The Back Take from Kesa Gatame exploits the defining structural vulnerability of the scarf hold: the top player’s exposed back. Unlike standard side control where the top player faces you directly, Kesa Gatame’s perpendicular body angle creates a geometric weakness that allows the bottom player to rotate behind the opponent and establish back control. This reversal transforms one of the most oppressive pinning positions into the most dominant offensive position in BJJ, making it a critical technique for any practitioner who faces opponents with strong Kesa Gatame control.
The technique requires precise timing and an understanding of when the top player’s weight distribution creates the opportunity. The ideal moment occurs when the opponent sits back heavily to consolidate control or when they shift forward to attempt submissions like americana or arm triangle. Either weight shift creates a window where the bottom player can turn into the opponent, thread behind their back, and begin establishing hooks. The key mechanical principle is turning toward the opponent rather than away—a counterintuitive movement for many practitioners who instinctively try to create distance through shrimping.
Strategically, the Back Take from Kesa Gatame serves as the highest-reward escape option from bottom Kesa Gatame. While simpler escapes like bridging to turtle or shrimping to guard recover a neutral or slightly favorable position, successfully taking the back leapfrogs multiple positional stages, jumping directly from a disadvantaged position worth zero points to the most dominant position worth four points. This risk-reward profile makes it worth pursuing when the opportunity presents itself, though it should be integrated into a broader escape chain with bridge-and-roll and guard recovery options rather than attempted in isolation.
From Position: Kesa Gatame (Bottom) Success Rate: 45%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Back Control | 45% |
| Failure | Kesa Gatame | 35% |
| Counter | Mount | 20% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Turn INTO the opponent rather than away—the escape direction… | Maintain low hip position with weight distributed forward th… |
| Options | 8 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
-
Turn INTO the opponent rather than away—the escape direction is counterintuitive but exploits Kesa Gatame’s inherent geometric weakness
-
Control the opponent’s far posting arm before initiating rotation to prevent them from basing out and blocking your turn
-
Time the back take attempt during weight shifts—when opponent sits back heavily or leans forward for submission attempts
-
Maintain tight body contact throughout the entire rotation to prevent the opponent from re-establishing distance and Kesa Gatame control
-
Commit fully to the rotation once initiated—hesitation at the chest-to-chest stage allows the opponent to flatten you back down
-
Prioritize inserting the bottom hook immediately upon reaching the opponent’s back, as this single hook prevents them from spinning away
Execution Steps
-
Establish Defensive Frame: Use your far arm to create a structural frame against the opponent’s shoulder, jaw, or face to preve…
-
Control Opponent’s Far Arm: With your framing hand or by walking it down the opponent’s body, control their far arm at the wrist…
-
Bridge Toward Opponent: Execute a controlled bridge directing force at a 45-degree angle toward the opponent rather than str…
-
Turn Hips to Face Opponent: As the bridge creates space, aggressively rotate your hips to face the opponent, transitioning from …
-
Thread Behind Opponent’s Back: Once you reach the chest-to-chest position, do not stop—continue the rotation by driving your chest …
-
Insert Bottom Hook: As you establish position behind the opponent’s back, immediately insert your bottom hook by threadi…
-
Secure Harness Grip: Establish seatbelt control by threading your over-arm across the opponent’s chest from the choking s…
-
Complete Full Back Control: Insert your second hook on the far side, completing full back control with both hooks in and harness…
Common Mistakes
-
Turning away from the opponent by shrimping rather than turning into them
- Consequence: Wasted energy with minimal positional improvement because Kesa Gatame’s perpendicular angle negates standard shrimping mechanics, and the back exposure opportunity is lost
- Correction: Redirect your escape direction toward the opponent. Bridge into them and rotate your hips to face them, then continue past to their back. The escape is counterintuitive but mechanically sound.
-
Failing to control opponent’s far posting arm before initiating the bridge and turn
- Consequence: Opponent posts their far hand on the mat and blocks the rotation completely, wasting your bridge energy while they settle back into heavy Kesa Gatame control
- Correction: Before bridging, secure control of the far arm by gripping the wrist, sleeve, or elbow. Pull it across your body or pin it against their torso to eliminate the post.
-
Stopping the rotation at the chest-to-chest position instead of continuing behind
- Consequence: Opponent recognizes the pause and either flattens you back down, transitions to mount by stepping over, or establishes a new dominant control from the face-to-face position
- Correction: The chest-to-chest position is a transitional phase, not a destination. Commit to driving through immediately without pause, threading your arm around their back and continuing the rotation until you are behind them.
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
-
Maintain low hip position with weight distributed forward through your chest to prevent the bottom player from generating rotation underneath you
-
Monitor and control the bottom player’s far arm to eliminate their framing and rotation capability
-
Recognize early back take cues—far arm framing, hip rotation toward you, attempts to control your posting arm—before the technique develops momentum
-
Be prepared to transition immediately to mount or North-South at the first confirmed sign of a back take attempt rather than fighting to maintain Kesa Gatame
-
Keep your far arm posted wide for base but do not let the bottom player grip or control it
-
Use your near leg to monitor the bottom player’s hip movement, feeling for the rotation that signals a back take attempt
Recognition Cues
-
Bottom player’s far arm begins pressing firmly against your face, shoulder, or jaw with increasing directional force toward your back rather than simply maintaining defensive space
-
Bottom player’s hips begin rotating toward you rather than shrimping away—you feel their belt line turning to face your body instead of the ceiling
-
Bottom player reaches for your far arm, wrist, sleeve, or belt with their framing hand, attempting to eliminate your posting ability
-
You feel the bottom player’s chest beginning to turn toward yours rather than remaining flat on their back
-
Bottom player bridges toward you at an angle rather than straight up, directing force into your body to create rotational momentum
Defensive Options
-
Drop weight and sprawl hips backward to re-establish heavy chest-to-chest pressure - When: At the earliest sign of the bottom player’s hip rotation—when you feel their hips beginning to turn toward you but before they achieve chest-to-chest position
-
Transition to mount by stepping your far leg over the bottom player’s body during their turn-in - When: When the bottom player commits to turning their hips toward you and begins the rotation—use their turning motion to facilitate your leg clearing their body
-
Circle toward their head to transition to North-South position, denying the back take angle - When: When you feel the rotation starting but want to maintain a top pinning position without risking the mount transition
Position Integration
The Back Take from Kesa Gatame occupies a critical role in the bottom player’s escape hierarchy from scarf hold positions. It connects the defensive side control family directly to the back control attacking system, bypassing multiple intermediate positions that other escapes require. Within the broader BJJ positional map, this transition represents one of the few techniques that moves a player from a distinctly disadvantaged position directly to the most advantageous position in a single transition. It pairs with other Kesa Gatame escapes—bridge and roll, ghost escape, bridge and turn to turtle, and guard recovery—to create a comprehensive escape chain that keeps the top player guessing. The threat of the back take also forces Kesa Gatame top players to maintain constant defensive awareness of their back, which paradoxically can reduce their offensive pressure and create openings for the bottom player’s other escape pathways.