Kata-gatame 肩固 (Shoulder Hold)
Classification: Katame-waza → Osae-komi-waza (Holding Techniques)
Kata-gatame, meaning “shoulder hold”, is a powerful pinning technique in judo, classified under osae-komi-waza. In this position, tori uses their shoulder and arm pressure to immobilise uke’s upper body, particularly focusing on anchoring uke’s shoulder and neck to the mat. This hold is both a control technique and a potential transition into strangles or armlocks.
Execution
Tori applies Kata-gatame typically from uke’s right side:
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Tori wraps their right arm around uke’s neck and right arm, trapping uke’s arm across their own neck.
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The hands are clasped palm-to-palm, not with interlocked fingers, for stronger structural support.
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Tori’s right forearm is rotated thumb-up, pressing along uke’s cervical spine, enhancing downward pressure and control.
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The right knee is braced against uke’s floating ribs, providing lateral pressure.
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The left leg is extended for a wide base, helping tori maintain balance and prevent roll-overs.
This technique can also be applied when uke attempts to escape from kesa-gatame, or as a counter to a bridge movement, when uke exposes their arm across their face.
Escapes
Escaping Kata-gatame is difficult due to the pressure and control, but some methods include:
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Arm release and shrimp away: Uke pushes the trapped arm downward to the mat, attempting to slide it free. Once released, uke may bridge and rotate toward tori to break the pin.
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Knee insertion + lift: By performing ebi (shrimp escape), uke can insert a knee under tori’s torso. With proper leverage, uke may lift and roll tori off to the side.
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Roll-out counter (seen in Katame-no-Kata): Uke initiates a roll over tori’s left shoulder, forcing tori to release and transition to a defensive position.
Tip: The key to escape is creating space between the shoulder and the mat. The more contact tori keeps with uke’s shoulder and neck, the harder it becomes to break free.
Variations & Transitions
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One-arm shoulder control: Tori may only use one arm to control uke’s far shoulder, pinning it against the mat while the other hand assists in base or pressure control.
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Hand through under-head grip: Instead of wrapping the arm around the head, tori can slide their arm beneath uke’s neck and grab uke’s wrist or biceps, locking the shoulder in place.
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Transition from Kesa-gatame: When uke pushes against tori’s head in kesa-gatame, tori can trap uke’s arm across the neck and rotate into kata-gatame for tighter control.
Important: Never interlace the fingers when clasping hands. Always use a palm-to-palm (gable grip) hold to reduce injury risk and increase control.