Judo Level 1: Kami Shiho Gatame — Connect head-side control to the whole base

上四方固, kami-shiho-gatame, is a holding technique. Kami indicates the head-side approach and shiho means four directions; the name is not an instruction to press every point at once.

Kodokan describes entering from the head, holding the belt at both sides and using chest and abdomen against the upper body. Hands connect control to the torso base; that relationship must continue as the partner moves.

Read kami-shiho-gatame from uke's head end. Kodokan describes grips at the sides of the belt combined with chest-and-abdomen control of the upper body. The grip and torso contact work together. Focusing only on the reaching arms can hide how tori maintains chest direction as uke tries to turn.

Yoko Shiho Gatame approaches from the side; Kami Shiho Gatame approaches from the head. This changes the control line, so moving only the hands does not leave the rest of the base unchanged.

Yoko-shiho-gatame approaches from the side, while kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame uses an oblique position and control of one arm. These are not names for different camera angles. Check both tori's position and the actual route of the arms.

Separate entry, gripping and base adjustment with your instructor, starting cooperatively. If reaching forces the hips high, reset the distance rather than stay stretched out.

The Level here refers to the IMAC Dojo curriculum. Use the article and clips to prepare questions and review them with your instructor. Practical training needs a suitable partner, space and controlled conditions.

Ask whether uke has space to move the hips away from the chest line and how tori follows that movement. Nippon Budokan associates this hold with reverse-shrimp movement in its teaching material. It illustrates studying groundwork movement together with the hold, rather than increasing pressure before understanding position.