How to Escape Kesa Gatame and the Headlock

[@StephanKesting]

Yes, I did Judo for quite a few years. I found a club that focused a lot on newaza (groundwork) so I was very happy there

[@cesaralvesdemoraes3187]

Whats up man, I think you will be glad to read this: I was sparring with my judo friend (I train BJJ but only by myself havent gotten by white belt yet) and he got me in a kesa. I remembered this video, and proceeded to aply the first defense you teach. Ended up on my knees, rocked him over, BAM side control (but hes got my head) so I make the frame and take the mount (he didnt extend the arm). He proceeded to bridge and try to roll me but my mount control was solid so he out of desperation rolled and gave me his back, wich I took with pleasure and got to aply a RNC. Just leaving this here in case anyone doesnt believe this works

[@Supermomo2007]

iam judoka and for me it works against bjj players.

[@djstapler]

If you get a judoka in mount, usually they're going to bridge like crazy lmao

[@shinken_1wei]

Thanks so much, you save me a lot !! @01:31 technical mount to armbar @04:12 common escape @05:39 bridge sweep

[@KLm912]

I am absolutely amazed with how articulately you describe every crucial detail. Really really impressed!!!

[@amirgamil]

Thank you so much for this!! Been struggling using this against larger opponents in class. Two bridge idea seems to be the bit I was missing as I was struggling to get the knees in close enough to bridge them off with any force at all. Can't wait to try this next time!

[@michaelrhodes6730]

I think you have one of the very best jiu jitsu instructional channels on KZbin. very short and concise but thoroughly descriptive.

[@stevesstuff552]

I've just caught up with this. I recall my judo instructor teaching us the second escape back in the late1960's. It certainly works with less experienced judoka. I'd forgotten this in the mists of time so will be working with my son (1st Dan) to refresh my (muscle) memory so I can teach it at the club I coach at.

[@MultiTongi]

I want to thank your partner for training, it adds to the whole process of learning Thanks

[@Oldschl]

Got caught this morning in Kesa Gatame and just sat there until the bell. I had NOTHING. Thanks for this video - I'll put it in my toolbox and try it out the next time I'm on lockdown.

[@InformedGlobe]

Last night I had this problem, a Judo guy relatively new in BJJ put me in this position, it was hell, I was able to escape, but everything you said in this video is true to me because I lived it.

[@pabloamericano4930]

I really appreciate the humble honesty about getting tapped before. It made me feel better about failure in BJJ.

[@Rhowski]

i've started bjj not so long time ago and always get caught in this position. the video helps a lot! thank you

[@aaronrivers64]

I love you videos, Stephan! They are very thorough with a twist of light humor and personality. Makes learning BJJ that more fun. Keep up the food work!

[@SuperRei07]

Stephan is very good in teaching BJJ. I learned a lot. Thanks

[@matbullshark3793]

Vouch

[@CatholicismRules]

+Stephan Kesting Oh my gosh I actually found your channel over 1.5 years ago, but back then I just didn't understand what on earth any of this stuff was. So I recently began Judo, this has been helping, your videos. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!

[@hellsweethell]

I just tried this on one of our bigger blackbelts. He was so supprised that I was able to sweep him and make him tap with an kimura after passing into sideguard. Grat video, great explanation and great work. Thanks a lot and OSS! to you two and all who have been involved.

[@PivotGuardianDZ]

Best Jiu-Jitsu videos on youtube. Big ups Stephan!

[@minhquando100]

with my experience in judo, I can tell you this escape works once in a blue moon. it's damn near impossible to escape kesa gatame against an experienced judoka because as soon as he gets you into kesa gatame, he'll immediately start circling towards your head which means there's no way you're gonna be able to get that first bridge. plus there are some sick submissions from kesa gatame.

[@vinhit2nguyenitbjj]

+minh quan Do Well then post a video of how to escape?

[@jolo4534]

Shou Kisaragi the last escape woks best if the one on top is circling. Then you don't require as much energy imo it works well

[@wakeywakey4289]

Exactly..I never had anyone escape once I had it locked in.. will show the first one to my youth wrestling kids.

[@sweetness583]

Yeah I really can't get the escape to work, even on a lighter opponent.

[@martialman.4563]

Nearly impossible to get out, that's why most just tap if they have another match after.

[@DanielMorenoSoto]

I agree. This position is undervalued and can really give you a bad time. We don't usually see this in BJJ and when applied upon us can be very confusing. I've been even neck cranked from here. Thanks for the video.

[@igorg.8624]

Thank you for this video. I found myself in this position on the bottom today, against a much lower belt. For the life of me I didn't know how to escape. I was embarrassed and frustrated. Your video gives me hope for this position!

[@aakazya]

Thanks a lot! I had really difficult times, tring to escape from Kesa Gatame. It's very valuable to meet men, that sharing their knowledge.

[@jtmsmooth072088]

I am simply learning new evasive movements form this video. :) Much appreciated for uploading this. KUDOS. I show plenty of gratitude, y'all !

[@ToniMattTony]

Good teaching Stephan. I have been studying Judo for 40 years now,and hurting. My days are done, I try to get on the mat twice a month but its very hard. Thanks for the video. Tony W.

[@Darwinist]

If you have trouble doing Judo due to age and/or injuries, I recommend you find a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy - their brand of newaza is a lot more congenial to banged-up bodies than Judo in my experience :) So many guys I know who got out of Judo because of injuries that found a new lease on life in the BJJ game.

[@ToniMattTony]

Einar Friðgeirs Thank you Steven, you are 100% correct and I appreciate response,you seem like a great person to train with. Thank you for the videos

[@ToniMattTony]

Thanks

[@MisterLovahLovah]

Einar Friðgeirs "So many guys I know who got out of Judo because of injuries that found a new lease on life in the BJJ game." That's because bjj is for pussies.

[@atownlefttrain]

MisterLovahLovah I just wanna kiss you all over when you talk like that sweetie! :)

[@ocantu1987]

Thanks Stephen! I’ve actually seen this done in several street fights on KZbin and another fight in high school

[@forbeswinthrop153]

I had the opportunity to try this the other day against a sparring opponent who was pretty strong, and it worked beautifully. Thanks Stephan.

[@ronaldlollis8756]

Great content...I coach high school wrestling and teach my heavyweights to roll through this common pinning position, but they were still getting pinned. I watched your video and learned that 1st bridge and bringing the head to their head, which I didn't know nor had I seen this detail and now NO ONE in my wrestling room gets pinned from this and they know they will get the reversal

[@MosDaf]

Seriously under-rated pin. I've won *so* many matches and fights against guys who didn't know how to get out of kesa gatame.

[@joshuauribe]

Great videos Stephan I've learned an enormous amount from your videos and signed up for the newsletters! Keep up the great work man!

[@yoihisamayu]

all your video is really helping me to improve my skills, it's easy to follow, step by step. thanks for uploading some great videos.

[@MrSnotrock3t]

My MMA playlist is being dominated by your videos Stephen. Keep up the good work!!

[@Histroika]

Kesa is awesome, one of my strongest techniques in Judo, rarely do they escape, easy to get a submission too from there. I use it in BJJ as well, one guy managed to get his knee underneath & take me backwards, I should have flipped to the other side, I'll remember next time.

[@LukeK1097]

Perfect video, just had a lot of trouble with Kesa in class from lots of bigger guys, trying this bridge-bridge technique on Friday!

[@COMB0RICO]

This lesson showcases the depth of your knowledge better than any other, in my opinion. And this was back in 2013!

[@timo235711]

First escape I learned in Judo, and it still works!

[@ninjasec]

have to teach the kids in the morning, have not gone over this in awhile, so i came to you for a review. i will get i picture / organ donor card soon, . Thanks for this excellent review, I am still working my way up ladder, and this helps me remember.

[@johnhagebeuk8]

Great video Stephan very clear to see and hear what you mean.

[@RichardBejtlich]

This is almost exactly what we learn in the Pedro Sauer curriculum. Nice work!

[@metallicajoy]

Omg ! that's very awesome techniques! I am a small person and I can't get out of pins almost never I am going to try these for sure in my next Judo class , thank you

[@safeundfitsportschule5644]

Thanks Stephan, lovely cear explanations... learning to get comfortable, (if thats possible) ground-fighting for beginners and advanced, thank you again, Dave Maddox, Germany

[@lucaskring4117]

Can't tell you how much your grappling app had helped me with greco roman wrestling. Had to modify some moves, but 100% proven concepts are being taught here. Keep it up!

[@rfrancoi]

Awesome video. You're a great instructor.

[@Mollumbus]

Thank you so much! I've had a lot of trouble escaping this position and your tips really helped.

[@bronsondiamond2025]

Lol I always pull off the kesa gatame because it's so easy on the street, people just leave there heads open. I was doing this even before I knew jiu jitsu, like it was inherent in me, but then one time the kesa gatame was placed onto me, and I didn't know what to do and I panic'd and in fact ran from this fight because the opponent was armed with a knife. I got into learning jiu jitsu even though I thought I had this inherent knack for body control, lol I didn't even know this existed (this was 2009 for me). I don't know why I'm rambling bout this this but when I see people like this instructor, and I don't know who taught him, I'm like "this dude has that inherent knowledge maaan." God Bless this guy. He taught me Another way to escape my nemesis. I think I learned how to escape the kimyra from this guys video once.

[@TheTails63]

very articulate,very easy to pick up your point,great teaching.

[@saudal-zaidi2268]

Thank you very much! I am trying to teach some students at the Aikido dojo me and my buddies teach at some ground techniques and escapes since there aren't many of the old teachers left to teach ground techniques in Aikido and I think its really important no matter who and what person trains in he/she must cross train to be a good martial artist! Thanks this was really helpful!

[@shabirsaqebi2762]

hi i am a judoka and whenever i was in this position i couldnt do anything and then i will tapped out. i watch your video you believe me or not there is no way to escape a good kesa gatame unless your opponent is so small that you can roll him and get on top. but in compitions its very very very hard to escape and sometimes its imposible. i was searching youtube to find a way for escaping kesa gatame and i find this video i watched your vedio and i try it on my opponent and unfortunatly it didnt worked. whenever i tried to get my hips closer to him to make a bridge he will rotate the same way with me and thats why this tip doesnt work. maybe if you are competing a BJJ player it should work but not with a judoka because rotating with your opponent is what every judo coach teaches his students and its consider to be one of the most important parts in kesa gatame. so please make a vedio and find another efficent way to escape this technique. i will be very glad to have your advice. with much respect. A Judoka.

[@Phospion]

You probably aren't controlling his body in a seatbelt manner as Stephan showed, its hard but try to negate the rotation with your arms by pulling them towards you

[@karlluffel9480]

If a good judoka has you in kesa gatame, you will have a difficult time getting away. But, it can be done. I teach four escapes to my students, and the trick is to keep alternating them. The sit up (which he gave somewhat of a demo here; wrapping the leg and pulling them back; trying to tuck arm (similar again to what he did here) and go toward the stomach ; and the arch he demonstrated (only difference with me is that I keep the arch (not dropping my hip to ground) as I am rolling them up and over and move to kazure kesa gatame.

[@shabirsaqebi2762]

+Karl Luffel thanks for your advice. i will try it soon and wish this time your tip can help me.

[@RonnySayfan]

Staying arched is a critical tip!

[@kennethking4165]

Hi shabir. I feel your pain. We work Kesa gatame escapes at the judo club I go to. When I work the drills with white belts or green belts, I can escape no problem, but a good black belt is a different story. Like you said, they respond to your efforts and move with and against you at just the right times. The other day, however, a black belt had me in kesa gatame, and I tried to get in close and buck and bridge when I had the bright idea of hooking his trail leg with one of my feet so he couldn't slide away anymore. After all, those really good judokas have a super wide base on kesa that puts their trail leg within reach of your own, so why not try for it. Well, just as soon as I hooked the black belts leg, he pulled it away, but the distraction and the shift of weight was all I needed to get in close and bridge him over. Just something you might try.

[@mxu111]

I like how you break things down. Thank you!

[@chrisk8923]

Man Stephan I love your vids! Really helped my (MMA) grappling go to a whole new level :D Thanks alot!

[@fabianrios3021]

Gracias Sensei a ud y su compañero por su aporte.Cordoba. Argentina. Oss.

[@MikeKokoschka]

I had some of this information before but you explained a lot better...you are a good teacher....thank you..!!!!

[@jakob6437]

You're such a good teacher loooove your videos

[@mittenbbq]

Used this technique in practice tonight at it worked flawlessly! Needs more refining on my end, but glad to have found this video :) Thank you!

[@YamaArashi01]

Thanks Stephan, very clear instruction as always.

[@Austinkungfuacademy]

Thanks for posting! Kesa Gatame can be a beast, and a lot of Japanese Jiu Jitsu uses it, so thank you for posting this.

[@rodrigomiziarayunes4763]

Congratulations, nice explanation, keep publishing new videos

[@Eisenarsch]

Wow, this might be the best video from you so far. VERY helpful! Great!

[@baraahomsi4277]

I have nothing to say man it's just thank you so much it's very good for me I'm playing judo and I need for what you learned to me now thank you

[@lmjr0419]

Sir...i want to thank you for putting this video out...i am guilty of working on other parts of my game and neglecting this "simple" aspect of it.... #neverforgetthebasics

[@docshred1787]

Good stuff, Mr. Kesting. Thank you.

[@danafatujr7214]

Mahalo, incorporating this with wrestling because head and arms are forever used..a nice tactical escape...Happy Thanksgiving appreciate your kokua...Dana

[@S_Patty0331]

Me and my friend wrestle alot, and this is the only move he can do and he gets me all the time!! I finally know how to counter it.

[@MoistRenno]

I practice traditional Japanese jujitsu and have found that this technique often works really well, and is one of my favourites. I think of it as flipping a sack of potatoes over me, though I leave out the first bridge, and I've done it with opponents much heavier than myself (I weigh 68kgs (149lbs)) with success. Just like to add, my sensei likes to say that if the hold is on properly, they won't be able to get out, whether by submission or lockdown.

[@Grottez21]

Two things to note as I've been using this for many years. If my opponent grabs around my waist, I'll pick up his elbow and sit out for a type of Kimura. #1 priority for the guy on bottom is to always be trying to get his elbow out. #2 immediately go for bicep control. Then work his head to the mat. There's also a great leg triangle escape.

[@youareswift3]

very instructional, has also added little important parts of the technique that when i was taught was left out!

[@Dante-fk3ku]

Love how you explain the details.

[@kayathepiratebaykid]

Great one, thanks professor.

[@j.barker]

I don't do bjj and ill never do not my slice of pie but I find your videos entertaining and judo tactics interesting

[@OmarPS305]

a b c d EFG!!! lol

[@bobdavis5437]

pretty funny

[@kiwisdad1]

Guys that know what they are doing always make it look easy... Good Stuff!

[@judoka1976]

Very nice explanation of my favorite ground technique!

[@wxyz3889]

Thanks for the tips! It's a hell of a tough move to be in when you're stuck on the bottom.

[@주호찬-g9m]

Thank you so Mr.stepan

[@주호찬-g9m]

*stephan

[@KyoshiShendoGR]

Love this video. I struggled with this counter in my last in house tournament. Simply because I tried the one step process instead of the two step. Ill try it again tonight and will let you know how it turns out. Again, thanks.

[@emm589]

I like your videos Mr. Kesting, I´m learning good stuff here, greetings from Colombia

[@SmokesOnMe]

Good video. I've always just forced my way out of the scarf hold, but this is a good technique for finding a point where you have ideal leverage. Have you done any judo in the past?

[@stefanbrynjolfsson183]

One little thing to point out. If you grip his tricep and raise his shoulder then slide your knee underneath his shoulder when your applying kesa getame, It will resrict his movement and prevent him from turning onto his side (shrimping out). It seems to work for me anyway.

[@jonnymorris1866]

Guy at my jujitsu class is double my size and does judo too. My chest would be concave by now if it wasn't for this so thanks. Such a good controlling position to use too, you don't even have to stay there its so easy to transition to north/south or side control.

[@ParkourEh]

Would the first escape (tip over to headlock escape @ 1:12) work if the opponent has me in modified Scarfhold (farside underhook as opposed to headlock control)?

[@CariveProductions]

Clear and greta tutorial! Grat stuff as always. Gracie combatives has about 6 counters for this headlock, that are much simpler, and require less strength. Also good options to escape and finish.

[@badis23]

thank you so much sir for your dedication, very helpful and usefulRESPECT

[@snakeking992000]

I've dabbled in Aikido and Karate. Very much like your approach to this subject, and your teaching style. May I ask: where are you based? Do you provide one-on-one lessons?

[@hugoproductions6063]

Thanks this helps I started judo and jiujitsu recently and I roll with a bigger more advance guy than me but I can tap him from anywhere but when he gets kesa gatame and now I can escape thanks

[@n3m0k54]

Awesome. I'm new to judo. Often get in this position and have to tape out. Now I'm going to try this. Thank you.

[@insdel2004]

Man Steven. With the timing of your videos sometimes I think you read my mind.

[@spikechang556]

At 4:13, what would you do to counter that counter? Would you just use your Left hand to move it away while keeping your head down? I haven't had anyone do that to me before, even though it's a common escape.

[@dlove145]

YES, this is what i've been looking for! i do the kesa gatame all the time and vice versa. very good tutorial.

[@michaelenns8872]

This is the most favourite position for Judoka. They looooooove it

[@curt3900]

Another thing people forget about is when you try to roll someone over from Kesa Gatame. that escape of the Uki is designed to push you into another pin (yokoshio gatami) the proper technique to stop this escape is to flip your legs over the uki as he is rolls you , this puts you into another dominant position yokoshio gatami (side control). But this takes good timing.

[@vamtheanomaly]

I subscribed btw. I like the way you elaborate on the techniques and do if / then situations. Most just show the technique and dont say "well if they do this..."

[@derekstocker6661]

Thanks for this guys. Could the free hand of the underdog in this hold be used to shall we say "interfere" with the guy on tops eyes in this situation at all, just curious. Or even a pressure point under the jaw line. Could be the get out clause!

[@JoeG75]

good stuff, just learned a a couple of variations of this today

[@crazycorey1313]

great video stephan, I was in real need of some answers to this position!

[@63doughnut]

I used exactly this first escape to free myself from a strong headlock just the other day - your opponent can stop you from easily pulling your head out , but he'll find it harder to stop you 'spinning' your head when it's trapped, thus allowing you to go to your knees. BUT , if the kesa gatame is on properly with your leading leg well under his shoulder[ in other words you don't just have a headlock ] you won't be able to use this escape.

[@ryansmith9138]

What do you do to prevent your final escape from working. Do you want to focus on keeping them square on their back. What can you do if they get to their side and link their arms? How can you stop that final bridge and roll if you get to that point

[@DeeDub02]

''I felt like burning my gi'' haha :)

[@Volgeblanc]

Stephan, do you think that Kodokan Syllabus is more focused on standing techniques and point matches? Thanks and Keep it Up!

[@tooquick6]

How do you bail on the Regular Scarf Hold and go to Mount or Side Control? Not asking about the Modified Scarf Hold.

[@kaishint4792]

A good trick is to wrap as much of your leg around the other persons leg and then bridge him over. If you get his leg, he's done. Otherwise there's a bit of a problem. First of all you can go for a variation of a kimura/anaconda when you're on top. Second of all, a good judo fighter will just move clockwise with you, while squeezing or go into an armlock fast. Then you're done.

[@OlredFin]

Love your videos, cant wait to try them out on my friends

[@ShinkaTV]

double bridge looks neat, thanks