2 Ankle Sweep - Lesson 18
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Standard Outside Ankle Trip·Tom Dinklage·Added by Admin
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Standard Outside Ankle Trip
Genus外掛け（足首）(Sotogake (Ashikubi))
TraditionalTranslation: standard outside ankle trip
Overview
The Standard Outside Ankle Trip executes the fundamental outside ankle hook-and-trip where the attacker hooks or blocks the opponent's outside ankle with their foot while driving the opponent's upper body in the opposite direction with hand control. [1] The attacker typically uses a collar tie or underhook to push the opponent's weight over the target foot, then hooks the outside of that ankle and sweeps or blocks it while continuing the upper body drive. [1],[2] The opponent falls laterally over the trapped ankle. [2] The outside angle makes this trip effective against both forward and backward-weighted opponents, depending on the direction of the upper body drive. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
The standard outside ankle trip is the fundamental version of the technique, taught in judo and wrestling programmes. [1]
Competition Record
Regularly seen in judo and wrestling 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 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
Variants
Standard trip — blocking or sweeping the support leg while driving the upper body
Combination trip — chaining an inside trip with an outside trip when the opponent adjusts
Counter trip — using the trip as a counter when the opponent attacks
Clinch trip — executing the trip from a tight clinch position
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
✓From a clinch, hook your foot behind the opponent's outside ankle while driving their chest away from the hooked foot
✓The hook catches the heel or ankle from behind, preventing them from stepping back to recover balance
✓Drive forward with your chest and hands as the hook anchors their foot — they topple backward over the trapped ankle
✓Keep the hook firm but low — you're trapping the ankle, not kicking the leg
✓Use a collar tie to push their head and shoulders back over the hooked foot
✓Follow through by continuing forward as they fall, landing in a dominant position
Common Mistakes
!Hooking and pushing in the same direction — the hook traps the foot behind, the push drives them backward over it
!Not driving forward with the body after setting the hook — the hook alone isn't enough
!Hooking too high on the leg, giving them room to slip the foot out
!Trying the trip from too far away, reaching with the foot instead of stepping in close first
!Not maintaining the clinch grip, letting the opponent posture up during the trip
!Pulling the hooked foot toward you instead of keeping it in place as an anchor
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to maintain control of my opponent's head during this technique?
Maintaining control of your opponent's head minimizes the space between you and him, which sets up the sweep successfully and prevents him from creating distance to defend.
What's a common mistake that prevents the ankle sweep from working?
A common mistake is attempting the sweep when your opponent's feet are sprawled back too far or positioned too wide—for the technique to work, he must be carrying his own weight on his feet within your reach.
How should I position my body after the sweep lands to avoid getting kicked?
After sweeping, use a crab walk to move back rather than going directly on top of your opponent, since his feet may still be flailing or kicking wildly as he falls.
What should my opponent do to stay safe when drilling this technique?
The person being swept should work on a proper breakfall and tuck their chin to avoid injury during the fall.
How does the Standard Outside Ankle Trip work?
The Standard Outside Ankle Trip executes the fundamental outside ankle hook-and-trip where the attacker hooks or blocks the opponent's outside ankle with their foot while driving the opponent's upper body in the opposite direction with hand control. The attacker typically uses a collar tie or underhook to push the opponent's weight over the target foot, then hooks the outside of that ankle and sweeps or blocks it while continuing the upper body drive.
Where does the Standard Outside Ankle Trip come from?
The standard outside ankle trip has been a staple takedown in wrestling and combat sports, valued for its versatility from various clinch positions. The technique's effectiveness at close range ensured its inclusion in MMA and self-defence curricula.
Is the Standard 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 Standard Outside Ankle Trip?
Danger rating 5/10. High — O-Soto-Gari style; backward fall with head impact risk
How do I set up the Standard Outside Ankle Trip?
The standard setup chain: Establish Grip → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Execute the Reap/Sweep.
How do I defend against the Standard 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 Standard Outside 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 Standard Outside Ankle Trip in competition?
Regularly seen in judo and wrestling competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Outside Ankle Trip?
Top errors to watch for: Hooking and pushing in the same direction — the hook traps the foot behind, the push drives them backward over it / Not driving forward with the body after setting the hook — the hook alone isn't enough / Hooking too high on the leg, giving them room to slip the foot out / Trying the trip from too far away, reaching with the foot instead of stepping in close first.
What are other names for the Standard Outside Ankle Trip?
The Standard Outside Ankle Trip is also known as Sotogake (Ashikubi), Standard Outer Ankle Hook, Outside Heel Trip, Ko Soto Gake Takedown.