Kimura Grip While Passing
Transition · Half Guard
A figure-four grip on his arm, used as control while you pass, with a kimura shoulder lock behind it. You use it on top of half guard, when he frames or reaches with an arm and your leg is still trapped. Your right hand controls his wrist, and your left arm threads under his biceps to grab your own right wrist. To get enough reach, lie briefly on your left side, then come back up once the grip is set. The grip pins his arm, so he cannot underhook or frame, and it pulls his shoulder off the mat while you free your leg. Keep his elbow tight to your body and your chest heavy on his. If the leg stays trapped and you have no angle, step into the tripod (T-kimura). Rotate his arm slowly when you finish.
How to do it
- On top of his half guard, wait for him to frame on you or reach for an underhook, then catch that wrist with your right hand, thumb on one side and fingers on the other so the hand can move neither in nor out, pinning it to the mat near his hip.
- Lie briefly on your left side to gain reach and thread your left arm under his biceps, close to the elbow, and grab your own right wrist: the figure-four.
- Come back up onto your knees with the grip set. Keep his elbow tight against your ribs and your chest heavy on his shoulder, so the arm is glued to you.
- Use the grip to pass: lift his trapped shoulder slightly off the mat so he cannot turn in to you, and work your trapped leg free with your other foot or by walking your hips back.
- If he gives you the angle, finish the kimura: elbow pinned to you as the pivot, rotate his hand away behind his back toward his head, slowly.
- If your leg stays trapped and there is no angle, keep the grip and step into the tripod (T-kimura) to open new attacks.
Key details
- Grip the wrist, not the hand: the hand twists out, the wrist does not.
- The threading arm goes under the biceps close to the elbow; a grip high near the armpit gives him room to straighten the arm.
- Lying briefly on your side gives you the reach; stay there too long and he comes up or sweeps.
- The grip is control first: as long as you hold it, he cannot underhook or frame with that arm, so pass with it.
- Once the figure-four is locked, switch the wrist grip to all five fingers on one side: now the second arm stops the hand coming in, and the five-finger grip turns the arm much harder.
- If he grabs his own body or belt to block, keep your chest connected to his and pull the arm toward you first to break the grip, then turn it.
Common mistakes
- Forcing the kimura finish while your leg is still trapped. — Without an angle the shoulder does not rotate, and you lose base on top. — Use the grip to free the leg or go to the tripod first.
- Letting his elbow drift away from your body. — He straightens the arm and strips the grip. — Keep the elbow on your ribs and your chest on his shoulder.
How to drill it
Partner on bottom half guard frames or reaches for an underhook. You take the kimura grip, come back up, and free your leg while holding it. Five reps each side, then partner resists the leg extraction lightly.
Safety
The kimura grip can load the shoulder even while you only use it for control: do not crank it during the pass, rotate slowly when finishing.