Kesa Gatame, aka the “scarf hold,” is a classic control position that lets you pin your opponent while setting up submissions or transitions. A move that came straight out of judo but has become a staple in BJJ and MMA, it gives you serious top pressure and makes life miserable for whoever’s underneath.
Locking in a solid Kesa Gatame means you can slow the fight down, cook your opponent, and either hold them there or start hunting for armlocks and chokes. If you’re serious about controlling the pace and dictating the match, this is a must-have in your game.
Understanding Kesa Gatame
In the decades since BJJ was developed, practitioners adapted Kesa Gatame from judo as a way to gain control, set up sweeps, and attack submissions. This move requires using arm and side control to lock your opponent down. You wrap their head or arm while keeping pressure through your hips and chest, forcing them to waste energy while you dictate the match
Why is Kesa Gatame Effective in BJJ?
Fighters use this position because it provides superior control once you get the hang of it. It completely shuts down movement so your opponents can’t escape and is also a launching pad for attacks, such as armlocks, kimuras, and chokes. Additionally, Kesa Gatame transitions smoothly into mount, side control, or submissions, so you can keep your opponent on the defensive.
How to Execute Kesa Gatame in BJJ: Step-by-Step Technique
To set up Kesa Gatame, start from side control with heavy pressure on your opponent’s chest. Look for an opportunity to trap their near arm while securing upper body control. Once you’ve controlled their arm, thread your near-side arm under their head or armpit.
Next, sit through and drop your hip to the mat, keeping your torso heavy on their chest. Keep your head low and close to their body to minimize space and prevent them from slipping out. Your hip pressure is key to maintaining the pin, so stay tight and keep your opponent’s trapped arm secured against your body.
Widen your base and shift your weight as needed while slightly twisting your torso to apply a corkscrew-like pressure into their chest, making it even more uncomfortable and reducing their ability to escape.
Key Mechanics for Control
Keep your weight centered on their chest to prevent them from bridging or rolling. Stay low and connected with your hips to shut down their movement. Your head should act as a counterweight, helping you maintain balance and control.
To prevent escapes, focus on shutting down their bridge-and-roll attempts by widening your base and extending your legs when necessary. Use the little toes on your feet to push and adjust and keep your knee down, as lifting it can give your opponent an opportunity to grab your leg and break the hold.
Trapping their near-side arm further limits their ability to create space or frame against you. If they start reaching for an underhook to escape, transition to a modified scarf hold (Kazure Kesa Gatame) to retain control.
Offensive Attacks from Kesa Gatame
Once you have Kesa Gatame locked in, you can start hunting for submissions. Use the first three fingers instead of gripping with your thumb. This enhances wrist flexibility and reduces strain while keeping a firm grip. A strong yet flexible grip allows for better control and smoother transitions into submissions.
One of the cleanest finishes from this position is the straight armbar. Control their near-side arm, apply pressure, and extend to force the tap. If they frame against you, attack their far-side arm with a kimura, securing a figure-four grip and applying shoulder pressure.
Another option is the Americana, which works similarly to the kimura but torques the shoulder in the opposite direction. If your opponent exposes their neck, take advantage with head-and-arm chokes or lapel chokes in gi grappling.
If your opponent turns away from you, capitalize on the movement to take their back. Slide your knee behind their spine, secure control with your arms, and establish hooks to transition into a dominant back position.
Variations of Kesa Gatame
Reverse Kesa Gatame (Ushiro Kesa Gatame)
If your opponent starts escaping by turning into you, switching to reverse Kesa Gatame allows you to maintain control while facing their legs. This position helps control their hips and sets up armlocks and leg attacks.
Modified Kesa Gatame (Kuzure Kesa Gatame)
If your opponent is actively working to escape, trap their far-side arm instead of their head can provide better control and prevent explosive movements.
Defending and Escaping Kesa Gatame
Although Kesa Gatame is a strong position, it’s not unbreakable. Escaping requires disrupting your opponent’s balance and using leverage to create space. A common method is the bridge-and-shrimp escape, where you bridge hard to force them to adjust their weight before using a shrimping motion to regain guard.
If their base is strong, another effective escape is the leg hook method. Hooking their far leg with your near leg can off-balance them, allowing you to bridge and roll to freedom. Alternatively, if they’re too high on your chest, frame against their hips or neck and turn into them to recover guard or half guard.
If you can’t escape outright, focus on reversing the position. A well-timed roll-through reversal can turn their weight against them, flipping you into side control. Another option is the hip bump to mount, using your hips to elevate and sweep them into a worse position.
Drills to Master the Position
Start with the hold-for-time drill, where your partner actively tries to escape while you focus on maintaining control. Transition flow drills help you switch between side control, Kesa Gatame, and mount smoothly.
To develop better escapes, practice timed escape rounds with a resisting partner. Escape chain drills allow you to work on bridging, shrimping, and hooking the leg in sequence, so you always have an answer when you’re stuck in Kesa Gatame.
Own the Position, Control the Fight
Kesa Gatame is a high-level control position that, when done correctly, lets you shut down your opponent and set up devastating submissions, making you a bigger threat on the mats.
But to really own this position, you need reps. Drill the pin, refine your escapes, and test your control against strong training partners. The more comfortable you get in Kesa Gatame, the more confident you’ll be when it shows up in live rolls or competitions. So get to work, train hard, and make Kesa Gatame a game-changer in your BJJ arsenal.