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Kuzure Kesa Gatame Variations Top | BJJ Position Guide | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202512 min read

Kuzure Kesa Gatame Variations Top

bjjpositionpinkesa-gatamejudointermediate

State Description

Kuzure kesa gatame variations represent broken or modified scarf hold positions derived from judo, adapted for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with emphasis on control and submission opportunities. These positions score 3 points in IBJJF competition (side control points) and are characterized by chest pressure applied across the opponent’s upper body, with hips positioned low beside their torso rather than perpendicular as in standard side control. The “kuzure” (broken) designation indicates variations from standard kesa gatame form, typically involving different arm positioning, head control variations, or body angle modifications.

From this position, you maintain dominant control through effective chest and hip pressure while creating submission opportunities through arm isolation, particularly arm triangles and kimuras. The position provides excellent control against larger opponents and creates attacking opportunities distinct from standard side control positions. The variations allow you to adapt based on opponent’s defensive reactions and body positioning, maintaining offensive pressure while preventing common pin escapes.

The position is most effective when established from successful guard passes or during transitions where you can trap opponent’s near arm, allowing you to immediately secure control and pressure. Against experienced opponents, the ability to flow between kuzure kesa variations, north-south, and mount becomes essential for maintaining offensive dominance and preventing defensive stabilization.

Visual Description

You are positioned with your side and chest lying heavily across your opponent’s upper chest and face, creating diagonal pressure from their shoulder toward opposite hip. Your hips are low and positioned beside their torso rather than elevated, with your legs spread wide for base with feet and knees contacting the mat. Your near arm (closest to their legs) typically controls their near arm either trapped under your armpit or secured with an underhook, while your far arm controls their head or far arm depending on the variation. Your chest weight drives down and across their upper body, restricting their breathing and making it extremely difficult for them to sit up or turn.

Your opponent is flat on their back beneath your diagonal pressure, with their near arm often trapped or controlled and their movement severely restricted. Their head is controlled or pressured by your chest and arm positioning, limiting their ability to create angles for escape. Their hips are beside your low hip position, making hip escape attempts require significant effort and space creation. The pressure across their chest makes breathing labored, and they must work constantly to maintain defensive structure.

This creates dominant pinning control allowing you to threaten submissions while maintaining security against roll attempts, with your diagonal body position and low hips making you feel immovable to your opponent while restricting their offensive and defensive options severely.

Key Principles

  • Diagonal Chest Pressure: Applying weight across opponent’s upper chest diagonally restricts breathing and prevents sitting up or turning
  • Low Hip Positioning: Keeping hips low and beside opponent’s body rather than elevated prevents roll escapes
  • Wide Base Stability: Spreading legs wide creates stable platform resistant to opponent’s bridge and roll attempts
  • Arm Isolation and Control: Controlling near arm while attacking far arm creates submission opportunities
  • Smooth Position Transitions: Flowing between kuzure variations, north-south, and mount maintains offensive pressure
  • Pressure Distribution: Balancing control pressure with mobility for transitions and attacks
  • Judo-BJJ Integration: Combining judo pinning principles with BJJ submission chains

Offensive Transitions

From this position, you can execute:

Position Improvements

Submissions

Defensive Responses

When opponent has this position against you, available counters:

Decision Tree

If opponent’s near arm is trapped and exposed:

Else if opponent attempts to bridge or turn away:

Else if opponent creates space with frames:

Else (balanced opponent / default):

  • Maintain Pressure and Wait (Probability: 60%)
    • Reasoning: Solid control creates fatigue and future opportunities
  • Or Execute Transition to North-South → North-South (Probability: 65%)
    • Reasoning: Position change creates new attacking angles

Expert Insights

John Danaher: Kuzure kesa gatame represents intelligent adaptation of judo pinning methodology to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s submission-focused approach. The key mechanical advantage lies in the diagonal chest pressure which simultaneously restricts breathing, limits mobility, and creates arm isolation opportunities. Understanding pressure application angles and maintaining low hip positioning creates control that feels overwhelming to bottom player while preserving top player’s offensive options and transition mobility.

Gordon Ryan: In competition, I use kuzure kesa variations primarily when transitioning from guard passes and the position naturally presents itself. The arm triangle opportunities from kuzure kesa are particularly high-percentage because opponent’s near arm is already compromised. The position also exhausts opponents rapidly through chest pressure, making it valuable for pace control in longer matches where I want to drain their energy before advancing to more attacking positions.

Eddie Bravo: Kuzure kesa gatame integrates interestingly with lockdown and twister concepts when adapted creatively. While traditional judo focuses on pinning, from BJJ perspective these variations create unique submission chains not commonly seen in standard side control or mount. The diagonal body position creates different leverage angles for attacks, and opponents often don’t have as refined defenses against judo-based positions, creating strategic advantages through their unfamiliarity.

Common Errors

Error: Elevating hips too high off the mat

  • Consequence: Raises center of gravity making you vulnerable to roll escapes, reduces chest pressure effectiveness allowing opponent to breathe and recover, and compromises base stability making position maintenance difficult
  • Correction: Keep hips low and weighted beside opponent’s torso, maintaining contact with mat through knees and feet for stable base
  • Recognition: If opponent can easily roll you or bridge you off, your hips are too elevated

Error: Driving pressure straight down instead of diagonally across

  • Consequence: Reduces effectiveness of control, makes it easier for opponent to turn or sit up, and limits your transition options by making body positioning too centered
  • Correction: Drive chest pressure diagonally across opponent’s upper chest from shoulder toward opposite hip, creating crossways pressure
  • Recognition: Opponent maintains mobility and doesn’t appear as restricted despite your pressure

Error: Gripping or controlling too high on opponent’s body

  • Consequence: Allows them to create hip escape space more easily, reduces effectiveness of chest pressure, and makes transitions to submissions less available
  • Correction: Maintain control low on their body, ensuring chest pressure stays on upper chest and arms controlled near shoulders
  • Recognition: Opponent creating significant space with hip movements

Error: Rushing submission attempts without securing position

  • Consequence: Compromises control creating escape opportunities, reduces submission success rates due to poor positioning, and allows opponent to recover guard or better position
  • Correction: Establish secure kuzure kesa control with effective pressure before attempting submissions, ensuring base and pressure are optimal
  • Recognition: Frequently losing position during submission attempts indicates rushing

Error: Not transitioning between variations when opponent defends

  • Consequence: Allows opponent to establish consistent defensive strategy, reduces attacking opportunities, and makes you predictable enabling them to anticipate movements
  • Correction: Actively read opponent’s defensive reactions and flow between kuzure kesa variations, north-south, and mount to create new angles
  • Recognition: Stalling in position without progress indicates need for variation

Training Drills

Drill 1: Kuzure Kesa Pressure and Base Drill

Practice establishing kuzure kesa gatame control and maintaining it against partner’s progressive bridge and roll attempts. Start with 0% resistance allowing you to feel proper chest pressure angle, hip positioning, and base width. Progress to 25% resistance where partner attempts gentle bridges, then 50% with active bridge attempts, and finally 75% with explosive rolls. Focus on keeping hips low, driving diagonal chest pressure, and maintaining wide leg base throughout. Partner provides feedback on moments when your base compromised or pressure reduced. Perform 3 sets of 2-minute holds at each resistance level. Success metric: maintaining position through 80%+ of escape attempts at 75% resistance.

Drill 2: Position Transition Flow Drill

From kuzure kesa gatame, practice smooth transitions to standard kesa gatame, north-south, and mount with partner providing positional feedback. Start with static transitions from stable kuzure kesa, focusing on maintaining chest pressure throughout movement. Progress to dynamic transitions where partner creates movement forcing you to adapt. Practice reading partner’s bridge, turn, or frame reactions and responding with appropriate position transition. Each transition should feel seamless with no pressure loss or base compromise. Perform 5 repetitions of each transition (kuzure to kesa, kuzure to north-south, kuzure to mount) at 50% resistance. Success metric: smooth transition completion maintaining control in 80%+ of attempts.

Drill 3: Submission Recognition and Setup Drill

From controlled kuzure kesa gatame, partner presents specific defensive postures (near arm trapped, far arm posting, bridge attempt, frame creation) and you respond with appropriate submission or transition. Start with partner calling out defensive posture clearly, then progress to silent indication requiring recognition. Practice identifying arm triangle opportunities when near arm trapped, kimura when far arm exposed, north-south choke when bridge occurs. Focus on maintaining position security throughout setup phase. Perform 5 repetitions of each scenario at 50% resistance, focusing on proper submission mechanics and position retention. Success metric: correctly identifying and initiating appropriate attack within 5 seconds of defensive posture presentation.

  • Kesa Gatame - Standard scarf hold with orthodox arm positioning
  • North-South - Related chest pressure position with opposite orientation
  • Side Control - Alternative top control with different body angle
  • Mount - Natural progression from kuzure kesa
  • Reverse Kesa Gatame - Related scarf hold variation with reversed orientation
  • Back Control - Can transition from kuzure kesa when opponent turns
  • Arm Triangle Control - Primary submission from kuzure kesa

Optimal Submission Paths

Fastest path to submission (direct attack): Kuzure Kesa Gatame Variations Top → Arm Triangle from Kuzure → Won by Submission Reasoning: When opponent’s near arm is already trapped, immediate arm triangle provides fastest finish with success rates of 30-60% depending on skill level and setup quality

High-percentage path (systematic): Kuzure Kesa Gatame Variations Top → Transition to North-South → North-South Choke → Won by Submission Reasoning: Transitioning to north-south first creates better angle for choke while maintaining control, increasing success rates through superior positioning

Alternative submission path (arm attack focused): Kuzure Kesa Gatame Variations Top → Kimura from Kuzure → Kimura Control → Won by Submission Reasoning: When near arm defended, far arm kimura provides high-percentage alternative that forces opponent into difficult defensive dilemma

Position advancement path (mount to submission): Kuzure Kesa Gatame Variations Top → Transition to Mount → Armbar from Mount → Won by Submission Reasoning: When direct submissions defended, mounting provides point advantage and creates superior submission opportunities through dominant position

Dilemma creation path (multi-threat): Kuzure Kesa Gatame Variations Top → Arm Triangle Threat → Kimura from Kuzure → Won by Submission Reasoning: Threatening arm triangle forces defensive reaction exposing far arm to kimura attack, creating highest percentage submission through forced dilemma

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