Dimitri Dragin executes his Sumi Geashi off a traditional sleeve and lapel grip.

Although it’s a right v right scenario, Dragin prefers for Uke to be upright, in a more square position, while having himself at a more side-on angle.

Dragin makes sure that he keeps his right arm relaxed on the lapel so he’s able to move it quite freely. While with the sleeve he pulls it tight into his body.

As soon as he has his grip, Dragin wants to shift his weight onto his left leg, so his right leg is free to move, just like with his Ashi Waza.

Once here, Dragin says there are 4 steps to set up the attack.

Step 1 is the twitch with the right leg.

Dragin moves his hips, lifting his knee across in front of Uke whilst simultaneously pulling on the sleeve. Uke’s weight is now all on their right leg.

Step 2 is the placing of Dragin’s right leg back down.

He wants to place it so it’s roughly in-line with Uke’s.

As he places it down, he wants to make sure he shifts his weight onto it.

This results in his opponent shifting their weight onto their left leg, freeing up Dragin’s left leg for Step 3.

Step 3 is the re-positioning of the left leg.

Dragin places it close to his right, putting it into the centre of the Uke’s legs, into the playground area.

Step 4 is the shifting of Dragin’s weight backwards.

This is what causes Uke to be pulled forward, setting up the required position to execute the attack.

Dragin starts by sitting his weight backwards.

As his partner begins to move forward, he gives a small pull with the arms. Helping to really bring their weight forward.

Dragin states that ‘the pull with the arms is less important than the shift in his bodyweight’

Once Uke is coming forward Dragin continues to sit his weight backwards, until he ends up on the mat. Letting gravity do all the work.

He wants to position himself slightly onto his left side

Now comes the execution

Dragin doesn’t position his leg like a normal Sumi Gaeshi. Instead he gets his leg all the way through so he makes contact with his shin on the Uke’s inner thigh.

He then hooks his foot onto Uke’s bum.

From here Dragin say’s ‘it’s pull, pull, pull, hook and flick’. He keeps his foot hooked until Uke is almost over the top of him, and then flicks with the shin and foot at the last second.

Dragin’s hands only change at the end, when Uke is close to the mat.

Both arms work simultaneously in different directions. The right arm pulls on the lapel while the left pushes on the sleeve.

The pull on the lapel is done by bringing the elbow down towards himself, making sure that it ends tight to the body.

From this angle you can see that the movement is done quickly, in a whipping type motion.

At the same time as pulling on the lapel, Dragin pushes and rotates the sleeve arm.

When the arms are coupled together with the flick of the right leg, his opponent is sent over Dragin’s right shoulder and onto their back.

With all the stages combined together is should look like this.

Step 1 - The twitch, Step 2 - Placing the foot back down and shifting weight to the right, Step 3 - Repositioning of the left leg, Step 4 - shifting his weight backwards - and then the flick and rotation of the arms.

And at full speed, this is how it looks.

Moving into the right position, and getting the necessary reaction enable this throw to be a success.