Reverse Scarf Hold Bottom (Reverse Kesa Gatame Bottom) represents one of the more challenging defensive positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where the practitioner finds themselves on their back with the opponent controlling from a reverse scarf hold position. Unlike traditional scarf hold where the top player faces toward the bottom player’s legs, reverse scarf hold has the top player facing toward the head, creating unique control mechanics and escape challenges. This position is particularly difficult because the top player’s weight distribution and control points create significant pressure on the chest and shoulders while limiting hip mobility.
The bottom player in reverse scarf hold faces several interconnected problems: restricted breathing due to chest compression, limited hip movement preventing standard shrimping escapes, and the constant threat of arm attacks including kimura, americana, and straight armbar variations. The position demands patience, precise framing, and systematic escape sequences rather than explosive movements. Understanding the biomechanics of how the top player maintains control is essential for developing effective defensive responses.
Success in this position requires prioritizing survival first, then creating frames and space, and finally executing technical escapes to better positions such as guard recovery or reversal to top position. The defensive strategy emphasizes breath control under pressure, maintaining composure, and exploiting the top player’s positional weaknesses when they attempt to advance or submit. While challenging, systematic approach to this position can transform it from a desperate situation into an opportunity for calculated escape and potential reversal.
Position Definition
- Bottom player on their back with shoulders and upper back pinned to the mat, chest compressed by top player’s torso weight creating breathing restriction and postural control
- Top player’s hips positioned alongside bottom player’s chest/shoulder area with reverse orientation (facing toward head), distributing weight through hip and torso compression against ribcage
- Bottom player’s near arm typically controlled or trapped by top player’s underhook or overhook, limiting defensive framing options and creating submission vulnerability
- Bottom player’s far arm either trapped under top player’s body weight or struggling to create defensive frames against shoulder and neck pressure
- Top player’s legs sprawled or posted to prevent bottom player from creating angles or hip escapes, with base distributed to maintain heavy chest pressure
Prerequisites
- Opponent has achieved reverse scarf hold control from top position
- Bottom player is on their back with shoulders flat to mat
- Top player has secured control of at least one arm (typically near-side)
- Top player’s weight is distributed across bottom player’s chest and shoulder area
- Bottom player’s hip mobility is restricted by top player’s positioning
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain breath control despite chest compression - use diaphragmatic breathing and remain calm to prevent panic and energy waste
- Protect near-side arm from being isolated for kimura or americana by keeping elbow tight to body and hand near opposite shoulder
- Create initial frames using far-side arm against opponent’s neck or shoulder to generate small amounts of space
- Focus on hip rotation and angle creation rather than pure bridge-and-roll escapes which are less effective against reverse orientation
- Use systematic escape sequences: survive pressure, create frames, generate space, recover guard or reverse position
- Prevent opponent from advancing to mount or north-south by controlling distance with frames and blocking hip movement
- Exploit top player’s base vulnerabilities when they reach for submissions or attempt to transition positions
Available Escapes
Elbow Escape → Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 45%
Bridge and Roll → Reverse Scarf Hold Top
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 35%
Hip Escape → Open Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 40%
Frame and Shrimp → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 18%
- Intermediate: 28%
- Advanced: 38%
Technical Standup → Standing Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 12%
- Intermediate: 20%
- Advanced: 30%
Shrimp Escape → Open Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 22%
- Intermediate: 32%
- Advanced: 42%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains heavy chest pressure without attempting submissions:
- Execute Frame Creation → Defensive Position (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Hip Escape → Half Guard (Probability: 60%)
If opponent isolates near-side arm for kimura or americana:
- Execute Kimura Defense → Defensive Position (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Bridge and Roll → Reverse Scarf Hold Top (Probability: 40%)
If opponent attempts to advance to mount or north-south:
- Execute Re-Guard → Open Guard (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Elbow Escape → Half Guard (Probability: 50%)
If opponent’s base becomes compromised during transition attempts:
- Execute Bridge and Roll → Reverse Scarf Hold Top (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Technical Standup → Standing Position (Probability: 35%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Highest percentage escape to safety
Reverse Scarf Hold Bottom → Frame Creation → Hip Escape → Half Guard → Guard Recovery
Reversal path when opponent overcommits
Reverse Scarf Hold Bottom → Bridge and Roll → Reverse Scarf Hold Top → Transition to Mount
Standing escape path
Reverse Scarf Hold Bottom → Frame and Shrimp → Technical Standup → Standing Position → Guard Pull
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 55% | 10% | 5% |
| Intermediate | 70% | 20% | 10% |
| Advanced | 85% | 30% | 15% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before escape or submission
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Reverse scarf hold bottom represents a biomechanically challenging defensive scenario where traditional escape mechanics must be modified due to the inverted orientation of the top player’s control. The primary issue stems from the top player’s weight distribution across the chest and shoulder complex combined with their reverse facing position, which negates many standard bridging and shrimping movements that work effectively against forward-facing pins. The defensive strategy must prioritize three sequential objectives: first, establish breath control and frame maintenance to prevent immediate submission and conserve energy; second, create incremental space through systematic hip rotation and angle creation rather than explosive movements; third, exploit the inherent base vulnerabilities of reverse scarf hold when the top player attempts transitions or submissions. The key technical insight is that reverse scarf hold, while providing excellent control and submission opportunities for the top player, has predictable weaknesses related to base distribution and weight commitment that can be systematically exploited through patient, technically precise defensive sequences.
Gordon Ryan
From a competition perspective, reverse scarf hold bottom is one of those positions you absolutely need to be comfortable surviving and escaping because you’ll encounter it at the highest levels, especially from judo-influenced competitors and old-school grapplers. The reality is that if you panic or waste energy early, you’re getting submitted or staying stuck there for the entire round. I focus on immediate arm protection because kimura and americana attacks from reverse scarf hold have extremely high finishing rates when the arm is isolated. My defensive priority is keeping that near-side arm tight to my body, maintaining a far-side frame even when it feels impossible, and being patient for the moment when they overcommit to a submission or transition. The escape windows in reverse scarf hold are smaller than traditional side control, so you need to be more precise with your timing and technique. When I’m escaping, I’m looking for their base to shift even slightly - reaching for a submission, adjusting their hips, transitioning to north-south - and that’s when I execute my escape sequence with full commitment. Half the battle is mental: staying calm under heavy pressure and trusting your systematic approach rather than forcing low-percentage explosive movements.
Eddie Bravo
Reverse scarf hold bottom is actually an interesting position for innovation because most people just accept it as a terrible spot and look for basic escapes, but there are some creative options if you understand the mechanics. The traditional approach is solid - protect your arms, create frames, shrimp out - but I also teach my students to look for unconventional solutions like using their legs to create problems for the top player even from this compressed position. One thing people miss is that reverse scarf hold, because of the reversed orientation, actually creates some unique angles for creative escapes and even potential leg entanglements if you’re flexible and understand the geometry. The lockdown mentality applies here too: sometimes making the position worse temporarily (committing harder to one side, inverting your position) can create the chaos needed for unconventional escapes. That said, the fundamentals still matter - you need to stay calm, protect your limbs, and create incremental improvements. But once you master the basics, there’s room for experimentation with inverted guards, technical stand-ups with different angles, and even some rubber guard concepts adapted to bottom reverse scarf hold. The key is understanding when to be orthodox and when to introduce chaos, and reverse scarf hold has opportunities for both approaches.