What is the Osoto Gari?
Osoto gari breaks the opponent’s posture backward and reaps their supporting leg from the outside so they fall onto their back or side. In BJJ it is commonly hit from collar-and-sleeve or head-and-arm control and pairs well with follow-up pins.
Break Balance
Load them onto the leg you will reap.
- Establish collar-sleeve or head-and-arm control
- Drive their posture backward onto the target leg
- Step into a strong throwing stance
- Feel the weight settle on the outside leg
Reap Through
- Swing the reaping leg to the outside of their support leg
- Reap through heel/calf as hands drive them back
- Keep chest contact so they cannot hop free
- Commit through the fall
Settle Top
The throw ends in a pin.
- Follow to side control or a stable top pin
- Clear immediate frames and turtle turns
- Establish cross-face/underhook
- Only then hunt submissions
Key Grips & Control Points
- Collar and sleeve (gi) or head-and-arm / underhook (no-gi)
- Chest pressure that loads them onto the reaped leg
- Reaping leg attacking the outside of their heel/calf line
- Hands driving through the throw, not just pulling
Timing & Movement Cues
- Reap when their weight is on the target leg
- Attack as they step or resist forward into your collar pressure
- Finish when posture is already broken — late reaps hit a strong base
Pressure & Weight Distribution
- Break balance backward before the reap
- Reap through the leg; do not gently tap the heel
- Follow to a pin so they cannot turn to turtle or pull guard cleanly
Typical Counters to Expect
- Stepping the target foot back and circling
- Hip blocks and counters into their own trip
- Guard pulls as you overcommit chest pressure
Follow-Up Options
- Side control or knee-on-belly after a clean fall
- Kesa / scarf-hold style pins in the scramble
- Pass chains if they recover open guard on the way down
Setups & Entries
- Collar-and-sleeve pressure that forces a heavy lead foot
- Fake inside trip to make them plant the outside leg
- Snap-down threats that elevate their posture into the reap
Training Drills
- Uchi-komi style balance-break and reap reps
- Gi collar-sleeve osoto entries to a controlled pin
- No-gi head-and-arm adaptations
Coaching Notes
- Balance break first, reap second
- Drive with the hands and hips together
- In BJJ, prioritize a safe landing and immediate top control
Related Study
Connect this movement with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
Osoto gari is posture break plus outer reap. Load the target leg, reap through it, and land in top control — a fundamental throw that still scores and pins in modern BJJ.