Ouchi Gari
Takedown
Also known as:
O Uchi Gari
Ouchi gari is judo's large inner reap: stepping deep between the opponent's feet and reaping their far leg from the inside with your calf while driving their posture backward. In BJJ standup it punishes square stances and wide bases, and it chains naturally with kouchi gari and forward throws — defending one feeds the other.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · The reap attacks the inside of their far leg with your calf hooking behind their knee line, while your chest and grips drive them back over the trapped leg.
- · Your entry step lands deep between their feet — shallow entries turn the reap into a weak leg tap they ride out.
- · Drive through the diagonal: pressure goes back and over the reaped leg, not straight backward, so their free leg cannot base.
- · It is a chain anchor: opponents who stiff-arm the ouchi drift into kouchi gari range, and those who push back feed forward throws.
- · In no-gi, the collar tie and inside bicep control replace the lapel — the reap mechanics are unchanged.
Execution
- 1 From collar-and-arm or collar-tie grips, step your driving foot deep between their feet.
- 2 Hook your other calf behind their far knee from the inside, toes pointed to keep the reap connected.
- 3 Reap their leg toward you as your grips and chest drive them diagonally back over it.
- 4 Ride the fall with posture control, landing inside their open guard or passing directly to side control.
- 5 If they hop or base, transition to kouchi gari or a double leg off their recovery step.
Common mistakes
- × Reaping with a straight leg from too far away, giving them time to step over or sprawl on the attempt.
- × Driving straight back instead of over the reaped leg, letting their free leg base out the throw.
- × Neglecting posture control during the entry, which exposes your back-stepping entry to snap downs and front headlocks.
Do it from
Positions and situations where the Ouchi Gari shows up.
Show 1
Where it lands
The position you end up in.
Side Control Top
