Kesa Gatame

What it is

Kesa gatame, also called the scarf hold, is a side pin from judo where you sit hip to hip beside your opponent, with their head trapped under your arm and their near arm clamped under your armpit. It is heavy, hard to bridge out of, and loaded with the americana on the trapped arm. From the bottom, the trapped arm is the whole problem: protect it first, then turn in and work the elbow free to the mat.

What you want from here

• On top: from side control when they turn into you, or after a throw that lands you beside them with the arm already clamped.
• On top: when you want a pin that is hard to shrimp from, and the americana or a straight armlock on the trapped arm.
• On bottom: protect the trapped elbow first, then turn in, free the arm, and recover guard or take the back.
• On bottom: bridging and rolling them only works once the trapped arm is yours again.

Key details

• Hips low and tight to their ribs, legs spread wide, one leg forward and one back for base.
• Their head trapped under your arm, your hand on the mat or in a collar, and your chest over their chest.
• Their near arm clamped under your armpit with your elbow tight, so they cannot pull it out or frame.
• Keep your weight on them, not on your own hip; if you sit up tall they can bridge you over.
• On bottom, bend the trapped arm and keep the elbow close, so the americana is not available.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: letting the arm slip free. They turn in, frame on your hip, and the pin is over.
• Mistake: sitting upright with your legs close together. A strong bridge rolls you over your own hip.
• Mistake: on the bottom, straightening the trapped arm to push. You have handed them the straight armlock.

How it is escaped or passed

• Freeing the trapped arm, then bridging and rolling them over toward their head.
• Hooking the top leg with your leg and taking the back from underneath.
• Turning in and sliding the knee through to recover guard once the arm is free.