Dimitri Dragin says executing Sumi Gaeshi on an opponent in a defensive posture bares many similarities to his standard Sumi Gaeshi.

The arms start the same, right hand relaxed on the lapel, and left hand pulling on the sleeve, it’s the posture of his opponent that is the key difference, requiring a different approach to be able to attack.

From his lapel and sleeve grip Dragin steps with his right leg towards Uke. He hits his foot off the mat, bouncing off of it. This causes power to be generated up from his foot, to the rest of his body.

At the same time as he hits the mat, Dragin pulls up on the lapel and sleeve.

This, combined together, makes Uke react, and allows Dragin to open them up, causing them to start to rise from their defensive posture. This is step 1.

Step 2 is the stepping back of the right leg and the shifting of the bodyweight backwards.

Dragin looks to step back with the right leg so it’s in-line with his left leg.

This is the opposite to what he did in his standard version.

In the standard version Dragin steps in to Uke with his left leg to meet the right.

Whereas when against a defensive opponent he steps back with the right leg to meet the left. This is because of how his partner’s bodyweight is positioned.

Because Uke is bent over and their weight is shifted backwards, Dragin needs more pull to start to bring them forward onto the attack. To build momentum for the attack, Dragin lowers his posture as he steps back.

The result of this is Uke being pulled down and towards him, making them completely off balance - shifting all their weight forward over their toes.

All Dragin has to do now is continue to shift his body weight backwards, while starting to drive his hips forwards.

Step 3, in this version of his Sumi Geashi, is the execution.

Just like in the execution of his standard variation, Dragin continues shifting his weight backwards as he lowers down onto the mat, positioning himself slightly on his left side.

The right leg makes contact with the shin, connecting on Uke’s right inner thigh, hooking his foot on.

As Uke start s to come over the top, Dragin flicks with his right leg and then pulls down on the lapel, bringing his elbow into his body, helping to push and guide his opponent over with the left arm on the sleeve.

At full speed in a competitive scenario, it should look something like this.

Notice that all the stages are executed at speed

This gets the best reaction from an opponent.

Another great example of Dragin’s Judo, and how he finds a way to perform his techniques no matter what his opponent is doing.