Colin Oates has an unusual reverse Sumi gaeshi, which perfectly compliments his standard variation of the technique. He learnt the reverse Sumi gaeshi from French World Champion Stephane Traineau early on in his career. However, he only incorporated into his judo several years later, but now considers it one of his most effective attacks.

Whereas in his standard variation of Sumi gaeshi the momentum is largely dictated by Oates’s movement, the reverse relies on the anticipation of his partner, and therefore their momentum. He says that having tried and failed in a contest with standard Sumi gaeshi, the partner is anticipating a second attempt, and so sits back and shifts their weight to the left in an attempt to defend it and it’s this movement that Oates exploits, by attacking in the opposite direction.

The reverse variation works from Oates’s preferred Sumi gaeshi grips, of back and sleeve. He likes to have the dominant sleeve grip if possible, and with his partner also on the sleeve.

Here is the defensive movement of the partner in anticipation of standard Sumi gaeshi. In reaction to that comes an inwards wheeling motion of the opponent’s left arm. Followed by a change in the way he attacks with the leg, with Oates targeting the partner’s right leg, as opposed to the left and finally notice the direction of the throw is over his right shoulder not the left.

He says that this throw will still work, even if the partner has the dominant sleeve grip. What’s critical is whipping the sleeve under the body to continue the momentum that the partner has initiated.

With standard Sumi gaeshi he targets his partners left leg, which is the far leg. But that’s where they’ve dropped their weight. As a result, they are vulnerable on their near right leg, which is where Oates now targets.

The grip on the back is the same as his standard variation. He says that the movement of both arms is a steering wheel effect.

Here, Oates demonstrates how his entry for standard Sumi gaeshi is anticipated and squashed by his partner, who drops their weight to the left. This is what opens to the door to the reverse Sumi gaeshi, with Oates exploiting their movement and momentum. The opponent must be gripped up, so that they are unable to escape by getting their left hand down to the mat. Therefore, speed of attack is paramount.

So when it all comes together here is the reverse Sumi gaeshi. The three key points that differentiate this from Oates’s standard Sumi gaeshi are the inwards wheeling motion of the arm, the change in leg attack and throwing over the right shoulder.