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The Kimura is a shoulder lock submission that targets the opponent’s shoulder joint, applying a rotational force to hyperextend the arm and cause pain or submission. It is one of the most effective submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, as it can be applied from several positions, including top control, side control, or even when transitioning to the back.


  1. Establish Control
    • Positioning: The Kimura can be applied from various positions, but it’s most commonly performed from side control, guard, or half guard.
    • Control the Arm: The first step is to control your opponent’s arm. Reach over the opponent’s arm with both of your hands, grabbing their wrist with one hand and placing your other hand on their elbow or triceps. This sets up the lock and isolates their arm.
  2. Set Up the Kimura
    • Grab the Wrist: Once you have control of their wrist, pull their arm towards you. Use your body to prevent them from escaping or defending the position.
    • Create Leverage: Your other hand (the one that is gripping their elbow or triceps) should now place pressure on their upper arm, guiding it behind their back.
    • Rotate the Arm: With both hands controlling the opponent’s arm, begin rotating their arm behind their back in a figure-eight motion. Your opponent’s arm should move toward their lower back, while your body should pivot and rotate as you apply the torque.
  3. Apply the Submission
    • Tighten the Grip: Once their arm is positioned behind their back, use your entire body to generate pressure. You should lock their wrist with your arms while your body uses leverage to rotate their shoulder joint.
    • Final Pressure: Apply pressure by pulling the wrist upward and pushing the elbow down toward their back. This action forces their shoulder joint into a painful and potentially damaging position.
  4. Finish the Submission
    • Tap Out or Break: The submission is complete when the opponent taps, signaling that they can no longer continue due to the pain or potential injury caused by the shoulder lock. In some cases, if the submission is held too long, it can lead to a dislocated shoulder or severe injury.

  1. Posture and Base
    • Maintain Strong Posture: To avoid being caught in the Kimura, it is important to maintain a strong, stable base when on the ground. Avoid being too upright or leaving your arms exposed, which gives your opponent the opportunity to attack with the Kimura.
    • Tighten Elbow Position: Keeping your elbows close to your body makes it much harder for your opponent to isolate your arm and set up the Kimura.
  2. Hand Fighting
    • Break the Grip: The primary defense against a Kimura is to break your opponent’s grip. If they have established the Kimura lock, try to fight for wrist control and peel their fingers apart. Use both hands to break the grip before they can fully apply the submission.
    • Pull the Arm Out: In some cases, the best defense is to pull the arm back to a more neutral position before the lock is fully engaged. This can be done by pulling the arm away from your opponent’s body and rotating it out of the grip.
  3. Keep Your Elbow Tight
    • Tuck the Elbow: Keeping your elbow close to your body and tightly bent can make it difficult for your opponent to isolate and torque your arm behind your back. This minimizes the chances of your opponent successfully executing the Kimura.
  4. Control the Opponent’s Body
    • Prevent Movement: If you’re on top or in a dominant position, prevent your opponent from being able to shift or rotate their body. By controlling their torso, it becomes harder for them to execute a Kimura from the bottom.

  1. Kimura Escape by Rolling
    • Roll and Reverse: One common escape when caught in the Kimura is to roll toward the opponent’s head (in the direction of the lock). By rolling into the opponent, you can change the angle, potentially causing them to lose control of your arm. This can also allow you to end up in a more favorable position, such as side control or guard.
  2. Kimura to Counter-Lock
    • Reverse the Lock: If you’re caught in the Kimura but can control your opponent’s arm, you can attempt to reverse the position. A skilled practitioner can use the Kimura against their opponent, executing a counter-lock by transitioning to their own Kimura on the opponent’s arm.
  3. Turn Toward the Lock
    • Turn into the Lock: Another method of countering the Kimura is by turning your body toward the direction of the lock. This reduces the pressure on your shoulder and may cause your opponent to lose their grip or angle, allowing you to escape or reverse the position.
  4. Stacking to Break Control
    • Stack the Opponent: If you’re caught in a Kimura from guard or side control, stacking your opponent by driving your weight forward onto them can make it harder for them to finish the submission. This movement compresses their body, reducing the leverage they have for the arm lock.

  • Control the Arm: The Kimura relies heavily on controlling your opponent’s arm and isolating it. Without proper control of their wrist and elbow, the submission becomes difficult to execute.
  • Leverage with Your Hips: Much like other submissions, the power in the Kimura comes from using your body and hips to apply pressure. A proper body angle and pivoting are essential for maximizing leverage.
  • Timing and Precision: The Kimura is all about timing. You must secure the grip before your opponent can react and escape. Precision in applying the torque is critical to avoid injury and finish the submission efficiently.

  • Overcommitting without Control: One common mistake is overcommitting to the Kimura without sufficient control of the opponent’s body or arm. If your body is not in the correct position, they can easily escape or reverse the submission.
  • Not Using the Hips: Relying only on your arms to finish the Kimura without engaging your hips for leverage can lead to ineffective submissions and allow your opponent to escape.
  • Neglecting Grip Control: The grip is critical in securing the Kimura. Failing to hold on to your opponent’s wrist or elbow properly can allow them to break free and defend the submission.

The Kimura is a versatile submission that can be applied from multiple positions and is a valuable tool in both MMA and grappling. Proper technique, control, and leverage are key to making it successful. Equally important is the knowledge of how to defend and counter this submission, as it’s a common attack in many different situations.