Kesa Americana

Submission · Side Control

A shoulder lock (keylock) with the legs: his bent arm is pinned under your leg and his shoulder rotates outward. From kesa gatame, when the arm you hold comes loose and bends, keep it tight to you with your elbow, crunch rather than bench-press, and push the wrist down toward the mat. Bring your leg over his forearm, not in a figure-four, so he cannot straighten it. Lock your hands behind his head and pull the head up while you drive the leg down and lift your hips slowly: the pull on the head is the counter-pressure, without it the shoulder just follows. If he punches the arm straight, it lies across your thigh for the kesa gatame arm lock. Slowly: the shoulder gives at once.

How to do it

  1. In kesa gatame, when the arm you control comes loose and bends, keep it tight to you with your elbow. Crunch your body onto it rather than pressing it away with your arms.
  2. Push his wrist down toward the mat into the americana shape, the elbow bent.
  3. Bring your leg over his forearm, not in a figure-four of the legs. The forearm is trapped under the leg and he cannot straighten the arm.
  4. Lock your hands behind his head (S-grip or gable) and pull the head up toward you.
  5. Drive the leg down and lift your hips slowly while the head keeps coming up. The shoulder rotates outward and he taps.

Key details

  • Pull the head up as you lever. Without the pull on the head his shoulder follows the arm and nothing locks.
  • Crunch, do not bench-press. Your whole body brings the arm in; arm strength alone loses to his.
  • The leg simply lies over the forearm, not in a figure-four, and holds the arm in the bend so it cannot straighten.
  • If he punches the arm straight, the straight arm lies across your thigh: switch to the kesa gatame arm lock.

Common mistakes

  • Levering without pulling the head. — His shoulder lifts with the arm and the lock has no counter-pressure. — Lock the hands behind his head and pull it up before you drive the leg down.
  • Finishing fast. — The shoulder gives at once and he cannot tap in time. — Drive the leg and bridge slowly, a little at a time.

How to drill it

In kesa gatame the partner lets the arm bend: trap it under the leg and finish slowly, 5 each side; then the partner punches the arm straight and you switch to the kesa gatame arm lock.

Safety

A shoulder lock with the whole body behind it: go slowly and release at the tap.

What comes next

  • Kesa Gatame Arm Lock

Where it comes from

  • Kesa Gatame
RhizoBJJ
Techniques Theory Goals Journal
EN
Positions & details Mistakes by belt Dictionary of terms Biomechanics Advice Fight constructor Conditioning Админка

Technique tree

Pick a position, then select a technique to see its trigger and what it unlocks. Icon = type of move. Color bar: green position, navy move, red submission, black chained finish.

Filters
iLegend

Colour bar

  • Position
  • Situation
  • Sweep / Pass / Escape
  • Submission
  • Chained finish

Icons

  • PositionA mat with two athletes on it: where you are, before anything moves.
  • SweepAn arc over the mat: the opponent is lifted and turned, the bottom player ends on top.
  • PassAn arrow curving around two legs: the guard is cleared.
  • TakedownA standing line falling along an arc to the mat.
  • TransitionSteps up with an arrow: climbing to a better position.
  • EscapeAn arrow leaving a bracket: out of the trap.
  • Arm lockA lever: a straight arm over a pivot, pressure at the hand.
  • ChokeThe neck squeezed from both sides.
  • Leg lockShin and foot with a twist around the ankle.

Journal

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
  • Trained
  • Rest day
  • Notes or goals

Week plan

Sessions planned
3

Goals for the week

    Session
    Intensity
    Energy

    Goals for the day

      Techniques worked on

          More

          Study

          Theory Positions & details Mistakes by belt Dictionary of terms Biomechanics Advice

          Preparation

          Fight constructor Conditioning

          Feedback

          Settings

          Админка
          Home Techniques Goals Journal