O SOTO GARI TO HIKKOMI GAESHI COMBINATION THROW
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Counter O Soto Gari·welcomematstevescott
In this video, we show how to use O Soto Gari to set your opponent up and change direction to apply Hikkomi Gaeshi (Corn…
Counter O Soto Gari
Genus大外刈り(O Soto Gari)
TraditionalTranslation: major outer reap
Overview
Counter O Soto Gari is a kaeshi-waza (counter technique) in which the defender defeats an incoming o-soto-gari by absorbing or blocking the reaping leg and then executing their own o-soto-gari against the attacker's now-vulnerable supporting leg. [1] The counter exploits the fact that an o-soto-gari attacker commits their weight forward onto one leg, creating an ideal target for a counter-reap. [1],[2] The defender either steps the targeted leg out of danger or blocks the reap, then immediately attacks the attacker's standing leg with their own reaping action. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Counter o-soto-gari has been part of judo's kaeshi-waza curriculum since the early Kodokan period, as practitioners quickly discovered the technique's vulnerability to counter-attack when the reap misses or is blocked. [1] The o-soto-gari versus o-soto-gari exchange is one of the most dramatic sequences in judo competition. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Counter o soto gari is highly effective because it exploits the attacker's committed forward lean during their own o soto gari attempt, using the opponent's momentum against them. [1] The counter timing is precise — catching the attacker mid-reap when their weight is on one leg — but when executed correctly, it produces spectacular ippon-scoring throws. [2]
Lineage
Counter techniques (kaeshi-waza) for o soto gari have been part of the Kodokan syllabus since the technique's inclusion in the gokyo, with o-soto-gaeshi formally recognised as a named counter. [1]
Competition Record
Counter o soto gari produces dramatic reversal scores in IJF competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Sweeping, reaping, or blocking the opponent's foot or leg to remove their base of support
Joints Involved — Attacker's sweeping leg (ankle or shin contact), opponent's supporting ankle or knee (swept)
Force Vector — Two opposing forces — the upper body is directed one way while the sweeping leg removes the support in the opposite direction
Timing Principle — Maximum effectiveness when the opponent's weight is committed to the targeted foot — timing supersedes strength
Position & Entry
From judo grip — Break balance to the rear, step outside the opponent's lead leg, reap the leg from behind while driving them backward
From collar tie (high grip) — Control the head, step to the outside, reap the support leg and drive through
Variants
Standing reap — full commitment reap with maximum body weight behind the throw
Hopping reap — hopping forward while reaping for deeper penetration
Combination reap — chaining inside and outside reaps to catch the opponent adjusting
Counter reap — reaping as the opponent steps forward or attacks
Videos
Osoto Gari's Most Important Detail
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Counter O Soto Gari·Shintaro Higashi
Osoto gari is a thinker's move. Use this new knowledge to out maneuver your opponents. Check out the Instructionals belo…
"O Soto Gari Variations - 3 Essential Judo Techniques"
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Counter O Soto Gari·Blind Judo Journey with Miles Soloman
If you want to see 3 combinations with these variations check out my video: https://youtu.be/2HFOhx2EhN8
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
Countering o soto gari requires understanding the mechanics that make the original throw vulnerable. Shintaro Higashi emphasizes that head control via the lapel hand is the most critical overlooked detail in executing o soto gari defensively; without firm control preventing the opponent from shifting their head away, the throw loses leverage regardless of leg positioning. Higashi demonstrates that the collar hand must create tightness across the opponent's face and maintain continuous control—if the hand releases or gaps form between hand and chin, the defender can post or hook the leg to stop the throw. Blind Judo Journey with Miles Soloman addresses variations in o soto gari setup, including hopping and dabbing methods that alter entry and distance closure, each with distinct defensive vulnerabilities. Welcomematstevescott provides a counter combination—o soto gari to hikkomi gaeshi—where improper foot pointing or insufficient shoulder-to-shoulder contact during the initial throw attempt creates opportunity for the defender to reverse into a counter-throw. Across all three instructors, the consensus emerges that head control consistency and proper body positioning (shoulder-to-shoulder contact, foot angle alignment) are foundational to both executing o soto gari and recognizing when an opponent's attempt is vulnerable to counter. The instructors collectively stress that lapel-hand pressure and postural breakdown are more critical than leg mechanics alone.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Shintaro Higashi — Osoto Gari's Most Important Detail: Detailed analysis of head control via lapel hand as the primary defense mechanism against o soto gari; demonstrated how gaps in hand-to-chin contact, posts, and head repositioning allow defenders to nullify the throw; emphasized collar-hand pressure creating facial tightness to prevent head escape.
- Blind Judo Journey with Miles Soloman — O Soto Gari Variations - 3 Essential Judo Techniques: Presented three o soto gari variations (traditional, hopping, dabbing) with distinct entry mechanics and distance-management principles; each variation has different structural vulnerabilities related to posture breaking and sleeve control.
- welcomematstevescott — O SOTO GARI TO HIKKOMI GAESHI COMBINATION THROW: Detailed counter-technique (hikkomi gaeshi reversal) executed when o soto gari attempt lacks proper foot pointing or shoulder-to-shoulder positioning; emphasized grip integrity (shoulder blade grip killing opponent's posture) and timing for successful reversal.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
O-Soto-Gari is one of judo's most dangerous throws; direct backward fall onto head/spine (Mifune 1956)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— no leg attacks below waist
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFLegal
— IJF — Legal throwing technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— Unified MMA — Legal throwing technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Counter o soto gari by stepping the target leg out of the reap's path and immediately reversing the throw
✓The most common counter is o soto gaeshi — when the opponent reaps, step over their reaping leg and counter-reap
✓As the opponent commits to the reap, shift your weight to the other leg, clearing the target
✓Use their forward commitment against them — they are leaning into you, and a well-timed counter uses that momentum
✓Another counter is stepping back with the target leg (tsugi ashi movement) to void the reap entirely
✓Counter o soto gari requires early recognition — read the step to the outside and the backward push as the setup
✓In competition, the counter often scores higher than the initial attack because of the force of the reversal
Common Mistakes
!Waiting too long to counter — once the reap contacts your leg with momentum, it is too late to step out
!Trying to resist the reap by planting the foot harder — this makes you easier to reap because your leg is more rigid
!Not using the opponent's forward momentum against them — they are leaning forward and committed
!Stepping the wrong leg — you must move the leg being targeted, not the other one
!Countering without maintaining grip control — you need the grips to redirect the opponent
!Panicking and pushing backward instead of using timing and redirection
!Not practising specific counter drills — o soto gari counters require dedicated timing work
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to executeLift the Targeted Leg — raise the foot being attacked above the sweeping actionCounter-Throw — exploit the attacker's committed weight to throw them insteadGrip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configurationStiff-Arm — maintain distance with straight arms to prevent the entry
Setup Chain
1Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) — establish the controlling grips needed for the throw
2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — break the opponent's balance in the throwing direction
3Entry (Tsukuri) — position the body for the throw by turning, stepping, or loading
4Execution (Kake) — complete the throwing action with full commitment and follow-through
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Nage-waza Classification
Traditional Judo throwing technique 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 technique terminology (Kodokan Institute)
Community
Athletics
Requires
driving power, leg strength for the reap, upper body control
Favours
long legs for deeper reaping action
Key muscles
glutes, hamstrings, hip adductors, core, shoulders
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most important detail I'm probably overlooking in my o soto gari?
Head control with your lapel hand is the most critical detail that most people overlook. Shintaro Higashi emphasizes that if your opponent can turn their head away from you, the throw becomes very difficult, so maintaining that lapel grip to control the head is the top priority.
How should I position my body when entering an o soto gari?
Make sure to get shoulder-to-shoulder contact immediately so your opponent is off-balance, otherwise they can simply pick you up. Welcome Mat Steve Scott stresses getting underneath your opponent's center of gravity while keeping your base foot pointed at them so you can drive off it effectively.
What foot positioning matters when executing o soto gari?
Your base foot must be pointed at your opponent so you can drive off it with power—if it's not pointed at them, you won't be able to drive perfectly. Miles Soloman also emphasizes that when hopping into the throw, your toes should point toward your opponent.
How do I break my opponent's posture to set up o soto gari?
Miles Soloman teaches to bring weight down on the sleeve and shoulders to break posture, and describes a 'dabbing' technique where you hold down on the sleeve while punching with your lapel hand, waiting until your opponent's shoulders pass their hips before committing to the throw.
How does the Counter O Soto Gari work?
Counter O Soto Gari is a kaeshi-waza (counter technique) in which the defender defeats an incoming o-soto-gari by absorbing or blocking the reaping leg and then executing their own o-soto-gari against the attacker's now-vulnerable supporting leg. The counter exploits the fact that an o-soto-gari attacker commits their weight forward onto one leg, creating an ideal target for a counter-reap.
Where does the Counter O Soto Gari come from?
Counter o-soto-gari has been part of judo's kaeshi-waza curriculum since the early Kodokan period, as practitioners quickly discovered the technique's vulnerability to counter-attack when the reap misses or is blocked. The o-soto-gari versus o-soto-gari exchange is one of the most dramatic sequences in judo competition.
Is the Counter O Soto Gari legal in competition?
IJF: legal — Legal throwing technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle, banned in Greco-Roman (no leg attacks below waist); Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Counter O Soto Gari?
Danger rating 7/10. Very High — O-Soto-Gari is one of judo's most dangerous throws; direct backward fall onto head/spine (Mifune 1956)
How do I set up the Counter O Soto Gari?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).
How do I defend against the Counter O Soto Gari?
Standard counters include: Lower Centre of Gravity — bend knees and drop hips to make the throw harder to execute / Lift the Targeted Leg — raise the foot being attacked above the sweeping action / Counter-Throw — exploit the attacker's committed weight to throw them instead / Grip Break — deny the thrower their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the Counter O Soto Gari?
Common variants: Standing reap (full commitment reap with maximum body weight behind the …); Hopping reap (hopping forward while reaping for deeper penetration); Combination reap (chaining inside and outside reaps to catch the opponent a…); Counter reap (reaping as the opponent steps forward or attacks).
How effective is the Counter O Soto Gari in competition?
Counter o soto gari produces dramatic reversal scores in IJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Counter O Soto Gari?
Top errors to watch for: Waiting too long to counter — once the reap contacts your leg with momentum, it is too late to step out / Trying to resist the reap by planting the foot harder — this makes you easier to reap because your leg is more rigid / Not using the opponent's forward momentum against them — they are leaning forward and committed / Stepping the wrong leg — you must move the leg being targeted, not the other one.
What are other names for the Counter O Soto Gari?
The Counter O Soto Gari is also known as O Soto Gari, O Soto Gaeshi, Counter Outer Reap, O Soto Gari Counter.