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    Kesa-gatame

    袈裟固 · けさがため · scarf hold · said KEH-sah gah-TAH-meh

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    Demonstrations

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    Illustration: source not recorded. Rights and removal
    Kesa-gatame illustration

    The osaekomi clock

    Scores yuko at five seconds, waza-ari at ten and ippon at twenty, which ends the contest.

    Sport and Organisation Rules of the International Judo Federation: refereeing rules, 2026 edition, Article 7.

    About this technique

    The first hold-down most judoka learn: tori sits beside uke, arm around the neck, chest across uke's chest, in the line of a monk's scarf.

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    A technique to hold down the opponent’s upper body under the right side of the chest region by holding his right arm in the left arm from the right side of the opponent lying on his back and gripping the back of his collar with the right hand.
    The Kodokan's definition

    Key points

    1. Trap uke's arm tight under your armpit
    2. Spread the legs wide, one forward, one back, for a stable base
    3. Keep your chest heavy on uke's chest, head low

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    grappling techniques

    At a glance

    , classification, Gokyo set, Kodokan number, contest rules, grades that require it
    What it is
    Katame-waza (grappling techniques).
    Kodokan number
    601 (KEG).
    Contest rules
    No rule singles it out.
    Osaekomi clock
    Scores yuko at five seconds, waza-ari at ten and ippon at twenty, which ends the contest.
    Also written
    Hon-kesa-gatame.
    Required for

    Step by step

    These steps describe the standard right-handed form without relying on the video.

    1. Your partner lies on their back; sit close against their right side, facing towards their head, your hip against their ribs.
    2. Slide your right arm around the back of their neck and grip cloth at their left shoulder, hugging their head snugly against your side.
    3. With your left hand, trap their right arm: pull it high under your left armpit and pin it against your body, holding the cloth at their elbow or upper sleeve.
    4. Spread your legs wide along the mat: right leg stretched forward towards their head, left leg bent back behind you, sole planted. Neither knee is beneath you; you sit through, side-on.
    5. Lower your chest onto theirs and keep your weight there, head low. When they bridge or turn, follow the movement with your hips and settle your chest again, holding with body weight and position rather than squeezing.

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    Receiving it

    Their weight settles across your chest and your right arm is drawn up and pinned; your head is held close. It feels heavy rather than painful: breathe steadily and do not panic at the pressure. To work, bridge towards them and turn your chest into them to make space, or trap a leg. In practice, if the hold is fully on and you need to stop, tap clearly on them or the mat.

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    VI judo notes

    Groundwork begins from contact for everyone, which is why ne-waza is often where VI judoka are strongest. Keep one point of contact through every transition into the hold: from a throw, follow the held sleeve down to the mat and let it lead you to their right side. In the hold, read their escapes through your chest and hips rather than by watching their legs.

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    In competition

    , how often it scores at IJF level, and two contests where it worked

    Senior IJF competition, 2020 to 2026, from 73,099 contests. Counts scores, not attempts.

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    In combinations, counters and transitions

    , 4 recorded, 32 awaiting review

    32 more pairs involving it are recorded and awaiting review before they get a page. A video that shows one of them is what gets it reviewed: suggest one.

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    Escapes from it

    Turnovers into it

    How it is taught elsewhere

    Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has published guidance on this. Choose whose to show under Organisations' own guidance on My progress.

    Reference pages elsewhere

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