HOW TO ESCAPE KESA GATAME - Travis Stevens Basic Judo Techniques

My name is Travis Stevens. I'm an Olympic Silver Medalist in the sport of judo and a Renzo Gracie John Danaher Black Belt! My passion is helping others improve their grappling knowledge and performance!
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[@slavicvolk]

0:33 trapping nearside leg 1:51 bridge and roll 2:36 walk away when they are low 3:40 sequence 4:50 example

[@yodayoutube]

Thank you for explaining how to chain the techniques together. I feel like too many instructional videos focus on a single technique which can be countered easily instead of chained techniques that exploit realistic/natural counters.

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

I'm glad you found it helpful. It's always best to blend everything together.

[@counterkidnapping1737]

Just like Firas Zahabi showed to me. When you bridge and roll, he posted up, use that moment to pop your head out and escape

[@ekpurdy]

Chain submissions vs chain escapes... Excellent video!

[@MeroGrumble]

There is something missing in 90% instructionals that you can learn in this video: proper use of the legs. 1:52 uke's front leg should be extended to counter the bridge from scratch (which Travis Stevens actually does when he reverses the position at 3:18 ). 3:07 Similarly, the job of the rear leg is to prevent a sit-up (and with the knee on the floor, as rightfully underlined at 1:00 ). That's why you need to re-align yourself when you feel that your opponent is cutting an angle. There are a lot of bjj "kesa suc*s" videos on KZbin. If you stumble upon one of them, I invite you check the leg positioning of the top guy laying there like a dead body, even sometimes with no hip contact. You will then realise the problem is not about kesa.

[@sly.al.6404]

So, are you saying not to watch this video or?

[@MeroGrumble]

​@@sly.al.6404 The video is great as you can expect from someone with Travis Stevens' level. As mentioned in my previous message, you see a clear difference between Travis' and his uke's application. So I am just pointing the importance & logic behind leg positioning, something which is way too often overlooked in kesa-type positions.

[@AnonYmous-mm6vz]

@@MeroGrumble Your absolutely correct, but I won't sugar coat it - that is a terrible scarfhold, a well applied scarfhold makes all of these escapes extremely hard.

[@avenuex3731]

Yep. He isn’t going to have much luck with these escapes with a correct kesa gatame. But, well frankly not too many BJJ players take the time to learn the mechanics of this hold. So, meh, ok.

[@chefrobsen]

Great stuff, I like the idea of chaining the three together!

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

Things always work best when you can chain them all together!

[@johnnyzaldana4841]

Brilliant escapes ,for the Kase-Gatame!!! ,by Travis Steven's!!!

[@shortgymbro]

Thank you! As a white belt I struggle to get out but I’ll try this out

[@helene8854]

I also really like the one where you end with your opponent's arm in Juji-Gatame. You basically take your upper body as far away from them as possible, squeeze one of your knees in the space between their torso and the floor, push the shoulder downwards and capture their head in the "bend" of your other knee and then roll.

[@studentpsy1972]

It's just the best explanation, and I've reserched bunch of the videos covering that topic

[@godsmacked1000]

I learned the second one and it’s helped me out so much. I need to learn the others

[@eschelar]

What a phenomenal video. Thank you. I usually don't get in this on the bottom because I'm usually bigger and stronger than my opponents, so this is a position I see from the top a lot. For starters, this helps me understand how they will likely try to escape. But more importantly, I am always conscious that there is always someone stronger and bigger than me. So I need to learn these things from the viewpoint of technique and procedural movement. The idea of each of these being sequential and "expect this to not work", but it leads to something else... This is the real value for me. Apply technique 1, look for opening. Lead to technique 2. I am trying to take this approach with all of my jiu jitsu. Judo newaza is cousins with jiu jitsu, but I also find that there is a different mindset because there is a much greater emphasis on time. Appreciated... And subbed! Because the only way I'll ever sub a guy like you is hitting the subscribe button on KZbin! Hahaha

[@forgedinpainx5400]

Great video I've been having alot of trouble escaping from this. Thanks.

[@deweyck6820]

This and the stack have been my bane. Gonna use these! Thanks!

[@julienp7766]

Very clear and useful

[@shadymilkman443]

This is so good. Judo guys know this position well

[@morpheus2072]

I didn't even realize that i already subscribed to you. Good stuff

[@bigmo931]

Great details!! I accidentally stumbled upon the head and arm escape a couple of months ago and I have been drilling it ever since. Thank you for pointing out when the ideal time to do that escape. That was one of the questions I had which was when the proper time was.

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

Glad you found that helpful!

[@PnPModular]

Brilliant explanation.... Really rated your appearance on Lex but man your clarity of explanation here is spot on thanks

[@shaunclubberlang2887]

As usual, stellar content, and a new kesa escape for me to try next time I practise ne waza. Thank you so much

[@dandychiggins7240]

Big thank you 🙏🤲 really well explained 💖

[@a.m.4479]

Amazing!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@francdejong]

Thanks always helpful

[@leeralph599]

thank you oss

[@rumpelstilzchen7902]

Thanks for this Video ! Im sure it will helps a lot. Do not Listen to the haters 🤙🏻

[@ricardoaguilar4750]

Thanks great work sensei

[@FR-ty5vn]

Great 👍🏼 stuff - I can usually pop my head out with the first escape, but I love the second bridge and how you connect them together...btw, your Wristlock App is tremendous - catching lots of those from my guard as well as inside my opponents’ guard (which I didn’t expect).

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

Glad you found this video helpful. And thank you for the purchase of my Wrist Locks From Everywhere DVD. It was a lot of fun to film. Nothing beats catching someone is a wrist lock they never saw coming.

[@FR-ty5vn]

Travis Stevens I was a Wristlock guy beforehand, with a background in Kindai Ryu Jiu Jitsu & also doing Hapkido now, but you definitely expanded my repertoire & they’re very different on the ground. Thank you 🙏 - they work better than I expected in BJJ.

[@drfrancovalento7545]

Thank you!

[@Dreaming-11]

Very good!

[@AZ-em6nj]

Great video! My Sensei tells me that I should to kick my near leg through underneath my opponent's head, then grab my thigh with the arm that is controlling the head to get a good Kesa Gatame.

[@carlosbrasil618]

Thanks.

[@jamescregg694]

Good stuff!

[@Joshuanyc73]

awesome teacher

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

Thank you! 😃

[@pimpom3902]

the way you just popped your head out like you weren't stuck in the first place was so funny

[@luisquintino7308]

excellent tutorial

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

Thank you Luis! I'm glad you liked it!

[@blitzthekraken9832]

I think Ketsa is such an active position, on both ends compared, to side control, and mount. I also think it's harder to learn because it's more of a chess game, whether in top or bottom. I always try and stay active in that position whenever on the bottom or top. Going to show this to my Kido, he has a hard time putting it all together in a chain sequence.

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

Yes I order to get out you will want to attack with all three and not in any particular order.

[@luismaldonado3618]

jsut suscribed, pretty good content

[@jonlasarte9690]

Hi Travis, What's your insight in using hon gesa gatame in BJJ? Is it reliable to you? As a judoka, I find it easy to get there, and tons of submissions without risking position. What should be my B game? I thought about uchi mata and choi bar for dogfight

[@joewells5538]

good stuff

[@leonpeltvan95]

I wish Oliveira had seen this.

[@carzoparazzo9698]

The deal its this, the position its easy to scape if you have time to work on it but its very hard to do it in a Judo Tournament when you have only a few seconds till Ippon.

[@sujavarsha7822]

Wow

[@Yupppi]

Can't Rian defend like in gatame no kata? To avoid freeing that arm. Does it not really work with competitive techniques?

[@krismargett]

What about if your parter is significantly heavier than you? Really need help with this. I'm 6'4". I'm thin. My fellow Judoka are shorter and heavier. I'm finding it tough

[@NIKandSi]

We love Kesa-gatame.

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

It's one of my least favorite pins but it's so necessary.

[@NIKandSi]

We hope to meet you this April. Love the videos!

[@aaronutai3482]

🙏

[@teeszu]

What if the kesa is done correct and he has an under hook instead of the head.

[@jamescregg694]

You should try grabbing the other hand , more leverage! That is in the Bridge and Roll!

[@thegentlemanjay]

This move works really well when you’re making a video lol

[@oktayking9746]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@robertsullivan9232]

If you could do this with every instructional that’d be fricken awesome

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

Do what?

[@ashemleibakngambamoirangch5416]

Sensei how about how to do a proper Kesa gatame? Thank you

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

There is a proper version and then there are versions that work better for competition. Which type do you actually want.

[@ashemleibakngambamoirangch5416]

@@TravisStevensgrappling i choose the proper version Sensei. Thank you

[@ashemleibakngambamoirangch5416]

@@TravisStevensgrappling here is me coach asking for the Proper Kesa gatame 😁

[@michaelspyrou1784]

nice. not so simple for me!

[@alespicha5731]

I would likes to see: how to escape kata gatame

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

Thats a good one. I'll have to put that on the list! It can be real challenge though but still doable.

[@heavenzss]

Im here only cuz in school i said i have black belt in judo then one girl in my class said that she would do kesa gatama, kata gatama and hon kesa gatama and see if i could escape those

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

LMAO

[@andreasburkert3072]

these techniques will not work in real fights ._(

[@Kwisatz-Chaderach]

It's a pin bro. It definitely works.

[@JBNewman85]

Nope! These escapes will only work if your opponent's kesa is *dogshit*. Escape 1: He can just walk away and keep his legs out of range. 2: if your partner actually had his weight on you and his arm under your head like he should, you wouldn't be able to bridge at all. 3: you said yourself if his kesa was good he'd be on your ribs. If you can just sit up like that, he doesn't actually have you pinned in the first place.

[@dereknueveuno]

i think they will but will be much harder once the guy settles into the position and if hes good at it, you have hit these soon as you feel the position is being transition.

[@TravisStevensgrappling]

It’s funny that you think that. I have done these escapes not only to judo players but some of the best BJJ Black belts in the world. There is no pin that can be escaped. The only way to truly hold some one is to know how to translation your hold downs from one to another. Just because you can’t get them to work or the people you train with can get them to work when you hold them (they must be doing something wrong if that’s the case) doesn’t mean these bad or don’t work at all. As crazy as it sound I do consider myself an expert in this!

[@JBNewman85]

@@TravisStevensgrappling definitely not disputing your expertise! For the record I'm a big fan and find a lot of your videos super helpful. Maybe it's just the way I was taught kesa gatame was specifically intended to stop these escapes from working most of the time. The escape I've found works more often is getting the guy to over-commit his weight, then rolling him over to north side so you end up in cross side control, or mount if you're fast enough. Different strokes for different folks maybe!

[@konstantinos-antoniosbme-m6472]

These escapes work in sequence! All good judo players we can hit them! Mifune was a little skinny guy and escape from huge guys keza pin with the first escape that Travis show😎

[@markdaniels4178]

Absolutely! That's why I use an alternate to getting out of kesa katame; it's called building a frame and o learned it from Brazilian jujitsu from Conan silveria back in 1995

[@jasonmcadam4929]

I respect you sensei, but these moves only work if your opponent has either bad leg position, loose grip or poor body position over you. Other than the belt pull if you cause a reaction to utilise… very weak advice. Disappointed. Sorry.

[@jamtmann]

Thank you 👍