Kesa Gatame Attacks
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Kesa Gatame·Gracie Ohio Jiu-Jitsu Academy
In this video we talk about the kesa-gatame. This is a very good control position and has a lot of possibilities for sub…
Kesa Gatame
SubFamily袈裟固め(Kesa-gatame)
TraditionalTranslation: scarf hold
Overview
The Kesa Gatame subfamily covers the scarf hold variation of side control, where the controlling fighter wraps one arm around the opponent's head and the other controls the near arm, with the hips turned to face the opponent's head. [1] Kesa gatame is one of the most traditional pinning positions in judo, providing extremely strong pinning pressure through the hip-and-shoulder weight distribution. [1],[2] The position has several variations including standard kesa, modified kesa (kuzure-kesa-gatame), and reverse kesa, each with different control and attack options. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Kesa gatame is one of the strongest pinning positions in judo, capable of generating immense downward pressure that makes escape extremely difficult. [1] In judo competition, kesa gatame is one of the most frequently used pins for ippon (full-point) osaekomi victories. [1] In BJJ, kesa gatame is considered less secure than standard side control because it can expose the back if the bottom fighter escapes the hip, but it remains effective when used with proper pressure. [2]
Lineage
Kesa gatame is one of the original osaekomi-waza (pinning techniques) in Kodokan Judo, formalised by Jigoro Kano. [1] Josh Barnett, a catch wrestling and MMA practitioner, revived interest in kesa gatame in MMA competition, demonstrating its effectiveness as both a control position and submission setup. [2]
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Perpendicular chest-to-chest control — pinning the opponent's upper body while maintaining mobility
Joints Involved — Attacker's chest (primary contact), hips (sprawled or driving), opponent's near shoulder and hip (controlled)
Force Vector — Downward and lateral — chest pressure pins the opponent while hip positioning prevents escape
Positional Mechanic — Crossface and underhook combination controls the opponent's head and near arm, preventing bridging or turning
Position & Entry
From guard pass — After passing the guard, settle into side control with chest on the opponent's chest, perpendicular body angle
From takedown (top landing) — Complete a takedown and transition to side control by establishing crossface and underhook
From mount (transition down) — When the opponent bucks or rolls from mount, transition to side control to maintain top position
Videos
The Awesome Kesa Gatame!
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Kesa Gatame·The Grappling Academy
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, mount scores 4 points — highest-scoring po...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, mount scores 2 points
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal dominant position
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— UWW — Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match ...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal, pin scores points
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Kesa gatame (scarf hold) is a side control variant from judo where the top player sits beside the opponent, wrapping one arm around their head and controlling the near arm — it is the most powerful pin in judo (Kashiwazaki, Osaekomi, 1997)
✓Kesa gatame uses body weight differently from standard side control: the top player sits on their hip beside the opponent rather than lying chest-to-chest
✓The head-and-arm control in kesa gatame: one arm wraps around the opponent's head (hugging it against the ribs), the other arm controls their near arm
✓Kesa gatame scores as a pin in judo competition: 20 seconds of control earns an ippon (instant win)
✓The position is extremely difficult to escape when applied correctly — the combined head and arm control limits all escape options
✓Kesa gatame variations include standard (head wrap), kuzure (modified grips), and reverse (facing the opponent's legs)
✓In MMA, kesa gatame enables devastating head strikes: the head control creates a stable platform for elbows and punches
Common Mistakes
!Sitting too far from the opponent — the hip must be tight against their side for maximum control
!Not wrapping the head tightly — the head must be hugged against the ribs with the arm
!Allowing the near arm to escape — the near-arm control prevents bridging escapes
!Leaning away from the opponent — lean into them for weight distribution
!Not using the legs for base — the legs spread wide provide stability against bridges and rolls
!Staying in kesa gatame without transitioning or attacking — kesa gatame should lead to submissions or position advancement
!Using kesa gatame without understanding the escape vulnerabilities — the back take from kesa gatame bottom is a real threat
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Pass the Guard — clear the opponent's legs to advance to this dominant position
2Settle Weight — distribute body weight to maintain heavy pressure
3Control Arms — manage the opponent's arms to prevent frames and escapes
4Threaten Submissions — attack to force defensive reactions and maintain dominance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Renzo Gracie & Royler Gracie, 2001)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
6CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
chest-to-chest pressure, hip positioning, crossface control
Favours
broad chest and shoulders for heavy top pressure
Key muscles
pectorals, deltoids, core, hip extensors
Sub-techniques
Hon Kesa Gatame
GenusHon Kesa Gatame is the basic scarf hold in judo — the foundational pinning technique from which all other Kesa Gatame variations derive. [1] The attacker sits beside the pinned opponent, wraps one arm around their head, grips their arm under the armpit with the other hand, and spreads the legs wide for base. [1] It is the most commonly taught hold-down in judo and the first Osae-komi-waza in the Kodokan curriculum. [1]
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Kuzure Kesa Gatame
GenusThe Kuzure Kesa Gatame (modified scarf hold) is the variation of kesa gatame where the controlling fighter underhooks the far arm instead of wrapping around the head, providing different control dynamics and attack options. [1] The underhook-based control is sometimes preferred over the head wrap because it provides better resistance to the opponent's escape attempts and transitions. [1,2] Kuzure kesa gatame is one of the recognised pinning techniques in judo's official syllabus. [2,3]
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Reverse Kesa Gatame
GenusThe Reverse Kesa Gatame positions the controlling fighter facing the opponent's legs rather than the head, with the arm wrapping around the opponent's waist or hip area. [1] Reverse kesa gatame provides different submission and transition options than standard kesa, particularly access to leg attacks and knee-on-belly transitions. [1,2] The reversed orientation changes the control dynamics, making certain escapes easier but providing unique attacking angles. [2,3]
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Standard Kesa Gatame
GenusThe Standard Kesa Gatame wraps one arm around the opponent's head, controls the near arm with the other hand, and turns the hips to face the opponent's head, with the near hip pressing against the opponent's side. [1] The standard kesa gatame provides crushing pinning pressure through the hip drive and head-wrap control, making it one of the most effective pinning positions in all of grappling. [1,2] From standard kesa, the controlling fighter can attack with head-and-arm chokes, arm cranks, and transitions to mount. [2,3]
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Frequently Asked Questions
How should I position my knees when setting up Kesa Gatame?
Turn both of your knees to face your opponent rather than keeping them pointed to the side. The Grappling Academy emphasizes that proper knee positioning makes a significant difference in the effectiveness of the technique—if you don't adjust your knees correctly, you won't even tap people.
What's the most important thing to control in Kesa Gatame?
Control and grab the head, and don't let go of it. The Grappling Academy notes that controlling the head works reliably in this position.
What's a common mistake that leads to getting your back taken from Kesa Gatame?
If you don't control your opponent properly, they can insert hooks and take your back, leaving you vulnerable to being choked. The Grappling Academy warns that poor positioning in Kesa Gatame can quickly turn the tables, going from you being on top to having your back taken.
How do I set up an arm lock from Kesa Gatame?
Slide your knee underneath your opponent's shoulder to control their arm, then trap their arm behind your knee against your thigh. Create counter pressure on the shoulder by holding it down while moving one knee down and the other knee up to apply the lock. Gracie Ohio Jiu-Jitsu Academy explains this arm lock can also become a shoulder lock if the opponent's thumb turns down.
How does the Kesa Gatame work?
The Kesa Gatame subfamily covers the scarf hold variation of side control, where the controlling fighter wraps one arm around the opponent's head and the other controls the near arm, with the hips turned to face the opponent's head. Kesa gatame is one of the most traditional pinning positions in judo, providing extremely strong pinning pressure through the hip-and-shoulder weight distribution.
Where does the Kesa Gatame come from?
Kesa gatame is one of the original judo osaekomi-waza (pinning techniques), named for the scarf-like draping of the arm around the opponent's head. It has been part of judo's curriculum since the art's founding and was adopted into BJJ and other grappling systems.
Is the Kesa Gatame legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, mount scores 4 points — highest-scoring position; IJF: legal — Legal, osaekomi (pin) — 10-19 seconds scores waza-ari, 20 seconds scores ippon; ADCC: legal — Legal, mount scores 2 points; Unified MMA: legal — Legal dominant position; UWW: legal — Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match by fall; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal, pin scores points
How dangerous is the Kesa Gatame?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
How do I set up the Kesa Gatame?
The standard setup chain: Pass the Guard → Settle Weight → Control Arms → Threaten Submissions.
How do I defend against the Kesa Gatame?
Standard counters include: Bridge (Upa) — explosive hip elevation to off-balance the top player / Elbow-Knee Escape (Shrimp) — create space by driving elbow to knee and hip-escaping / Frame — establish forearm frames to prevent the top player from settling weight.
What are the variants of the Kesa Gatame?
Common variants: Standard side control (crossface and underhook, chest on chest); Kesa gatame (head control with arm trapped, hip facing the opponent); Reverse kesa gatame (facing the opponent's legs with arm control); Modified side control (arm under the head, leg-side arm controlling the hip).
How effective is the Kesa Gatame in competition?
Kesa gatame is one of the most commonly scored pins in judo competition at the Olympic and World Championship level. Josh Barnett used kesa gatame to control and submit opponents in multiple MMA bouts, including his catch wrestling-influenced ground game.
What are common mistakes when doing the Kesa Gatame?
Top errors to watch for: Sitting too far from the opponent — the hip must be tight against their side for maximum control / Not wrapping the head tightly — the head must be hugged against the ribs with the arm / Allowing the near arm to escape — the near-arm control prevents bridging escapes / Leaning away from the opponent — lean into them for weight distribution.
What are other names for the Kesa Gatame?
The Kesa Gatame is also known as Kesa-gatame, Scarf Hold, Kesa Gatame (袈裟固め), Head and Arm Control.