BJJ TV

Category: Kimura

BJJ Kimura

The Kimura is an arm lock that uses the bent arm as a lever to over rotate the the shoulder joint. It is similar to the Americana. But the arm is twisted in the opposite direction. Because the Kimura forces the elbow backwards, not forwards, it can’t be applied to someone laying on their back.

Instead they must have their back off the ground. They can be laying on their side, seated, kneeling, standing or even on top of you. Hence the Kimura from closed guard is particularly effective.

The best defence is often a good offence and the threat of a Kimura is often enough force an opponent to abandon a good position, or even give up an attack of their own.

The Kimura from closed guard is executed by forcing your opponent to post one hand to the mat. Then grab their wrist in a C grip with your close hand. Open your guard and sit up. Reach over their arm above the elbow with your free hand then grab your own wrist. Keep their arm bent at 90 degrees. Shrimp sideways. Moving your body offline on the side that you control the arm. Put your top leg over their back, this prevents them from rolling out the front. Then slowly bring their shoulder down and their hand up until they tap. Make sure you keep their arm bent at 90 degrees. This is what will give you the leverage you need to tear their shoulder apart.

  • Submissions From Mount

    Submissions From Mount

    The Ultimate Position Before Submission

    Keenan Cornelius shows a string of possible submissions from the mount. Many opponents when mounted will try to escape with a hip bump. When they bump and you place your hands on the mat it’s common for them to grab around your back. Trap one arm with your elbow and then lock it in with your knee. From this position Keenan runs through a series of submissions to try each one leading to another if the first one is missed. It’s an extremely dominant position and in this excellent video Keen shows how to capitalise on this position with high percentage submissions.

  • Half Guard Pass to Kimura

    Half Guard Pass to Kimura

    Turn Defence into Attack

    Why settle for simply passing half guard when you can grab a sneaky kimura as well? Tom breaks it down in an easy to understand video.

     

    How to use a Kimura to pass half guard.

    Start by bring your free leg in close to his cutting out his space to move. And changing the angle, getting your spines out of alignment. Now when you opponent sits up reaching for the underhook wrap your close arm over his trapping the upper arm, them use your hip to drive his shoulders to the mat.

    Once he’s on his back use your other hand to grab the wrist. Don’t be tempted to go for the Kimura from here. Be patient. Keep holding his wrist, and use your other hand over the top to secure the grip.

    If he opens his legs to bridge at this point then move to side control. If not, keep you grip on the wrist with both hands. Try and use your elbow to push his leg down and free your knee. As soon as the knee is free, point your toes and drive the knee straight up to the ceiling. Thus freeing your leg and moving to half guard. Because you have the arm your body will be on it’s side across your opponents. And your top leg should be bent at 90 degrees (engine up). This prevents them from rolling you over and gives you the base you need to push off. Violently drive their elbow to the floor, and take your prefered Kimura grip. Tom favours a jar grip, but most will use a more traditional fingers over the wrist Kimura grip (with no thumb). Step your north leg (the one closest to their head) out past their head, and push off it to slowly effect the Kimura.

  • The Kimura Trap

    The Kimura Trap

    What is the Kimura Trap? Why is it so powerful?

    Keenan Cornelius shows you the Kimura Trap. It’s great for grappling against someone with superior wrestling skills and works equally well Gi or No Gi.

  • 49 Kimura and Americana Attacks in Less Than 6 Min – Jason Scully BJJ Grappling

    49 Kimura and Americana Attacks in Less Than 6 Min – Jason Scully BJJ Grappling

    Lots of Kimura & Americana Variations

    Become a threat from almost any position with more Kimura and Americana variations than you knew existed in less than 6 minutes.

    This is a great video if you’re one or two years into Jiu Jitsu, you know the basic Kimura but haven’t yet discovered the many places you can use it. It’s a great attack to use from a 50/50 position or to block a sweep or takedown. If you’re always looking for an exposed elbow it’s amazing how often the Kimura presents itself.

  • Kimura From Closed Guard For White Belts (Small Details To Improve Success)

    Kimura From Closed Guard For White Belts (Small Details To Improve Success)

    Learn to do a Kimura from Closed Guard

    The kimura from closed guard is one of the first submissions you learn in BJJ, and one of the most effective in MMA. This video gives you the small details that will make the move more successful during training and competitions.

    Once you open your guard, don’t try and sit straight up. Do a small hip escape and shift your weight onto your side. This makes you much harder to push back down.

    Once you have the Kimura watch for space around the elbow of your top arm. If you have long arms you’ll need to tuck the elbows in at this point to take away and slack.

    Be sure to go thumbless on the grip of the opponent’s wrist. It’ll save your grip and stop your thumb getting hurt if you end up rolling.

    Once the grip is secure switch the hips and put your leg over their back. Hip out and apply the Kimura with your whole body..

  • How To Do The Perfect Kimura From Side Control by John Danaher

    How To Do The Perfect Kimura From Side Control by John Danaher

    Learn to Finish the Kimura from Side Control.

    Kimura from side control can be difficult to finish; even for an advanced Jiu Jitsu player. John Danaher explains the fine points that will help perfect the technique and help you get the submission, even against a larger skilled opponent.The key here is what you do after you get the Kimura. Don’t try and finish from side control. Instead move half way between side control and north south. Stepping one foot over the head of your opponent. This traps their arm in a vulnerable position and put  you in a powerful position to finish with your pulling hand.

  • Is the Kimura an effective technique in MMA?

    Top Kimura Finishes in UFC History

    The Kimura is one of the most effective BJJ techniques in MMA. Because of this many top level fights have been finished with a Kimura. Here’s some of the best from the UFC.

    You’ll love Joe Rogan’s excitement as Frank Mir taps out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira from side control.

    Notice the body control and perfect technique from Khabib, Michael Johnson never looks like escaping.

    Nick Diaz Kimura is similar. It starts in side control, then there is a battle for position. Similar to the first two examples, the Kimura is only finished when Nick moves from side control to more of a North South position, and gets one leg over behind their opponent’s head, dramatically increasing their leverage.

    Joe Lauzon’s Kimura is very different. He starts from a messy position standing over his opponent striking, grabs the Kimura, goes to standing, then jumps to guard to finish a really tight Kimura.

  • Kimura From Half Guard Bottom Position

    Kimura From Half Guard Bottom Position

    George St-Pierre Kimura from half guard, bottom position.

    George St-Pierre and  Jiu Jitsu instructor, Michael Tremblay explain one of GSP’s favorite techniques. A Kimura from Half Guard bottom position. Watch as GSP blocks Michael from passing his half guard with his arm. Frustrated his opponent tries to pin Georges arm with his knee. George deftly avoids having his arm pinned, and attacks immediately. Having anticipated the move and having his free arm ready to pounce, George goes straight for the Kimura.