BJJ Graph

Ouchi Gari

Jun 15, 202511 min read

Ouchi Gari

bjjtransitiontakedownjudofundamental

Required Properties for State Machine

Core Identifiers

  • Transition ID: T060
  • Transition Name: Ouchi Gari
  • Alternative Names: Inside Trip, Major Inner Reap

State Machine Properties

Transition Properties

  • Success Probability: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 75% - core probability data
  • Execution Complexity: Medium - requires timing and grip control
  • Energy Cost: Medium - demands explosive movement and balance
  • Risk Level: Medium - potential for counter takedowns if mistimed
  • Execution Speed: Fast - must be executed quickly to off-balance opponent

Physical Requirements

  • Strength Requirements: Medium for pulling and reaping motion
  • Flexibility Requirements: Medium for hip mobility and leg reach
  • Coordination Requirements: High for timing grip, step, and trip
  • Speed Requirements: High for quick entry and off-balancing action

State Machine Content Elements

Visual Execution Sequence

Detailed step-by-step description for clear movement sequence visualization:

From a Standing Position or Clinch Position, you begin facing the opponent with a strong grip, typically a collar and sleeve grip or over-under control, maintaining an upright posture to control their upper body and set up the takedown, while keeping your feet shoulder-width apart for a stable base. You initiate the attack by pulling the opponent forward or to the side with your grips, breaking their posture and forcing them to step or shift their weight, ideally onto one leg, as you step forward with your lead foot to close the distance, positioning your body slightly to the side of their center line. As they react to the pull by stepping or resisting, you quickly step your trailing leg inside their stance, placing your foot between their legs, while simultaneously turning your hips inward to align your body for the reap, maintaining tension in your grips to keep their upper body controlled. With a sharp, explosive motion, you reap your inside leg backward against the inside of their near leg (usually the leg bearing weight), hooking behind their knee or calf, while pulling their upper body down and across your hip with your grips, driving them backward or to the side to the ground, using your body weight to amplify the force of the takedown. You follow through by maintaining control as they fall, landing in a dominant top position such as side control or a transitional top position, securing their upper body or legs to prevent immediate escapes, and establishing pressure to consolidate your position.

Template: “From Standing or Clinch Position, secure collar and sleeve or over-under grip, maintain upright posture. Pull opponent forward or sideways to break posture, step forward with lead foot to close distance. Step trailing leg inside their stance, turn hips inward for alignment. Reap inside leg backward against their near leg, pull upper body down across hip, drive them to ground. Secure top position or side control with control and pressure.”

Execution Steps (Numbered Sequence)

  1. Setup Requirements: Start in Standing or Clinch Position with strong grip control
  2. Grip Engagement: Secure collar and sleeve or over-under grip for upper body control
  3. Posture Break: Pull opponent forward or sideways to disrupt balance
  4. Initial Step: Step forward with lead foot to close distance and position body
  5. Inside Step: Place trailing leg inside opponent’s stance, between their legs
  6. Hip Turn: Rotate hips inward to align for reaping motion
  7. Reaping Action: Hook inside leg backward against opponent’s near leg, behind knee or calf
  8. Takedown Completion: Pull upper body down across hip, drive opponent to ground
  9. Position Secure: Land in top position or side control, maintain control and pressure

Key Technical Details

Critical elements that determine success:

  • Grip Control: Strong upper body grips to break posture and pull opponent
  • Posture Disruption: Off-balancing opponent to force weight onto one leg
  • Inside Leg Placement: Accurate step inside stance for effective reaping angle
  • Reaping Motion: Sharp, explosive hook against opponent’s supporting leg
  • Timing: Coordinating pull and reap to catch opponent during weight shift

Success Modifiers

Factors that increase/decrease probability:

  • Posture Break Effectiveness: Degree of opponent’s balance disruption (+/-20%)
  • Grip Strength: Control over opponent’s upper body (+/-15%)
  • Reaping Precision: Accuracy and power of inside leg hook (+/-15%)
  • Opponent Stance: Catching opponent during forward step or lean (+/-10%)
  • Knowledge Test Performance: Understanding judo takedown mechanics (+/-10%)

Counter-Attack Analysis

Common Counters

Opponent responses with success rates:

  • Balance Recovery: Regaining stable stance to resist pull → Standing Position (Success Rate: 40%, Conditions: early recognition)
  • Leg Withdrawal: Stepping back to avoid reap → Neutral Position (Success Rate: 35%, Conditions: quick reaction)
  • Counter Throw: Using pull momentum for own takedown → Bottom Position (Success Rate: 25%, Conditions: advanced skill)
  • Sprawl Defense: Dropping hips to prevent takedown → Front Headlock (Success Rate: 20%, Conditions: wrestling background)

Format: [[Counter Technique]] → [[Result State]] (Success Rate: X%, Conditions: [when applicable])

Decision Logic

If [takedown setup] is recognized early:
- Execute [[Balance Recovery]] (Probability: 40%)

Else if [reaping leg] can be withdrawn quickly:
- Execute [[Leg Withdrawal]] (Probability: 35%)

Else if [momentum] can be used against attacker:
- Attempt [[Counter Throw]] (Probability: 25%)

Else [wrestling skill] allows for defense:
- Attempt [[Sprawl Defense]] (Probability: 20%)

Else [optimal execution]:
- Accept transition (Probability: Success Rate - Modifiers)

Educational Content

Expert Insights

Commentary as if from recognized authorities:

  • John Danaher: “Ouchi Gari is a fundamental judo takedown that translates exceptionally well to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu due to its focus on off-balancing and timing. The key lies in the sharp reaping action combined with a strong upper body pull to disrupt the opponent’s base. This technique teaches essential principles of balance manipulation that are critical for all standing techniques in grappling.”
  • Gordon Ryan: “In competition, Ouchi Gari is a high-percentage takedown when you can break the opponent’s posture and catch them stepping. I use it to quickly transition from standing to a dominant top position like side control, often chaining it with immediate submission attempts. The technique demonstrates how judo principles can be adapted for BJJ’s ground-focused game.”
  • Eddie Bravo: “Ouchi Gari offers a dynamic takedown option that integrates well with BJJ’s clinch and standing game, especially for setting up ground control. It’s a great move for grapplers who want to take the fight down without pulling guard, using timing over brute strength. This takedown is perfect for blending traditional judo with modern no-gi systems.”

Each insight should focus on one key technical or strategic element.

Common Errors

For knowledge test generation:

  • Error: Insufficient posture break or grip pull

  • Why It Fails: Allows opponent to maintain balance and resist takedown

  • Correction: Use strong grips to pull opponent forward or sideways with force

  • Recognition: Opponent remains stable and upright during setup

  • Error: Poor inside leg placement or reaping angle

  • Why It Fails: Reduces effectiveness of trip, missing opponent’s supporting leg

  • Correction: Step deeply inside stance, hook leg behind knee or calf accurately

  • Recognition: Reaping leg slips or fails to disrupt opponent’s base

  • Error: Mistimed coordination between pull and reap

  • Why It Fails: Lacks synchronized force to off-balance and take down opponent

  • Correction: Pull upper body and reap leg simultaneously during weight shift

  • Recognition: Takedown stalls or opponent counters with balance recovery

Timing Considerations

When to attempt this transition:

  • Optimal Conditions: When opponent steps forward or leans, exposing weight on one leg
  • Avoid When: Opponent maintains low, defensive stance with wide base
  • Setup Sequences: After establishing strong grip control in standing or clinch
  • Follow-up Windows: Must complete takedown within 2-3 seconds to avoid counters

Prerequisites

Requirements before attempting:

  • Technical Skills: Understanding of judo takedown principles and grip fighting
  • Physical Preparation: Hip mobility and explosive leg strength for reaping
  • Positional Understanding: Control points in standing and clinch positions
  • Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate - fundamental judo technique

Technical Assessment Elements

Knowledge Assessment Questions

5 technical questions with multiple choice answers:

  • Mechanical Understanding: “What creates the off-balance in Ouchi Gari?”
  • Timing Recognition: “When is the optimal moment to initiate Ouchi Gari?”
  • Error Prevention: “What is the most common mistake in executing Ouchi Gari?”
  • Setup Requirements: “Which grip is essential for starting Ouchi Gari?”
  • Adaptation: “How do you adjust if the opponent resists during Ouchi Gari?”

Variants and Adaptations

Different versions for various scenarios:

  • Standard Ouchi Gari: Classic inside trip with collar and sleeve grip
  • No-Gi Variation: Modified over-under or wrist control without gi
  • Combination Setup: Used as feint to set up other takedowns or guard pulls
  • Counter Adaptation: Applied as counter to opponent’s forward pressure
  • Size Differential: Effective against taller opponents with proper posture break

Training Progressions

Skill development pathway:

  • Solo Practice: Reaping motion and foot placement drills without partner
  • Cooperative Drilling: Partner allows takedown for technique development
  • Resistant Practice: Partner provides progressive resistance to setup
  • Sparring Integration: Attempt during live standing exchanges
  • Troubleshooting: Identify and correct issues with timing or reaping power

Audio & Narration Elements

Action Descriptions

Dynamic language for TTS narration:

  • Movement Verbs: Grip, pull, step, turn, reap, drive, secure
  • Spatial References: Inside stance, near leg, hip alignment, top position
  • Pressure Dynamics: Posture break, balance disruption, takedown force
  • Momentum Descriptions: Explosive reap, sharp pull, controlled landing

Coaching Commentary

Real-time instruction and feedback:

  • Setup Cues: “Secure strong grips, control their collar and sleeve”
  • Execution Guidance: “Break posture, step inside, reap leg to take them down”
  • Adaptation Prompts: “If they resist, pull harder and adjust your hip turn”
  • Completion Confirmation: “Drive them down, land in top position with control”

Technical Specifications

Animation Keyframes

For potential visual development:

  • Starting Position: Standing or clinch with grips established
  • Transition Points: Posture break, inside step, hip turn, reaping action
  • Finishing Position: Top position or side control after takedown
  • Alternative Outcomes: Failed attempt leading to neutral or counter takedown

Biomechanical Analysis

Scientific movement breakdown:

  • Force Vectors: Forward or sideways pull on upper body, backward reap on leg
  • Leverage Ratios: Opponent’s weight shift as fulcrum for takedown momentum
  • Range of Motion: Hip rotation and leg extension for reaping action
  • Power Generation: Core and leg strength for explosive pull and trip

Validation Checklist

Every transition file must include:

  • All required properties with specific numeric values
  • Detailed visual execution sequence (minimum 4 sentences)
  • Complete numbered execution steps (minimum 6 steps)
  • At least 3 common counters with success rates
  • Decision logic for opponent behavior
  • Expert insights from all three authorities
  • Minimum 3 common errors with corrections
  • 5 knowledge test questions with answers
  • Timing considerations and prerequisites
  • Training progression pathway

Example Implementation

See Osoto Gari for a complete example implementing all standard requirements.

Notes for Developers

This standard ensures:

  • Consistent transition data for state machine implementation
  • Probability calculations with modifier systems
  • Rich content for comprehensive technical documentation
  • Educational value through expert analysis
  • Technical depth for authentic understanding
  • Structured decision analysis patterns
  • Knowledge assessment integration
  • Training progression guidance

Updates to this standard should be reflected across all transition files to maintain consistency and educational value.

  • Standing Position - Starting point for this transition
  • Clinch Position - Alternative starting point with closer control
  • Osoto Gari - Similar judo takedown with outside reaping action
  • Side Control - Common ending position after successful takedown

Competition Applications

  • IBJJF Rules: Legal at all belt levels, scores as takedown (2 points)
  • No-Gi Competition: Effective with modified grip setups
  • Self-Defense: Useful for taking down aggressors in real-world scenarios
  • MMA Applications: Applicable with adjustments for striking defense

Historical Context

Ouchi Gari is a traditional judo technique, classified as one of the original 40 throws developed by Jigoro Kano, and widely adopted in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for its effectiveness in taking the fight to the ground. It highlights the integration of judo principles into BJJ’s standing game, emphasizing timing and balance over brute strength.

Safety Considerations

  • Controlled Takedown: Execute with control to avoid injuring opponent on impact
  • Personal Safety: Be prepared to adjust if takedown fails or opponent counters
  • Partner Communication: Ensure opponent is ready for dynamic standing movement
  • Training Environment: Use in controlled settings with proper mats to prevent injury

Position Integration

Common Ouchi Gari combinations:

Training Applications

  • Takedown Development: Essential for standing game and judo integration
  • Competition Preparation: High-percentage move for scoring takedown points
  • Control Training: Builds skills in transitioning from standing to ground
  • Timing Mastery: Encourages development of precise timing and balance disruption

Graph View

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