BJJ Graph

Scarf Hold Position Top

Dec 09, 202513 min read

Scarf Hold Top Position (Kesa Gatame) is a classical pinning position derived from Judo where the top practitioner sits perpendicular to the bottom opponent, controlling the head and near arm while sitting with their hips low and weight distributed across the opponent’s chest. This position is characterized by the top player’s chest-to-chest connection with the opponent, their near arm threading under and controlling the opponent’s near arm, and their far arm encircling the opponent’s head. The position offers exceptional control through weight distribution and structural positioning, though it has evolved in sport BJJ to be somewhat less dominant than in traditional grappling due to modern escape methodologies. Despite this, Scarf Hold remains a powerful control position when applied with proper technique, offering numerous submission opportunities including Americana, armlocks, and various chokes. The position’s effectiveness relies heavily on maintaining tight connection, proper weight distribution through the hips rather than the base, and constant adjustment to the opponent’s escape attempts.

Position Definition

  • Top player positioned perpendicular to bottom opponent with chest-to-chest connection, hips sitting low on the mat beside opponent’s ribcage with direct pressure through the pelvis into their upper torso
  • Near arm threaded underneath opponent’s near arm with grip securing their tricep, shoulder, or gi material, creating structural control of their upper body while preventing arm extraction
  • Far arm wrapped around opponent’s head with hand gripping their collar, their own belt, or clasping behind opponent’s neck, maintaining head control and preventing them from turning away
  • Bottom opponent trapped on their side facing away from top player with their trapped arm unable to post or frame effectively, their head controlled, and limited hip mobility due to top player’s weight
  • Top player’s weight distributed primarily through hips pressing into opponent’s chest/ribs with legs extended or positioned to maintain base and prevent opponent from rolling or escaping underneath

Prerequisites

  • Successful transition from side control or guard passing sequence
  • Opponent positioned on their side or back
  • Control of opponent’s near arm established
  • Head control secured before settling weight
  • Hips positioned low and tight to opponent’s torso

Key Offensive Principles

  • Maintain chest-to-chest pressure with weight driven through hips into opponent’s ribcage, not through extended arms or posted base
  • Keep head control tight with far arm while preventing opponent from turning their face toward you or creating space
  • Control near arm by threading underneath and securing above the elbow, eliminating their ability to post or frame
  • Position hips low and close to opponent’s body rather than sitting upright, maximizing pressure and minimizing space for hip escape
  • Distribute weight across opponent’s chest and prevent them from turning into you by maintaining perpendicular angle and shoulder pressure
  • Adjust base dynamically with legs to counter opponent’s escape attempts while maintaining connection through torso

Available Attacks

Americana from Side Control → Americana Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Kimura from Side Control → Kimura Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 55%

Transition to Mount → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Transition to North-South → North-South

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 50%
  • Intermediate: 65%
  • Advanced: 80%

Armbar from Side Control → Armbar Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 20%
  • Intermediate: 35%
  • Advanced: 50%

Arm Triangle → Americana Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Opponent Escapes

Escape Counters

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent attempts to turn their face toward you and bridge:

If opponent pushes on your head with far arm to create space:

If opponent attempts to extract trapped near arm:

If opponent is passive and not defending actively:

Common Offensive Mistakes

1. Sitting too upright with hips raised high off the mat

  • ❌ Consequence: Creates space underneath for opponent to hip escape or turn into you, dramatically reducing control effectiveness
  • ✅ Correction: Keep hips low and heavy on the mat, sitting beside opponent’s ribcage with weight driven downward through pelvis into their chest

2. Posting weight on extended arms rather than maintaining chest connection

  • ❌ Consequence: Reduces pressure on opponent and allows them to create frames and generate escape leverage
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain tight chest-to-chest pressure with arms actively controlling rather than supporting your weight

3. Allowing opponent’s head to turn toward you

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can see your position, establish effective frames, and begin bridging or turning into your guard
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain firm head control with far arm, keeping opponent’s face directed away from you at all times

4. Leaving space between your hip and opponent’s ribs

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can insert knee or create hip escape room to begin guard recovery sequence
  • ✅ Correction: Keep connection tight with hip pressure directly into opponent’s ribcage, eliminating all gaps and space

5. Failing to control opponent’s near arm effectively

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can post with controlled arm, create frames, or use it to facilitate escape sequences
  • ✅ Correction: Thread arm deeply under opponent’s arm and secure grip above elbow, removing their ability to post or create effective frames

Training Drills for Attacks

Scarf Hold Pressure Maintenance Drill

Partner starts in scarf hold top, bottom partner attempts to create space by bridging and framing. Top partner focuses on maintaining tight connection, low hips, and constant pressure through weight distribution. Work 2-minute rounds with emphasis on feeling opponent’s movements and adjusting weight accordingly.

Scarf Hold Transition Flow

From scarf hold top, practice flowing between scarf hold, north-south, mount, and back to scarf hold. Bottom partner provides 30% resistance. Focus on maintaining control through transitions and never losing connection with opponent’s upper body. Emphasize smooth weight transfers and grip adjustments.

Scarf Hold Submission Chain Drill

Start in scarf hold top and chain between Americana, arm triangle, and kimura setups based on opponent’s defensive reactions. Bottom partner defends intelligently but allows top partner to complete setups. Focus on recognizing submission opportunities created by opponent’s escape attempts.

Optimal Submission Paths

Shortest path to submission

Scarf Hold Position Top → Americana from Side Control → Won by Submission

High-percentage arm attack sequence

Scarf Hold Position Top → Armbar from Side Control → Armbar Control → Won by Submission

North-south transition path

Scarf Hold Position Top → Transition to North-South → North-South → North-South Choke → Won by Submission

Mount consolidation path

Scarf Hold Position Top → Transition to Mount → Mount → Americana from Mount → Won by Submission

Kimura control chain

Scarf Hold Position Top → Kimura from Side Control → Kimura Control → Kimura → Won by Submission

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner50%30%25%
Intermediate65%45%40%
Advanced80%60%55%

Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds

Expert Analysis

John Danaher

Scarf hold represents one of the most structurally sound pinning positions in grappling when properly applied, though its effectiveness in modern sport BJJ has diminished due to evolved escape methodologies. The position’s power comes from the perpendicular angle creating a mechanical disadvantage for the bottom player, combined with the systematic removal of their defensive tools through arm and head control. The critical technical element often misunderstood is that scarf hold is not maintained through muscular strength or static pressure, but rather through precise weight distribution where the top player’s hips act as the primary control point, driving pressure through their pelvis into the opponent’s ribcage while their upper body controls the opponent’s ability to turn or create frames. Modern practitioners often make the error of sitting too high or posting their weight through their arms, which fundamentally compromises the position’s structural integrity. When executed with proper technique, focusing on low hip position, tight chest connection, and systematic control of the opponent’s escape pathways, scarf hold remains highly effective even against knowledgeable opponents.

Gordon Ryan

Scarf hold in competition is a position I use more as a transition point than a finishing position, primarily because modern competitors have developed effective escape sequences that make it difficult to hold for extended periods. That said, when you catch someone in proper scarf hold control, especially if they’re not immediately defensive, you have excellent submission opportunities with the Americana being the highest percentage finish. The key in competition is recognizing that scarf hold shouldn’t be viewed in isolation but rather as part of a pin cycle - you establish scarf hold, threaten the Americana or arm triangle, and when they defend and create movement, you transition to north-south or mount rather than fighting to maintain the original position. I’ve found the position most useful when opponents are defending other pins and you can quickly transition into scarf hold before they establish their defensive structure. The biggest mistake I see is people trying to force scarf hold to work against skilled opponents who are actively defending, rather than using it as a pressure tool and transition point in a larger pinning system.

Eddie Bravo

Scarf hold in the 10th Planet system is something we acknowledge as effective but don’t emphasize as heavily as other top positions, mainly because in no-gi the escape windows are wider without gi grips to lock down the control. That said, the principles of scarf hold - the perpendicular angle, the head and arm control, the hip pressure - these translate into some of our modified control positions. Where scarf hold becomes really interesting is when you start thinking about it not as a static position but as a dynamic control point where you’re constantly threatening transitions. If someone gives you scarf hold in no-gi, you want to immediately attack - Americana, transition to mount, or flow to north-south - because the moment they start working the escape, your control window is closing. The innovation opportunity with scarf hold is in developing combination attacks where you’re using the initial scarf hold connection to set up transitions that the opponent doesn’t expect, creating the dilemmas that we emphasize throughout our system. Don’t think of it as a position to hold, think of it as a position to attack from.