The inside leg trip is a technique favored by many fighters of all shapes, sizes and stances, largely due to its huge effectiveness in taking down an opponent. Learning to counter this should be a key weapon in the arsenal of any fighter – knowing how to avoid this deadly attack can offer a real advantage, and help you to gain the upper hand in any fight.
The top 5 techniques we will use to counter the inside leg trip are:
- Ouchi Gaeshi
- Kosoto Gari
- Ura Nage
- Uchi Mata Sukashi
- Keep A Low Stance
We will now review these top 5 techniques to counter the inside leg, allowing you to be ready and prepared for any fight.
- Ouchi Gaeshi
The ouchi gaeshi is a movee which originated from the sport of judo, and which has found its way into the world of MMA, becoming something of a niche option for those with the ability. It is a counter throw, designed to combat an ouchi gari, and can be a great way to throw your opponent off balance both physically and psychologically, allowing you to gain the upper hand before they have any idea what is coming.
This move is best applied as your opponent comes in for the inside leg trip; one of the key aspects is to be able to retain your balance here, allowing you to react instantly, and use the other fighters momentum against them. As the opponent approaches, pull your left hand in as you turn the torso, using the momentum to unbalance your opponent. At the same time, you can use your other foot to sweep away the heel of the other fighter, ensuring that they land in the place they intended to throw you. The main goal is to control the weight of the other person, redirecting the intended attack, and ensuring that any momentum misses you and is transferred to them, increasing the strength of the move. This can be a tricky move, and so it is important to practice and ensure that you are totally confident before trying it out in the ring.
- Kosoto Gari
Kosoto gari is another option for countering an inside leg trip and again, this is a move which gains its origins from judo. This is a technique which is a really all about timing, and which can counter an attempt to trip you with minimal effort on your part. You can strike as the opponent steps forward and is about to plant their foot to trip you, or, alternatively, as they begin a withdrawal with the forward foot, as though in retreat – the motion helps increase the vulnerability of the other individual, allowing their balance to be more easily manipulated.
In short, the kosoto gari works by removing the food the opponent is depending on to regain balance after stepping. As they move, you can sweep the foot away, aiming towards the direction of the toes, causing the foot to slip forward, removing balance, and taking the opponent down. Weight is important here; you will need to ensure that all of your weight goes into the move, helping to speed up the fall, and reducing the chance of escape. You will also need to be quick and agile, as well as remaining close to your opponent – this increases your chances of pulling off the move before your enemy works out what is happening, allowing you to get them on the mat before a defense can be prepared.
- Ura Nage
Ura nage is often referred to as a ‘sacrifice throw’ – it requires you to throw yourself into the air along with your opponent in order to successfully complete the move. In the simplest terms, this is a back throw which consists of getting your opponent from behind in a ‘hug’ before throwing him backwards behind your body and onto the mat. It can be used as an opponent comes in to try and hook one of your legs, aiming to go for the inside trip. Grab the back of the body in a ‘hug’ movement, bending your knees to prevent the legs from being hooked.
Strength is the key here – you will need to shift your centre of gravity backwards, allowing you to pull the other fighter up towards your stomach, then use the knees to twist and throw the opponent behind you. Alternatively, the move can be carried out from the front – this requires you to bend your knees, getting your body low, and then driving yourself forward and into the chest of the opponent, allowing you to gain the ‘hugging’ position. It should be noted that this move requires a great deal of strength to execute correctly, as well as a solid understanding of technique, to avoid risk of damage to your back and knees. If this is something you plan to try, practice with an experienced fighter before heading out into the ring.
- Uchi Mata Sukashi
Uchi mata sukashi is another secret weapon which can be brought out if the moment presents itself. The concept is fairly simple; you simply wait for your opponent to approach, sidestep at the right moment, and then use their momentum to throw them, allowing you to gain the advantage.
As your opponent’s attack leg comes up, their upper body will naturally go down. Your job is to dodge this attack leg – usually by pivoting out of the way by turning your body, or by lifting your own leg out of reach – throwing the opponent off balance as they continue to move forward. Allow their weight to move to the supporting leg before grabbing the arm or wrist of your opponent and pulling it forward, down and then back. The momentum of their missed trip attempt will result in them continuing to move forward into empty space, resulting in them throwing themselves into an almost totally clean circle – all with minimal effort on your part! This is a move which relies on speed, agility and the ability to spot an opportunity, and can be a great addition to your toolkit.
- Keep A Low Stance
It may seem deceptively simple, but a powerful low stance can be one of the greatest tools to combat an inside leg swing – if carried out correctly. This gives you a solid basis and grounding, and forms the foundation of many of the moves you carry out from a standing position – getting a handle on them lower down only improves your skills.
The feet are the first consideration here, and the most popular options for fighters tends to be a square stance – feet on the same horizontal plane – or split stance – one leg in one of the other. There is a time and a place for both, and you will soon get used to picking the optimum option. Next, reduce height by bending at the knees and waist – this also helps to increase the power you have available, as well as make it harder for opponents to grab a leg, or get in for a trip. Consider the position of your arms and hands – elbows should be tight, hands out in front ready to defend, and your head should be up. It may feel unnatural at first, but you will soon start to feel more comfortable in a low stance, and this can be an amazing defense trick when you are faced with an opponent who likes to trip.
Things To Remember
Combating an inside leg trip can be a challenge – these tend to be fast, effective and lethal. With just a few adjustments to your training, however, you can really help yourself to gain the advantage and combat the move, placing the fight back in your favour.
- Timing
For many of the moves we have explored here, timing is everything; you need to be able to pinpoint the exact moment of movement with total accuracy, allowing your strike to be effective. Make sure you learn to read your opponent as quickly as possible; this is a good habit to get into in any fight – and try to determine their ‘tell’ before they launch into a trip or low move – this gives you time to mount your defense.
- Strength
As with any throws, good strength is crucial for allowing you to maintain a grip, and have the power to launch your opponent. Remember, this is not only upper body strength; a huge amount of power comes from the legs, so focus closely on quads, glutes, abductors and hamstrings to ensure you have the power you need for an explosive throw.
- Up close and personal
Unlike many jabs and punches, throws require you to be right up in the space of your opponent, so it is important to get comfortable with this. Also consider the nature of your enemy; it is far easier to fight close and use throws if you are shorter, but not so much if you are a taller fighter tackling someone compact and agile. Get comfortable fighting at close range, and throws could become your new best friend.