Blue belt · Submission · Core
Kimura from closed guard
A shoulder lock using a figure-four grip on their wrist, turning their arm behind their back. Use it when they post a hand on the mat, often while defending a hip bump.
Closed guard Submission
Step by step
- When they post a hand on the mat, grab that wrist with your same-side hand.
- Sit up, reach over their shoulder and under their arm, and grab your own wrist (figure-four grip).
- Fall back to the mat and hip out to the side of the arm you're attacking.
- Bring your leg over their back to stop them rolling forward.
- Rotate their hand toward their back (a paintbrush motion), keeping their elbow at 90°. Go slow.
Details that make it work
- Elbow bent, hand going behind their back: it's the shoulder that's being attacked.
- If they grab their own hands to defend, use the kimura grip to sweep or take the back.
Common mistakes
- Attacking from straight on without hipping out.
- Cranking fast. Shoulders get hurt before the tap.
Drill it
10 each side, slow finish; partner taps early.
If it fails, or what comes next
- Hip bump sweep Sweep · Closed guard
- Guillotine from guard Submission · Closed guard
Set it up from
How to defend it
Kimura and americana defense: Defense for the kimura and the americana: keep your elbows tight, connect your hands and turn into them. Use it from side control bottom and in their guard…
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