Purple belt · Defense · Key
Kimura trap defense from half guard top
How to beat the kimura trap when you're on top in half guard: hide the hand and flatten them. Use it whenever they grab your near wrist from half guard bottom.
Step by step
- Prevent it: keep your near arm tight. Don't post that hand on the mat by their hips; keep your arms busy with the crossface and underhook.
- When they grab your wrist, hide the hand: grab your own thigh, or clasp your hands together.
- Flatten them: drop your chest and drive your weight forward so their back goes to the mat and they can't come up on their side.
- Once they're flat, pull your elbow back to your ribs and get your crossface back.
- If they use the grip to come up toward your back, keep facing them and keep your hand connected. Don't turn away.
- Tap if your hand goes behind your back and they pull your elbow away from your body.
Details that make it work
- Their kimura trap needs them on their side. Keep them flat.
- Hand connected to your body until they let go.
Common mistakes
- Posting your hand on the mat to keep your balance.
- Pulling the arm out while they're still on their side, which gives them the back.
Drill it
Partner in half guard bottom hunts the kimura trap at 50%: 3 × 1 min positional.
If it fails, or what comes next
- Half guard top: crossface & flatten Control · Half guard top
- Half guard pass: flatten & free the leg Pass · Half guard top
- Kimura and americana defense Defense · Side (bottom)
This defends against
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