Kesa Gatame

Also known as: Scarf Hold · Headlock Side Control · Kesa

A judo pin: the top player sits through beside the opponent, wrapping their head with one arm and trapping the near arm. Enormous pressure on the ribs and diaphragm. BJJ players who dismiss it as "just a headlock" get held there for entire rounds by judoka who know better.

Gi & No-gi · Category: Top Control & Pins

What can you do from Kesa Gatame?

Top player

This side of the position is about defending and rebuilding — see the escapes and transitions from the other role.

Bottom player (positional score -7/10)

Escapes

Where you can go from here

← Back to the full Grapplepedia position map