Kosoto Gake (minor outer reaping) is a fundamental judo throw that has become a staple in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s standing game. This technique involves reaping your opponent’s supporting leg from the outside while simultaneously pulling their upper body backward, causing them to fall directly into your side control position. The beauty of Kosoto Gake lies in its simplicity and relatively low physical demands compared to explosive throws like Uchi Mata or Harai Goshi. It excels when your opponent has their weight distributed on their rear leg, making it an excellent counter to defensive stances and backward movement.
The throw creates a seamless transition from standing to dominant groundwork, with the thrower maintaining control throughout the entire movement and landing directly in a scoring position. This makes it particularly valuable in both gi and no-gi competition contexts where takedown points and top position are strategically critical. The biomechanical principle underlying Kosoto Gake is the creation of a force couple: the upper body pull generates rotational momentum backward while the leg reap removes the structural support beneath the opponent’s center of gravity. This dual-action mechanism means neither component works effectively in isolation, but together they produce reliable off-balancing with minimal athletic demand.
From Position: Standing Position (Top) Success Rate: 55%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 65% |
| Failure | Standing Position | 25% |
| Counter | Clinch | 10% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Break opponent’s base by attacking their weighted rear leg w… | Maintain dynamic weight distribution across both legs to den… |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Break opponent’s base by attacking their weighted rear leg where structural support is concentrated
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Coordinate upper body pull with leg reap timing as a single unified action, not two separate movements
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Maintain close chest-to-chest distance throughout the throw to maximize grip leverage and reaping power
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Control opponent’s posture by pulling them backward and off-balance before initiating the reap
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Land in advantageous top position with immediate crossface and hip control established
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Use minimal strength by exploiting opponent’s existing weight distribution rather than forcing movement
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Time the throw when opponent’s weight commits to their rear leg through backward pressure or defensive stance
Execution Steps
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Establish grips and close distance: Secure a dominant collar grip with your lead hand and sleeve or elbow control with your rear hand in…
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Break opponent’s posture and load rear leg: Pull your opponent’s upper body backward and slightly downward using your collar grip, forcing them …
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Position your reaping leg behind target: Step your rear leg (same side as your collar grip) behind opponent’s weighted rear leg. Your calf sh…
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Execute the reap with coordinated upper body pull: Reap opponent’s rear leg forward by driving your calf through the back of their lower leg while simu…
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Drive through following opponent’s falling trajectory: As their leg is reaped, continue driving their upper body backward and downward in a circular motion…
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Land in side control with immediate pressure: Follow opponent to the ground, landing with your chest across their torso in side control position. …
Common Mistakes
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Attempting the reap from too far away without closing distance first
- Consequence: Opponent easily steps away or counters, and you lose balance reaching for the reap with an overextended leg
- Correction: Always establish close chest-to-chest contact before attempting the reap, making distance management the priority in your setup
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Using a kicking motion instead of a sweeping/reaping motion with the leg
- Consequence: Telegraphs the technique, allows opponent to defend easily, and reduces control during the throw due to lack of sustained contact
- Correction: Focus on a smooth sweeping motion with constant pressure through the back of opponent’s leg, maintaining calf-to-calf contact throughout the entire reaping arc
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Failing to pull opponent’s upper body backward simultaneously with the reap
- Consequence: Opponent maintains upright posture and balance because the reap alone is insufficient to complete the throw without the force couple
- Correction: Coordinate upper body pulling with leg reaping in one unified motion, treating it as a whole-body technique rather than an isolated leg attack
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Maintain dynamic weight distribution across both legs to deny the attacker a heavily loaded target leg
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Deny close distance by using frames and grip fighting to prevent chest-to-chest contact
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Recognize the setup early through grip patterns and angle changes rather than reacting to the reap itself
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Counter the backward pull by driving hips forward and maintaining upright posture
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Keep feet active with small adjustments rather than planting in a static wide stance that creates easy targets
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Disrupt the attacker’s grip configuration before they can establish the pull-and-reap coordination
Recognition Cues
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Attacker establishes collar grip and begins pulling your upper body backward while stepping to a 45-degree angle relative to your stance
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Attacker’s rear leg lifts and moves behind your rear leg, with their calf seeking contact with the back of your lower leg
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You feel a distinct backward pulling force through your collar or neck combined with the attacker closing distance to chest-to-chest range
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Attacker’s weight shifts entirely to their front supporting leg as they prepare to commit their rear leg to the reaping motion
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Attacker breaks your posture with a sudden downward-backward jerk on your collar while simultaneously stepping to the outside of your rear leg
Defensive Options
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Step your rear leg backward and away from the reap, shifting weight to your front leg - When: When you feel the attacker positioning their leg behind yours but before the reap is fully committed
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Drive hips forward aggressively and circle toward the attacker’s reaping leg side to kill the angle - When: When you feel the backward pull on your upper body beginning and recognize the throw setup in its early phase
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Strip the attacker’s collar grip with a two-on-one grip break while posting your free hand on their hip to create distance - When: Early in the setup phase when attacker is establishing the grip configuration but has not yet committed to the throw
Position Integration
Kosoto Gake occupies a critical role in the BJJ standing game as a fundamental, high-percentage entry to groundwork. It integrates seamlessly with the broader takedown system, particularly as a chain option from failed single leg or double leg attempts, or as a counter when opponent defends other throws by moving backward. The technique serves as an excellent bridge between judo-style standup and BJJ groundwork because it naturally transitions into side control with maintained grips and pressure. In the larger positional hierarchy, Kosoto Gake is often taught as part of the beginner curriculum alongside basic guard pulls and single leg entries because of its relatively simple mechanics and high success rate. Advanced practitioners use it within combination attacks with Osoto Gari, Kouchi Gari, and Ouchi Gari, setting up opponent’s defensive reactions to create openings for other techniques in a systematic throwing game.