Learn kuzure-kesa-gatame in judo: arm under the armpit instead of around the neck, hips, base and the switch from kesa-gatame. With milestones and safety rules.
The honest answer: kuzure-kesa-gatame is a scarf hold in which your arm does not go around uke's neck but passes under his armpit. You stay at his side and hold him to the mat with your body weight. "Kuzure" means "modified". The German Judo Federation (DJB) places kuzure-kesa-gatame, together with kesa-gatame, yoko-shiho-gatame, kami-shiho-gatame and tate-shiho-gatame, in the basic programme of pins up to 4th kyu [1].
Why do you need the variation? Because the classic kesa-gatame has a problem: as soon as your partner (uke) pushes your head away or blocks the arm around his neck, your grip is empty. Kuzure-kesa-gatame is then your plan B, which you reach without a restart. In competition, if you change without losing control into another pin, the holding time keeps running until ippon, "Toketa!" (hold released) or "Mate!" [2].
You know the holding times: 20 seconds score an ippon, 10 to 19 seconds a waza-ari, 5 to 9 seconds a yuko [2]. How fast you get the variation depends on your kesa-gatame. Expect a few training sessions (practical estimate, not a study).
You sit at uke's side, chest to chest. The arm lies around the neck as in the classic scarf hold, and the other hand holds uke's arm close to your body. Milestone: you hold cleanly for 10 seconds before you switch.
Instead of around the neck you pass the arm under uke's armpit and grip his back or the edge of the jacket. Have your instructor show you the exact grip position, as it differs between schools. Milestone: you switch slowly and do not lose contact with uke's chest.
Your body lies diagonally over uke's upper body, the hips stay low and close to his side. If you are too far away, uke can wriggle out. Milestone: a flat hand has no room between your hip and his body.
The legs are set wide, one leg far back, so that uke cannot topple you. Your head stays up and next to uke's upper body, not next to his face. Milestone: you stay stable for ten seconds although uke pushes lightly.
When uke bridges or pushes out sideways, you go with him and can return to kesa-gatame or switch to the next pin. Milestone: you hold 20 seconds against an uke who moves.
Pins are a calm entry, but they need rules. A tap means let go, immediately and without discussion. The rules also state clearly: you may never hold around the head and neck alone without controlling at least one arm [2]. In kuzure-kesa-gatame this is normally satisfied because your arm lies under uke's armpit. Still make sure you do not pull on the head.
Never turn uke's shoulder or arm against its natural direction of movement. In judo the knee, shoulder and fingers are the most frequent injury sites (mostly sprains, strains and contusions), and most injuries happen when being thrown, not on the ground [3]. On the ground they are rarer, but not never. Train pins without joint locks and chokes, with agreements in place.
This guide explains and motivates; it does not replace supervised training.
When you switch between kesa-gatame and kuzure-kesa-gatame, never let go with the hips and swap only the arm. The switch works like changing hands on a banister: one hand stays on while the other grips anew. In the same way your chest contact stays while the arm changes. That makes you unpredictable for uke.
How to fit it into your week: practise twice a week for five minutes at the end of training. Do kesa-gatame three times, then switch to kuzure-kesa-gatame and back, with a partner who first resists lightly, then more. Note one mistake per session. This is practical experience, not a study.
"Kuzure" means "modified". Kuzure-kesa-gatame is therefore the modified form of the scarf hold in which your arm goes under uke's armpit instead of around the neck. The DJB lists it in the basic programme of pins [1].
Like any pin: 20 seconds for ippon, 10 to 19 seconds for waza-ari, 5 to 9 seconds for yuko [2]. If you change into another pin without losing control, the time keeps running [2].
Mostly when uke blocks the neck arm or pushes your head away and the classic grip no longer sits. You switch without losing chest contact. Whether that works in randori is best shown by your instructor in concrete situations.
Yes, the DJB assigns it to the basic programme up to 4th kyu [1]. The prerequisite is a reasonably clean kesa-gatame. Practise with agreement and tapping, on the mat and under the supervision of an instructor.
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