In Japanese, “Ko” stands for “Small,” “Uchi” means “Inside,” and “Gari” means “Sweep,” so Kouchi Gari translates to “Small Inside Sweep” or “Minor Inside Sweep” in English.

To practice the Kouchi Gari, we start by gripping your partner with your lead hand on their collar and your other hand gripping the outside of their forearm sleeve. The goal is to off-balance them with push and pull, control their upper body with your grips, and bring their weight to their back foot so you can sweep their lead foot.

Once you have a firm grip—similar to Ouchi Gari—step in with your lead foot in the middle of their stance (a squared-up stance is ideal), followed by your back foot. Step hard onto the mat with your toes, perpendicular to the heel of your lead foot. Simultaneously combine this with your grips: push onto their collarbone with your collar grip (almost like a punch to their shoulder; you can frame on their shoulder with your forearm), pull their sleeve toward you, breaking their posture and forcing them to put weight on their back leg. Then, with your lead foot, sweep your partner’s lead foot’s heel with the inside of your foot, trying to scoop their foot off the mat. They should fall backward.

I find the hands-and-feet combination quite difficult, especially with the timing and the feeling of weight shifting from one foot to another. It definitely needs more practice—a lot more practice. It’s one of those takedowns that feels great when you successfully sweep them and make them feel a little foolish, haha.

Here are some video with details I found very useful and good for preference: