2 Ways to JUDO... Osoto Gari with Coach Cliff!
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Running O Soto Gari·TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian
This video my friend Cliff Penick who was an international judo competitor with over 50 years judo experience demonstrat…
Running O Soto Gari
Genus大外刈り(O Soto Gari)
TraditionalTranslation: major outer reap
Overview
Running O Soto Gari is a dynamic variation in which the thrower drives forward aggressively, taking several running steps to build momentum before executing the outer reap, using the accumulated forward force to overwhelm the opponent's defensive posture. [1] The running entry adds significant power to the reaping action but requires the thrower to maintain balance while moving forward at speed. [1],[2] This variant is commonly seen in competition when the thrower catches the opponent moving backward and capitalises on the retreating momentum by chasing and reaping. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Running o-soto-gari developed as a competitive adaptation, used by aggressive judoka who drive their opponents backward across the mat and then finish with the outer reap while maintaining forward pressure. [1] The technique became more prominent in modern competition judo where aggressive forward-driving tactics are rewarded by referees. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Running o soto gari amplifies the standard technique's power by adding forward momentum from a charging entry, making it difficult for the opponent to absorb the impact and particularly effective in transitions from grip fighting. [1]
Lineage
The running o soto gari is a dynamic variation using forward momentum, developed in competitive judo as an aggressive entry. [1]
Competition Record
The running o soto gari is seen in IJF competition as an aggressive variant. [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
Japanese Style Osoto Gari Broken Down By Travis Stevens
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Running O Soto Gari·Travis Stevens
Osoto Gari Broken Down By Travis Stevens. Learn some of the hidden tricks that these players use in order to pull of oso…
Judo Basics - Your First Lesson To Start #judo
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Running O Soto Gari·Shintaro Higashi
Fundamental judo ideas to get you off the ground and flying into your first Judo class. Check out our in-depth technique…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
Running O Soto Gari, also called hopping O Soto Gari, represents an advanced competitive variation of the classical O Soto Gari foot-leg throw adapted for opponents with stronger balance and defensive awareness. TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian and Cliff Pennick distinguish between the traditional O Soto Gari—executed by stepping in shoulder-to-shoulder with the attacking leg at approximately 45 degrees, generating power through body lean and leg drive across the mat—and the hopping variant used at higher competitive levels. The hopping approach involves closing distance through rapid, short steps while simultaneously "clipping" or breaking the opponent's leg, then explosively driving forward and downward as the attacker hops into range, landing on the opponent to complete the throw. Travis Stevens' analysis of a 2019 World Championship match demonstrates the tactical deployment of this technique: the defender's outside leg becomes vulnerable when positioned too close to the attacker's lead leg during circular movement, particularly when the opponent's weight concentrates onto that trapped foot. Stevens emphasizes that timing the attack when the opponent cannot move the leg away—either due to being bent forward or weighted—ensures success. Shintaro Higashi contextualizes O Soto Gari within judo's fundamental framework (kazushi, tsukuri, kake) and notes numerous variations including cross-body entries and transitions from O Uchi. All three instructors stress that repetitive drilling (uchikomi) without full resistance builds proper body mechanics before live application.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian — 2 Ways to JUDO... Osoto Gari with Coach Cliff!: Detailed breakdown of traditional O Soto Gari mechanics (shoulder-to-shoulder entry, 45-degree leg angle, toes dragging across mat, teeter-totter body action) versus hopping O Soto Gari for competitive play; emphasis on reading opponent intent (fatigue vs. fear) to determine which version to deploy; discussion of uchikomi drilling without full commitment to prevent knee injury.
- Travis Stevens — Japanese Style Osoto Gari Broken Down By Travis Stevens: Frame-by-frame analysis of high-level O Soto Gari execution at 2019 World Championships; identification of the critical vulnerability: opponent's outside leg trapped too close to attacker's lead leg during circular movement; explanation of how weight concentration on the vulnerable leg makes it immobile; description of the drop and drive finish where attacker sinks to knee while maintaining upper-body control to complete the throw.
- Shintaro Higashi — Judo Basics - Your First Lesson To Start #judo: Foundational framework of O Soto Gari within judo's three-phase structure (kazushi off-balance, tsukuri shaping, kake execution); acknowledgment of contextual variations including cross-body entries, transitions from O Uchi, and combinations with Sasai; emphasis on uchikomi as foundational cooperative drilling method.
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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
✓Running o soto gari adds forward momentum by driving the opponent backward across the mat before executing the reap
✓Push the opponent backward with aggressive chest and hand pressure, making them take several retreating steps
✓As they step back, time the reap to the moment their retreating foot is about to plant — reap it before it touches down
✓The running version generates more force because both fighters' momentum adds to the throw
✓This is a high-commitment, aggressive technique used to force the action against a defensive opponent
✓The forward pressure must be relentless — step-step-step-REAP in a driving rhythm
✓Running o soto gari is common in high-level competition when one fighter is ahead on points and the opponent needs to attack
Common Mistakes
!Running forward without maintaining chest contact — you push the opponent back but lose connection for the reap
!Reaping too early before generating enough backward momentum — the running buildup is what makes this variant powerful
!Losing balance during the forward run and falling into the opponent without executing the throw
!Not maintaining grip control during the aggressive drive forward
!Running in a straight line, which is predictable — add slight angles during the drive
!Over-running the opponent and driving past them without reaping
!Not timing the reap to the opponent's step — the reap must catch the foot during its backward movement
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
How do I set up the basic O Soto Gari?
According to Coach Brian at TeachMeGrappling, start by getting your opponent's weight onto one leg, then step in shoulder-to-shoulder with your stance. Step with one foot first (your left if you're right-handed) so you have three legs in contact, then bring your sweeping leg up at a 45-degree angle like a flipper to drive across the mat.
What's the difference between basic and hopping O Soto Gari?
Coach Brian explains that basic O Soto Gari is safer for training partners, while hopping O Soto Gari (hopi osoto gari) is used against balanced, experienced opponents. In the hopping version, you clip the back of the leg to break them down, then hop closer while keeping your head down before driving them into the mat.
How should I practice O Soto Gari without injuring my partner?
Coach Brian recommends using uchi komis (repetition drills) where you step in and pop out multiple times, only finishing the full sweep on the last repetition. This lets you practice the footwork and positioning safely without executing the throw every time.
What mental cue helps with the throwing motion?
Coach Brian suggests thinking of the throw as a teeter-totter: as your leg goes up, your head goes down and you maintain shoulder-to-shoulder contact. You're throwing at a 45-degree angle rather than straight backwards, which helps with control and safety.
How does the Running O Soto Gari work?
Running O Soto Gari is a dynamic variation in which the thrower drives forward aggressively, taking several running steps to build momentum before executing the outer reap, using the accumulated forward force to overwhelm the opponent's defensive posture. The running entry adds significant power to the reaping action but requires the thrower to maintain balance while moving forward at speed.
Where does the Running O Soto Gari come from?
Running o-soto-gari developed as a competitive adaptation, used by aggressive judoka who drive their opponents backward across the mat and then finish with the outer reap while maintaining forward pressure. The technique became more prominent in modern competition judo where aggressive forward-driving tactics are rewarded by referees.
Is the Running 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 Running 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 Running O Soto Gari?
The standard setup chain: Grip Setup (Kumi-kata) → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Entry (Tsukuri) → Execution (Kake).
How do I defend against the Running 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 Running 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 Running O Soto Gari in competition?
The running o soto gari is seen in IJF competition as an aggressive variant.
What are common mistakes when doing the Running O Soto Gari?
Top errors to watch for: Running forward without maintaining chest contact — you push the opponent back but lose connection for the reap / Reaping too early before generating enough backward momentum — the running buildup is what makes this variant powerful / Losing balance during the forward run and falling into the opponent without executing the throw / Not maintaining grip control during the aggressive drive forward.
What are other names for the Running O Soto Gari?
The Running O Soto Gari is also known as O Soto Gari, Hashiri O Soto Gari, Charging Outer Reap, Running Outside Reap.