Purple belt · Sweep · Core
Kimura trap from half guard bottom: sweep or back take
You catch their arm in a kimura grip and use it to sweep them or take their back. Use it when they post a hand or whizzer while you play half guard bottom.
Step by step
- From half guard on your side, wait for them to post a hand by your hip or to whizzer your underhook.
- Grab that wrist. Reach your other arm over their upper arm, under it, and grab your own wrist: the kimura grip.
- Pull their elbow tight to your chest and stay on your side, heavy on them.
- Sweep: keep your half guard on their leg, lift that leg with your legs, and roll them toward the trapped arm. They can't post. Come up on top.
- Back take: if they defend by grabbing their own leg, use the grip as a handle, swing your hips out behind them, and climb to their back.
- Keep the kimura grip until you have a seatbelt or your chest is on top.
Details that make it work
- The grip is a handle first. Use it to move them before you try to finish.
- Elbow tight to your chest. A loose elbow lets them pull the arm out.
Common mistakes
- Falling flat on your back with the grip, so they crush you.
- Letting go of the grip too early in the back take.
Drill it
3 rounds of 2 minutes from half guard bottom: partner gives the arm, you sweep or take the back based on their reaction.
If it fails, or what comes next
- Kimura from side control Submission · Side control
- Half guard pass: flatten & free the leg Pass · Half guard top
- Back control: seatbelt & hooks Control · Back control
How to defend it
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.
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