How To Do The Sumi Gaeshi – Corner Reversal Throw
The sumi gaeshi is one of the coolest looking throws in judo. It is one of the original 40 judo throws created by Kano Jigoro and is of course classified as a throwing technique. Its subset is sutemi waza which roughly translates as a back sacrifice technique.
Although the sumi gaeshi looks relatively simple and flowing when performed correctly, there are a lot of small details. You may have seen martial arts movies where the sumi gaeshi is pulled off flawlessly by throwing villains over the head of the hero. Whilst this is roughly what the technique aims to do, you are certainly not aiming to take people directly over your head.
The main benefit of performing a sumi gaeshi in judo is the numerous options of newaza transitions available. Not only this, but the sumi gaeshi is also popular in BJJ. This is since when everything goes correctly, you can roll on top of your opponent to a dominant position. If your sumi gaeshi fails for whatever reason, you will be in a half butterfly guard position. This may not be exactly what you wanted but doesn’t give up any points in most grappling rulesets other than some ADCC rules.
Sumi Gaeshi Setup
The most simple way to enter sumi gaeshi is to get a mirrored grip with your adversary. If they are gripping your collar with their left hand, you should grip their collar with your right hand and crush down and inwards with your grip. Your other arm should remain free and not get involved in grip fighting for sleeve dominance.
When you have broken the posture of your opponent with your dominant collar grip, you are now able to reach over their back to get a dominant Georgian grip. The Georgian grip offers great control and completely shuts down the posture of your opponent. Once the grip is secured the posture should never fully come back.
Entry From Faked Uchi Mata
Faking or pretending to do a setup for a hip throw is a great transition for a sumi gaeshi Uchi mata is also a good setup for Sumi gaeshi. Once again the age old principle of judo applies and your opponent will move their hips away from you. When this happens there is an instant opportunity for a sumi gaeshi.
Mechanics Of Sumi Gaeshi
Once the grips are secure, you can sit through with the same side leg as your collar grip whilst using your other leg to elevate the opponent into the air. Ideally, you want to throw the opponent over the same side shoulder as your Georgian grip. You do not want to throw the opponent to the other side as you will not get good elevation and may end up injuring your shoulder.
When throwing your opponent, your foot should hook to the inside of their thigh. This is a good place to elevate the opponent from and is commonly used in a BJJ position called butterfly guard, which can essentially be used as a seated version of sumi gaeshi.
Rolling Backwards With Your Opponent
Rolling backward is really the ideal way to finish the throw. The opponent’s roll provides a great deal of momentum to follow them. If an ippon is not scored, then this also allows some follow-up newaza, so there is really no good reason not to roll with the opponent.
If you cannot shoulder roll due to your opponent blocking this route. There is always the option to simply spin around on top of your opponent. This will give the bottom player some time to recover as the top pressure is reduced. However, it is better than simply getting back to your feet. If you don’t finish the match on the ground, there is always a chance the opponent can score ippon on you as soon as the match restarts standing.
Sumi Gaeshi In NoGi & Applications For Other Grappling
Sumi gaeshi combined with an arm drag is a staple move in sambo, it is also used in other formats of grappling such as BJJ but is less common. The sumi gaeshi in no gi is also based on the broken posture of your opponent. As the opponent is not wearing a kimono in no gi, you must take full advantage of the natural levers in the body. Both collar and elbow ties are essential when creating leverage over an opponent.
When attempting a sumi gaeshi in no gi, the most simple option is from the following. Firstly you must arm drag your opponent so that a side angle is created on their body. The next step requires you to hook their body with your arm closest to them, ideally securing a good strong grip behind the armpit. Your free arm should over hook their closest arm, the reason for this is so that the opponent cannot post on the arm and stop the throw mid roll.
Once the grips have been set up, you must hook inside your opponent’s leg and sit your weight to the floor underneath your opponent. When you are underneath the opponent they are a lot lighter than attacking from a side since you’re directly under the center of gravity.
From this point, you can perform a backward roll over your shoulder and come up into the top position.
It is especially important to roll into the top position in sports such as BJJ or sambo. This is because the fight is never over until someone submits or you have a points advantage when the time expires. The top position after a sumi gaeshi roll is a very good opportunity to hunt for submissions.
Limitations Of The Throw
Outside of judo the sumi gaeshi is relatively low risk. This may sound crazy for a technique that is classified as a sacrifice throw, but is true nonetheless. This is because a lot of grappling sports such as BJJ and catch wrestling have elements of guard. Whilst many players may not want to be on the bottom position in a guard, it is far better than being in mount, side control, or being choked from the back.
This is why sumi gaeshi is a highly rated throw for BJJ & sambo players. Not only does it open up a lot of submission attacks from the top. But it also shuts down the opponent when the throw fails. There are really not many sacrifice techniques at all that allow you to continue attacking once they have failed.
