KO UCHI GARI O SOTO GARI COMBINATION TECHNIQUE
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Ko Uchi Gari Trip·welcomematstevescott
Here's and effective and popular combination technique using Ko Uchi Gari and then hitting in with a cross-body O Soto G…
Ko Uchi Gari Trip
SubFamily小内刈り(Ko Uchi Gari)
TraditionalTranslation: minor inner reap
Overview
The Ko Uchi Gari Trip subfamily applies judo's minor inner reap as a takedown, where the attacker reaps the opponent's inner ankle or lower leg from the inside while directing the upper body backward over the reaped leg. [1] Ko uchi gari uses a small, sharp reaping action — the attacker's foot hooks the inside of the opponent's heel or ankle and pulls it forward, destroying the opponent's rear base. [1],[2] The upper body simultaneously drives the opponent's weight backward over the leg being reaped. [2] Ko uchi gari is one of judo's most versatile techniques, used both as a primary attack and as a setup for other throws. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Ko uchi gari is one of the most frequently attempted and scored ashi-waza techniques in IJF competition at all levels. [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
✓Reap the inside of the opponent's rear ankle or heel with the sole of your foot
✓Use a sharp downward push with your hands on their chest or collar to load weight onto the targeted foot
✓The reap goes forward (pulling their foot toward you) while the push goes backward — opposing forces
✓Close the distance first; ko uchi gari is a close-range technique requiring hip proximity
✓Use it as a setup for larger throws or as a counter when the opponent retreats
✓The reap is small and quick — a minor inner technique, not a full-body commitment
Common Mistakes
!Reaping from too far away — you need to be close enough that your foot reaches their inner heel
!Not pushing their upper body backward to load the rear foot before reaping
!Reaping too aggressively and committing too much weight — ko uchi gari should be efficient and recoverable
!Targeting the front foot when ko uchi gari specifically attacks the rear/inside foot
!Reaping outward instead of forward — pull the foot toward you
!Not using ko uchi gari in combination — it's most effective as a setup or second attack
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 grip should I use for Ko Uchi Gari?
According to Welcome Mat / Steve Scott, you want a specific grip where you 'loop that belt or rope around his body and pull him in tight,' establishing a solid back grip that allows you to control your opponent.
Why is my angle of approach important when setting up Ko Uchi Gari?
Steve Scott emphasizes that you don't want to start straight onto your opponent—instead, position yourself to his angle so that when you attack his foot, you create an opening and keep yourself balanced as he steps out.
Should I pull or push my opponent when executing Ko Uchi Gari?
Steve Scott stresses not to pull with your arms; instead, 'suck them in tight' to maintain control and set up your line of attack.
How do I know which direction my opponent will move during the technique?
When you step across sideways during the execution, Steve Scott notes that 'that toe tells me the direction he's going to fly,' allowing you to guide him into your desired line before taking the leg out.
How does the Ko Uchi Gari Trip work?
The Ko Uchi Gari Trip subfamily applies judo's minor inner reap as a takedown, where the attacker reaps the opponent's inner ankle or lower leg from the inside while directing the upper body backward over the reaped leg. Ko uchi gari uses a small, sharp reaping action — the attacker's foot hooks the inside of the opponent's heel or ankle and pulls it forward, destroying the opponent's rear base.
Where does the Ko Uchi Gari Trip come from?
Ko uchi gari is one of judo's fundamental ashi-waza, classified in the Kodokan gokyo-no-waza since the early days of the art. The technique has been adopted extensively into sambo, wrestling, and MMA as one of the most effective inside trips available.
Is the Ko Uchi Gari 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 Ko Uchi Gari Trip?
Danger rating 5/10. High — Ko-Uchi-Gari style; backward fall risk
How do I set up the Ko Uchi Gari Trip?
The standard setup chain: Establish Grip → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Execute the Reap/Sweep.
How do I defend against the Ko Uchi Gari 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 Ko Uchi Gari 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 Ko Uchi Gari Trip in competition?
Ko uchi gari is one of the most frequently attempted and scored ashi-waza techniques in IJF competition at all levels.
What are common mistakes when doing the Ko Uchi Gari Trip?
Top errors to watch for: Reaping from too far away — you need to be close enough that your foot reaches their inner heel / Not pushing their upper body backward to load the rear foot before reaping / Reaping too aggressively and committing too much weight — ko uchi gari should be efficient and recoverable / Targeting the front foot when ko uchi gari specifically attacks the rear/inside foot.
What are other names for the Ko Uchi Gari Trip?
The Ko Uchi Gari Trip is also known as Ko Uchi Gari, Minor Inner Reap, Small Inside Reap, Podnozhka Iznutri.