Ankle BREAKDOWN to Control THEM!
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Outside Ankle Trip·TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian
This video I bring in some wrestling ankle breakdowns into our training and talk a little about the differences in the w…
Outside Ankle Trip
SubFamily外掛け（足首）(Sotogake (Ashikubi))
TraditionalTranslation: outside ankle trip
Overview
The Outside Ankle Trip subfamily targets the opponent's ankle from the outside, using the attacker's foot to hook or block the outer ankle while upper body control directs the opponent's fall over the trapped foot. [1] The outside angle provides a natural leverage advantage because the tripping force acts on the widest part of the opponent's base. [1],[2] Outside ankle trips are commonly executed from collar tie positions, underhooks, or body lock clinches where the attacker has access to the outside of the opponent's leg. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
The outside ankle trip is scored regularly in judo and MMA 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 clinch range — Close the distance, secure a body lock around the opponent's torso, and drive, lift, or trip to complete the takedown
From underhook battle — Win inside position, transition to body lock, and drive through to the mat
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
O-Soto-Gari style; backward fall with head impact 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
✓Use upper body control to direct the opponent's weight over the targeted foot
✓Hook or block the outside of their ankle with your foot while driving their upper body in the opposite direction
✓The trip and the push must happen together — the push creates the off-balance, the trip prevents recovery
✓Stay close and keep your hips square to the opponent during the trip
✓Use the outside ankle trip as a counter when the opponent circles toward your tripping foot
✓Keep the tripping foot low to the ground — think of sweeping the floor
Common Mistakes
!Tripping without the upper body push — the ankle hook alone doesn't generate enough force
!Standing too far away to effectively reach the outside of their ankle
!Hooking too high on the calf instead of at the ankle
!Pushing the opponent in the wrong direction — push them over the trapped foot
!Over-rotating during the trip and ending up off-balance yourself
!Not following through to the mat, letting the opponent catch themselves
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
upper body squeeze strength, lifting power, hip drive
Favours
thick chest and arms for tight lock, strong lower back for lifts
Key muscles
pectorals, biceps, erector spinae, glutes
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use the outside ankle trip to break someone down to the mat?
Coach Brian demonstrates grabbing the opponent's ankle and forcing it toward their butt while pulling and driving forward to break them down so you can cover them on the mat.
Is the outside ankle trip safe for older grapplers?
Coach Brian cautions that as you get older, be careful with this technique because there's significant pressure on the knee and calf area similar to a calf lock. He recommends being conservative with the pressure applied, especially compared to younger athletes who may be less cautious.
How does the outside ankle trip differ between wrestling and jiu-jitsu?
Coach Brian notes there is a contrast between wrestling style and jiu-jitsu applications of the ankle trip, with wrestling having stalling rules that prevent controlling the foot in certain positions where jiu-jitsu practitioners might maintain the grip.
How does the Outside Ankle Trip work?
The Outside Ankle Trip subfamily targets the opponent's ankle from the outside, using the attacker's foot to hook or block the outer ankle while upper body control directs the opponent's fall over the trapped foot. The outside angle provides a natural leverage advantage because the tripping force acts on the widest part of the opponent's base.
Where does the Outside Ankle Trip come from?
Outside ankle trips appear in multiple martial arts and wrestling traditions, representing one of the most intuitive and effective close-range takedown methods. The technique has been refined in both judo and wrestling competition over generations.
Is the Outside 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 Outside Ankle Trip?
Danger rating 5/10. High — O-Soto-Gari style; backward fall with head impact risk
How do I set up the Outside Ankle Trip?
The standard setup chain: Establish Grip → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Execute the Reap/Sweep.
How do I defend against the Outside 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 Outside Ankle Trip?
Common variants: Front body lock (securing the lock face-to-face and driving laterally or b…); Rear body lock (securing from behind for mat returns or lifts); Side body lock (angled body lock for trips and throws); Body lock to trip (combining the lock with a foot trip for the finish).
How effective is the Outside Ankle Trip in competition?
The outside ankle trip is scored regularly in judo and MMA competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Outside Ankle Trip?
Top errors to watch for: Tripping without the upper body push — the ankle hook alone doesn't generate enough force / Standing too far away to effectively reach the outside of their ankle / Hooking too high on the calf instead of at the ankle / Pushing the opponent in the wrong direction — push them over the trapped foot.
What are other names for the Outside Ankle Trip?
The Outside Ankle Trip is also known as Sotogake (Ashikubi), Outside Ankle Hook, Outer Ankle Trip, Ko Soto Gake.