Kimura
Submission · Half Guard
A shoulder lock: his arm is bent to 90 degrees and his hand is rotated behind his back toward his head, which twists the shoulder inward. It is there when, from your knee shield, he posts a hand on the mat for base. Grab that wrist with your same-side hand. Come up onto your side, reach your other arm over his shoulder and behind the triceps, and grab your own wrist to make the figure-four. Fall back, keeping his elbow glued to your chest as the pivot. Your legs keep the half guard so he cannot roll out or pass. If the elbow drifts off your chest, he straightens the arm and pulls it free. His answers are to roll forward (take the back), pull the arm back (kimura trap sweep), straighten it (armbar) or turn the shoulder in (triangle). Rotate slowly.
How to do it
- When they post a hand on the mat, catch the wrist with your same-side hand, gripping the wrist rather than the hand.
- Come up on your side, reach your other arm over their shoulder, past the triceps, and grab your own wrist: the figure-four.
- Fall back and keep their elbow tight to your chest while your legs keep the half guard so they cannot roll out.
- Finish by rotating their hand behind their back toward their head, the elbow staying bent and pinned to you as the pivot; turn slowly until they tap.
Key details
- Your legs keep the half guard on the trapped leg: that stops them rolling out of the lock or passing.
- Their elbow glued to your chest is the pivot; if it drifts, they straighten the arm and pull it out.
- Win the underhook first and come up to your side before you finish: it lets you sit up and gives the arm room to go behind their back.
- Against a crossface the kimura attacks the very arm that controls you.
- Lock the figure-four the moment the arm is isolated, elbows close together, and finish with your whole body: swivel the hips and turn your upper body against their arm instead of pushing the hand with your arms.
Common mistakes
- A loose elbow. — A loose elbow lets them straighten the arm and slide it out of the figure-four. — Glue their elbow to your chest before rotating.
- Staying flat on your back. — Flat on your back your body blocks the path, so the arm cannot go behind them. — Come up onto your side first, so there is room to turn the arm behind their back.
- Losing the half guard legs. — Free of your legs, they pass or roll and escape the kimura. — Keep the leg trapped until the lock is set.
If they defend
- They roll forward. → The roll exposes the back: follow it (Back Take chain).
- They grab their belt. → Use the grip as a handle and sweep with the kimura trap.
How to drill it
Post, catch, figure-four, 10 each side; then the partner defends by grabbing the belt.
Safety
Rotate slowly; the shoulder gives little warning.
What comes next
Where it comes from