Reverse Kesa-Gatame Top is a dominant pinning position where the top practitioner faces away from the opponent’s head while maintaining chest-to-chest pressure and controlling the opponent’s far arm. This position is particularly effective for shutting down common side control escapes while providing unique submission opportunities and transitions. The reverse orientation creates different mechanical advantages compared to traditional scarf hold positions, specifically eliminating the opponent’s ability to frame against your face and neck. From this position, the top player can apply crushing chest pressure, isolate the far arm for submissions, and transition to mount, north-south, or back control. The position is especially valuable against defensive opponents who excel at creating frames from bottom side control.
Position Definition
- Top player’s chest maintains heavy contact with opponent’s upper torso, creating constant downward pressure through the sternum and pectoral muscles onto opponent’s ribcage and shoulder complex
- Top player’s back and shoulders face toward opponent’s head while hips remain low and heavy on opponent’s near-side ribs, creating a reverse orientation that eliminates traditional framing options
- Opponent’s far arm is trapped either under top player’s armpit with elbow clamped tight to ribs, or controlled with deep overhook grip that prevents arm extraction and defensive hand fighting
- Top player’s legs are configured in wide base with far leg extended and near leg bent, providing stable platform against bridge attempts while maintaining hip pressure on opponent’s torso
- Opponent remains flat on back with shoulders pinned to mat, unable to turn into top player or establish guard due to combination of chest pressure and arm isolation
Prerequisites
- Successful guard pass or transition from standard side control position
- Control of opponent’s far arm established before rotating into reverse position
- Understanding of weight distribution and pressure application through chest and hips
- Ability to maintain balance and base while facing away from opponent’s head
- Recognition of optimal timing to enter reverse kesa from side control transitions
Key Offensive Principles
- Reverse orientation eliminates opponent’s ability to use frames against your face and neck while creating unique submission angles
- Trapping the far arm under your armpit or with overhook removes opponent’s primary defensive tool and opens submission pathways
- Low hip position pressed against opponent’s ribs prevents shrimp escapes and guard recovery while creating breathing difficulty
- Direct chest-to-chest pressure through sternum restricts breathing and creates maximum discomfort with sustainable effort
- Wide leg configuration with strategic positioning provides stability against bridge and roll attempts while maintaining mobility for transitions
- Concentrating pressure points on opponent’s torso and shoulder creates maximum control efficiency without exhausting top player
- Reverse position naturally blocks common side control escape pathways including elbow escape and guard recovery
Available Attacks
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Transition to North-South → North-South
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Kimura from Side Control → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Americana from Side Control → Americana Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Arm Triangle → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Transition to North-South → Crucifix
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Back Take Generic → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Transition to Mount → Knee on Belly
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent remains flat and defensive with minimal movement:
- Execute Kimura from Side Control → Kimura Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Americana from Side Control → Americana Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Arm Triangle → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent attempts to bridge and create space upward:
- Execute Transition to Mount → Mount (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Transition to North-South → North-South (Probability: 65%)
If opponent shrimps away attempting elbow escape:
- Execute Transition to Mount → Knee on Belly (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Transition to Mount → Mount (Probability: 60%)
If opponent turns into you exposing their back:
- Execute Back Take Generic → Back Control (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Transition to North-South → Crucifix (Probability: 55%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Direct Kimura Path
Reverse Kesa-Gatame Top → Kimura Control → Kimura
Arm Triangle Path via Mount
Reverse Kesa-Gatame Top → Mount → Arm Triangle
Back Attack Path
Reverse Kesa-Gatame Top → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Americana Control Path
Reverse Kesa-Gatame Top → Americana Control → Americana from Side Control
North-South Choke Path
Reverse Kesa-Gatame Top → North-South → North-South Choke
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 35% | 25% |
| Intermediate | 55% | 50% | 40% |
| Advanced | 70% | 65% | 55% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before transition or submission
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Reverse kesa gatame represents a sophisticated understanding of pin mechanics where orientation reversal fundamentally alters the defensive options available to bottom player. The critical mechanical advantage lies in eliminating the opponent’s ability to create frames against your head and neck - their primary defensive tools from traditional side control positions. When executing this position, focus on three biomechanical priorities: first, chest-to-chest compression through your sternum directly onto their ribcage creates breathing difficulty that accumulates over time; second, isolation of the far arm removes their strongest defensive tool and opens kimura, americana, and arm triangle pathways; third, hip pressure positioned low on their ribs prevents the shrimp escape that is the foundation of most guard recovery sequences. The position is particularly effective against modern guard players who have developed excellent framing systems from bottom side control. Your weight distribution should be approximately 70% through your chest onto their torso, with the remaining 30% distributed through your hips and base. This creates maximum control while maintaining the mobility necessary for transitions to mount, north-south, or back control when opponent attempts escape.
Gordon Ryan
I use reverse kesa gatame specifically against opponents who have good defensive frames from bottom side control. When their frames are getting in my face, I’ll switch to reverse kesa to neutralize that defense entirely. The position is excellent for wearing down opponents - the chest pressure is brutal and sustainable for the top person. I typically hold this position to accumulate control time or fatigue my opponent, then transition to mount or back when I feel them weakening. The kimura from here is particularly high percentage because they can’t defend with their trapped arm. In competition, I’ll often use this as a recovery position if I’m losing grips or feeling my side control getting compromised - rotating to reverse kesa resets the escape attempts and gives me fresh control options. The key is not staying here too long - use it to break their defense, threaten submissions to create reactions, then advance to mount or take the back when they give you the opportunity. Against high-level opponents, I’m usually only holding reverse kesa for 15-30 seconds before transitioning, but that’s enough time to drain their energy and set up the next attack.
Eddie Bravo
Reverse kesa is sick for setting up submissions, especially if you’re hunting that shoulder compression and arm attacks. What I like about this position is that it confuses people - they’re not used to defending against someone with their back turned, so their standard escape sequences don’t work the same way. You can flow into some nasty arm locks and shoulder cranks that they don’t see coming because the angles are different than what they’ve drilled a thousand times. I’ll often use this as a transitional position when hunting for the truck or twister positions - if they start defending the twister side control, reverse kesa is right there as a backup control position. The key is keeping your weight heavy and your base wide - don’t let them buck you off. From here you can threaten the kimura, which makes them defend, and when they defend the kimura you can transition to mount or spin to north-south for the choke. It’s all about creating dilemmas - they can’t defend everything at once. In no-gi especially, this position is money because without the gi grips they can’t establish the same defensive frames they use from regular side control. Keep the pressure constant, stay heavy on that chest, and when they try to escape, that’s when you capitalize with the transition or submission.