2-on-1 Grip Sumi-Gaeshi

Sumi-gaeshi is a classical technique that is included in the Gokyo. The version you see in competition however doesn’t look anything like the classical version.

In this video, Shintaro demonstrates a popular contest variation that involves a 2-on-1 grip by tori. Under current IJF rules, this is considered an unorthodox grip, so an attack must be made immediately otherwise tori will get a penalty.

Let’s look at the various steps to making this technique work.

This technique is ideal when uke has a high grip on tori in a kenka-yotsu (or opposite stance situation).

Tori grab's uke’s left forearm and holds it tightly to his chest. At the same time, he turns inwards with his right arm, putting pressure on uke’s left arm.

Tori then reaches over and establishes a high grip of his own. Notice how he maintains that grip on uke’s left forearm.

To exert really good control, tori uses his head to secure uke’s upper left arm as well. Now, uke’s entire left arm is controlled by tori.

To create space, tori does an ouchi-gari attack. It’s not a fully-committed attack. Just good enough to convince uke that it’s real so that she will step backwards.

With space created, tori is now able to come in for the attack. To do so, tori basically sits down in a self-sacrificing motion, using his right leg to guide uke over (see sequence below):

Sometimes sumi-gaeshi doesn’t score ippon, which is why it’s important for tori to try to end up in an osaekomi position..