Sumi Gaeshi is a classical sacrifice throw borrowed from Judo that has proven highly effective in BJJ competition and training. The technique involves sacrificing your base by dropping to your back while using your legs to elevate and off-balance your opponent, resulting in a complete reversal of position. The name translates to ‘corner reversal throw’ in Japanese, referring to the angular entry that creates the throwing opportunity.
In modern BJJ, Sumi Gaeshi serves multiple strategic purposes: as a direct takedown from standing, as a sweep from seated or butterfly guard, and as a counter to aggressive forward pressure. The technique capitalizes on fundamental principles of leverage, timing, and angle creation. When executed properly, Sumi Gaeshi requires minimal strength, relying instead on precise positioning of your lifting leg and the momentum generated by pulling your opponent over your center of gravity.
The beauty of Sumi Gaeshi lies in its versatility across different grip configurations and situations. Whether you’re working with collar and sleeve grips in the gi, double underhooks in no-gi, or countering a standing opponent from guard, the core mechanics remain consistent: create an angle, drop your weight, position your lifting leg at their hip or thigh, and execute the circular throwing motion that brings them overhead into a dominant position.
Starting Position: Standing Position Ending Position: Mount Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
Key Principles
- Create angular entry by stepping offline from opponent’s centerline
- Sacrifice your base completely when committing to the throw
- Position lifting leg at opponent’s hip or inner thigh, not knee
- Pull opponent’s weight forward and over your center of gravity
- Use circular motion rather than straight upward lifting
- Maintain strong grips throughout the entire technique
- Follow through by continuing the rotation to mount or top position
Prerequisites
- Establish strong grips on opponent (collar/sleeve, double underhooks, or belt grips)
- Break opponent’s posture forward or catch them leaning in
- Create proper angle by stepping to the side (approximately 45 degrees)
- Ensure opponent’s weight is committed forward over their front foot
- Secure foot placement at opponent’s hip/thigh before dropping
- Clear distance for safe backward fall without obstacles
Execution Steps
- Establish grips and break posture: From standing, secure strong grips on your opponent’s collar and sleeve (gi) or establish double underhooks (no-gi). Pull their upper body forward to break their posture and bring their weight toward you. Their chest should be leaning over their front foot. (Timing: Initial setup phase)
- Create angle by stepping offline: Step to the outside at approximately 45 degrees with your non-throwing leg. This lateral movement creates the angle necessary for the throw and positions you perpendicular to your opponent’s forward momentum rather than directly in front of them. (Timing: As opponent steps forward or pressures in)
- Position lifting leg at hip: Raise your inside leg and place your foot firmly against your opponent’s hip or inner thigh on the same side. The foot should be positioned high on the hip, not at the knee. Your toes should point slightly outward to create maximum leverage for the lifting motion. (Timing: Immediately after creating the angle)
- Drop and sacrifice your base: Commit fully to the technique by dropping your bodyweight straight down and backward. Sit through completely, rolling onto your back. This sacrifice of your base is what generates the momentum for the throw. Keep your grips tight as you fall. (Timing: Single fluid motion with leg placement)
- Execute circular throwing motion: As you land on your back, extend your lifting leg in a circular arc while simultaneously pulling your opponent’s upper body over your centerline with your grips. The motion should be circular and upward, not straight. Your opponent should be swept overhead in an arc. (Timing: Immediate extension as your back contacts the mat)
- Continue rotation to mount: Maintain your grips and continue the rotational momentum, following your opponent over as they fall. Release your lifting leg and use the momentum to come up on top. Land in mount or side control position. Keep your weight heavy and establish immediate control. (Timing: As opponent passes overhead)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent sprawls and widens base when they feel the angle creation (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Switch to alternative sweep or takedown, or use their sprawl reaction to transition to single leg X-guard entry
- Opponent circles away from your lifting leg side (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow their movement with your angle and re-establish the setup, or chain to opposite-side technique like ankle pick
- Opponent posts hand on mat during the throw (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Continue rotation and attack the posted arm for kimura or use momentum to establish side control instead of mount
- Opponent jumps over during execution (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Immediately transition to butterfly guard or closed guard as they land, maintaining grip control
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: Why is creating a 45-degree angle crucial before executing Sumi Gaeshi? A: The angle positions you perpendicular to your opponent’s forward momentum rather than directly in their path. This allows you to redirect their energy in a circular arc over your center of gravity. Without the angle, you’re fighting directly against their forward pressure, making the technique require excessive strength and reducing success probability significantly.
Q2: What is the primary mechanical difference between Sumi Gaeshi and Tomoe Nage? A: While both are sacrifice throws, Sumi Gaeshi uses foot placement at the hip with an angular entry and circular throwing motion, whereas Tomoe Nage places the foot on the abdomen/belt and executes a more vertical, straight overhead throw. Sumi Gaeshi emphasizes the corner angle and lateral entry, while Tomoe Nage works directly from the front.
Q3: Where should your lifting foot be positioned for maximum leverage in Sumi Gaeshi? A: The lifting foot should be placed high on the opponent’s hip or upper inner thigh, not at the knee. The higher the foot placement, the greater the leverage and the shorter the distance the opponent needs to travel to be swept overhead. Knee placement is too low and allows opponent to easily step over or base out.
Q4: How does Sumi Gaeshi function as both a takedown and a sweep in BJJ? A: From standing, Sumi Gaeshi is a sacrifice takedown where you drop to your back to execute the throw. From seated or butterfly guard, it’s a sweep where you’re already on your back or sitting and use the same mechanical principles to reverse position. The core technique remains identical, but the starting position and tactical context differ.
Q5: What is the key safety consideration when practicing Sumi Gaeshi? A: The primary safety concern is the rotational fall for the person being thrown. They must be prepared for the overhead arc and know how to breakfall properly. Start with slow, controlled repetitions with clear communication. Ensure adequate mat space behind you when dropping backward. Advanced practitioners should still use control when throwing to allow safe landing.
Q6: Why must you maintain grips throughout the entire Sumi Gaeshi execution? A: Grips serve multiple critical functions: they control opponent’s upper body trajectory during the throw, generate the pulling force that brings opponent over your center, and allow you to follow through to top position after the throw. Releasing grips results in loss of control, potentially allowing opponent to land in advantageous position or escape the throw entirely.
Safety Considerations
When practicing Sumi Gaeshi, ensure adequate mat space exists behind you for the backward drop. The person being thrown must be comfortable with rotational breakfalls and overhead throws. Begin all training with slow, controlled repetitions with clear communication between partners. The thrower should maintain grip control throughout to guide the landing. Advanced practitioners must still exercise control to prevent dangerous spikes or uncontrolled landings. Avoid practicing on hard surfaces or when fatigued. Stop immediately if either partner experiences discomfort or uncertainty about the rotation.
Position Integration
Sumi Gaeshi occupies a unique position in BJJ’s tactical hierarchy, serving as both an offensive takedown and a defensive sweep. From standing, it provides an effective alternative to wrestling-based takedowns, particularly for practitioners who excel at guard play and sacrifice techniques. The throw integrates seamlessly with guard pulling strategies, as failed attempts naturally transition to butterfly or closed guard positions. From seated or butterfly guard, Sumi Gaeshi becomes a high-percentage sweep against opponents who stand or apply forward pressure. It connects to the broader family of sacrifice techniques including Tomoe Nage and Yoko Tomoe Nage, forming a system of related throws. Defensively, Sumi Gaeshi variations can counter single leg attacks and aggressive forward pressure. Modern competitors often use it as part of guard pull sequences, creating uncertainty about whether they’re pulling guard or executing a throw.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: Sumi Gaeshi represents one of the most elegant applications of leverage and angular momentum in grappling. The technique’s effectiveness stems from its ability to redirect force rather than oppose it directly. When executed with proper angle creation and foot placement at the hip, the mechanical advantage becomes so pronounced that size and strength disparities become largely irrelevant. The critical insight is understanding that this is fundamentally a circular throw, not a lifting motion. Your lifting leg creates an arc, while your grips pull opponent’s upper body over your center of gravity. The timing must be precise: commit to the drop at the moment opponent’s weight is forward on their lead foot. Hesitation destroys the technique. From a systems perspective, Sumi Gaeshi integrates beautifully with guard-based attacks, as any defensive reaction naturally places you in guard position with maintained grips. This makes it lower risk than conventional takedowns where failed attempts often result in scrambles or opponent’s top position.
- Gordon Ryan: I use Sumi Gaeshi primarily as a guard sweep rather than a standing takedown in competition. When guys stand in my butterfly guard, especially if they’re trying to back step or disengage, Sumi Gaeshi is one of my highest percentage sweeps. The key is not telegraphing it. I’ll threaten other attacks first, get them reacting, then hit the Sumi Gaeshi when their weight shifts forward. The timing is everything - you can’t force it. Wait for them to give you their weight. From standing, I like it less because there’s more risk if it fails, but it’s money when someone’s pressuring forward hard and you catch them overcommitted. The double underhook variation in no-gi is particularly high percentage because you have strong control and can feel their weight distribution clearly. After landing the throw, don’t just sit in mount - immediately secure position, get underhooks, and start attacking. The throw itself is just the entry to your top game.
- Eddie Bravo: Sumi Gaeshi fits perfectly into the 10th Planet system, especially from butterfly guard. We teach it early because it’s one of those techniques that doesn’t require you to be super athletic or strong - it’s all about timing and angle. What I love about it is how it chains with other stuff. If they defend the Sumi Gaeshi, you can often hit the regular butterfly sweep on the other side, or if they really sprawl hard, transition to the truck or other back attacks. We also use it as a takedown counter when people shoot singles - the angle is already there, you just need to secure the overhook and execute. In no-gi, the double underhook version is crucial because it gives you that body control you lose without the gi grips. Practice it until the angle creation becomes automatic. Most people fail this technique because they drop straight back instead of creating that 45-degree angle first. Once you get the angle down, this becomes one of your go-to moves from butterfly and standing.