Trip come from?
Inside ankle trips have been practised across wrestling and martial arts traditions, with the technique appearing in both folk wrestling and formalised judo systems. The simplicity and effectiveness of the inside ankle trip ensure its presence in virtually every grappling curriculum.
Is the Inside Ankle Trip 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 Inside Ankle Trip?
Danger rating 5/10. High — Ko-Uchi-Gari style; backward fall risk
How do I set up the Inside Ankle Trip?
The standard setup chain: Establish Grip → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Execute the Reap/Sweep.
How do I defend against the Inside Ankle Trip?
Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt / Lift the Targeted Leg — raise the foot being attacked to avoid the reap or sweep / Step Over — lift the targeted leg over the sweeping limb to evade / Counter-Throw — use opponent's committed weight shift to execute a counter technique.
What are the variants of the Inside Ankle Trip?
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 Inside Ankle Trip in competition?
The inside ankle trip (ko uchi gari) is one of the most frequently scored ashi-waza techniques in judo competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Inside Ankle Trip?
Top errors to watch for: Hooking the ankle before getting close enough — you need chest-to-chest range / Pulling the ankle sideways instead of forward — forward removes their base more effectively / Not driving the upper body backward while tripping, relying solely on the foot hook / Trying to trip the unweighted foot — always target the weight-bearing foot.
What are other names for the Inside Ankle Trip?
The Inside Ankle Trip is also known as Uchigake (Ashikubi), Inside Ankle Hook, Inner Ankle Trip, Ko Uchi Gake.