Sumi gaeshi from butterfly

Sumi gaeshi from butterfly is the judo-derived name for the butterfly-guard sumi gaeshi — the seated guard sweep in which the bottom player rolls under the top player using a butterfly hook to elevate, redirecting the top player overhead in the same rotational arc as the standing corner throw.

Etymology. Sumi (隅) means “corner”; gaeshi (返) means “reversal” or “throw” (from kaeshi). The “from butterfly” qualifier disambiguates the ground sweep from the standing sacrifice throw of the same Japanese name — both share the rotational-arc mechanic but apply it from different starting positions. The technique sits at the bridge between judo’s sacrifice-throw family and BJJ’s guard-sweep vocabulary, with the butterfly-context version becoming a staple of competitive guard work through the open-guard era of the 1990s and 2000s.

Mechanics. The sweep requires the bottom player to load the butterfly hook under the top player’s near leg, then roll under the top player while extending the hook to elevate. The rotational arc takes the top player overhead — exactly the same kuzushi-and-rotation principle as the standing sumi gaeshi — but the bottom player’s hips remain in contact with the mat throughout, distinguishing the seated sweep from the committed standing sacrifice.

Cross-reference. English-speaking no-gi and BJJ commonly use “butterfly sweep” or “butterfly sumi sweep.” Full mechanical coverage on Butterfly Sumi Sweep.