Reverse Kesa-Gatame Position for BJJ
Image Above: The top offensive player (purple gi) has the bottom defensive player (gold gi) in reverse kesa-gatame position. The top player has the left side of their torso high up on their opponent's chest while maintaining control of the hips with their hands (which you can not see in the picture).
What Is Covered on This Page?
What Is the Reverse Kesa-Gatame Position?
Reverse kesa-gatame is a variation of the side control position, in which the top player's chest and torso are facing the legs of the defensive player. The top player is on one side with their hip on the ground and their legs splayed to the side. The bottom player is laying flat on their back.
Defense for Reverse Kesa-Gatame (Surive + Defend)
When in the bottom kesa-gatame position, the most prudent thing to do is prevent your opponent from moving to mount and avoiding any possible submissions.
Image Above: The gold-colored character represents the defensive position of the reverse kesa-gatame position. The defensive player has their back to the mount while their opponent is on their chest and controlling their hips with their hands.
Escaping the Bottom Reverse Kesa-Gatame Position
When your opponent has you in their bottom reverse kesa-gatame, they will most likely want to move to mount. Multiple possibilities will allow you to escape to a better position. You should know the following:
Bridge and Roll Escape. Block the mount with your inside leg and then reach around their jaw with your inside arm. From here, you can bridge and roll.
Escape to Half-Guard. If the bridge and roll escape doesn't work, you can use that to get your opponent off-base and then snatch their leg and get to half-guard.
Hip Escape. If your opponent is low on your body and they try to transition to the mount, it is easy to escape.
Frame and Bridge Escape. You can catch your opponent's gi and then bridge into them, freeing your bottom leg and allowing you to take the back.
1. Bridge and Roll Escape
How to roll your opponent off of youYouTube Clip: Bridge and Roll Escape from Reverse Kesa-Gatame
Instructor: Tom Davey
Provided by: The Grappling Academy
Length: 41 seconds
Synopsis: Keep your elbows as close as possible and keep your opponent nice and low. You can also bring the inside leg up, but that's not required and puts you at the risk of leg locks. Put your outside hand on their jaw. Bridge and roll into your opponent. Once they are off of you, you can scramble for a good position.
2. Escape to Half-Guard
How to threaten the bridge and roll to escape to half guardYouTube Clip: How To Escape The Reverse Kesa Gatame
Instructor: Tom Davey
Provided by: The Grappling Academy
Length: 33 second
Synopsis: Threaten the bridge and roll escape, using their counter reaction move into half-guard.
3. Hip Escape
How to Push Your Opponent Down and Hip EscapeYouTube Clip: Hip Escape from Reverse Kesa-Gatame
Instructor: Gustavo Gasperin
Provided by: MMA Leach
Length: 47 seconds
Synopsis: Frame against your opponent to push them down. Then hip escape out.
4. Frame and Bridge Escape
How to frame against your opponent then bridge allowing your bottom leg to come throughYouTube Video Link: Frame and Bridge into Your Opponent
Instructor: Gustavo Gasperin
Length: 60 seconds
Synopsis: Use your outside arm to control your opponent's gi. Frame against your opponent's back with your forearm. Lift your torso and go to the elbow of your inside arm. Bridge into your opponent to create space and then bring your leg under and through. You can then take the back of your opponent.
Offense for Reverse Kesa-Gatame (Control + Submit)
When your opponent is in reverse kesa-gatame position, you will most likely want to advance to mount or back mount. However, there are submissions available from the top reverse kesa-gatame position.
Image Above: The purple-colored character represents the offensive position of the reverse kesa-gatame position. The offensive player has the side of their torso against their opponent's chest while their legs are splayed, and their hand controls their opponent's hips.
Submission from Top Reverse Kesa-Gatame Position
Most submissions from reverse kesa-gatame present themselves when your opponent tries to get one arm in for an escape. You should know the following:
Reverse Arm Wrench. If your opponent has their inside arm underneath your torso, giving you control of that arm, you can go for a reverse arm wrench.
Armbar. When your opponent tries to swim their bottom arm in, it will allow you to lock their arm and go for the armbar.
Kimura. If your opponent swims their arm in, you can lock their arm, pull it away from their body, and go for the submission.
1. Reverse Arm Wrench
How to transition from side control to reverse kesa-gatame and get the arm wrench.YouTube Clip: Arm Wrench Submission
Instructor: Jeremy Arel
Provided by: Great Grappling
Length: 55 seconds
Synopsis: Your opponent will try and bring their outside arm in. Allow them do so while you throw your leg over and elevate your hips. Push with your pelvis to finish the submission.
2. Armbar
How to get the armbar when the kimura is hard to finishYouTube Clip: Subs from Reverse Reverse Kesa Gatame
Instructor: Josh Mancuso
Provided by: JM Modern Jiu-Jitsu
Length: 35 seconds
Synopsis: When your opponent tries to swim in for the underhook you can grab it with a kimura. Then step over the head to transition to an armbar.
3. Kimura
How to finish the kimuraYouTube Clip: Subs from Reverse Reverse Kesa Gatame
Instructor: Josh Mancuso
Provided by: JM Modern Jiu-Jitsu
Synopsis: Off of the swim in, get your opponent's arm in kimura. From there pull it towards your torso and away, down to the ground.
Length: 43 seconds
Transitions from Top Reverse Kesa-Gatame Position
When in reverse kesa-gatame, your most reasonable goal should be to get to mount or the back mount. You should know to do the following:
Advance to Full Mount. Advancing to mount is likely the most common and most desirable transition when you have your opponent in reverse kesa-gatame.
Advance to Back Mount. You can threaten the arm wrench in order to take the back.
1. Advance to Full Mount
How to transition from top kesa-gatame to the mount positionYouTube Video: How to mount reverse kesa gatame
Instructor: David Webster
Provided by: David Webster
Length: 2 minutes
Synopsis: Control arms so that they are above the head. Move the foot over avoid their legs.
2. Advance to Back Mount
How to threaten the arm-wrench to take the back.YouTube Clip: Threaten the Arm Wrench to Take the Back
Instructor: Jeremy Arel
Provided by: Great Grappling
Length: 49 seconds
Synopsis: When in reverse kesa-gatame you can threaten the arm wrench as leverage to take the back. Watch for the details needed to make this transition.
More Positions
Back Mount: A position in which the offensive player controls the defensive players back.
Mount: The position in which the offensive player is on top of the defensive player while the defensive players back is exposed to the floor.
Knee-On-Belly: A position in which the offensive player is on top of the defensive player with their shin and knee across their opponent's torso and abdomen. The defensive player has their back exposed to the ground.
Side Control: A position in which the offensive top player is perpendicular to and on top of the defensive player. The defensive player has their back exposed to the floor.
Kesa-Gatame: A position in which the offensive player has the head and one-arm of the defensive player.
Reverse Kesa-Gatame: A position similar to kesa-gatame the offensive player faces the defensive players legs.
You are currently viewing the reverse kesa-gatame position page.
North-South: A position in which the top player is face down and laying on top of their opponent's chest. The two opponent's body's are offset 180 degrees.
Turtle: A position in which the defensive player is in the fetal position. The offensive player has the back of the defensive player.