Kimura 101 – Complete Grappling Guide (BJJ & MMA) | Blinklift (2024)

The Kimura is one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most popular and effective submissions. It’s not as hard to learn as other submissions; that’s why learning it can be more than valuable.

This article will explain how you can learn this beautiful technique yourself. First, however, I’ll do it in a different format.

My goal with this article is to ensure you’ll perform the Kimura submission correctly for the rest of your grappling career. Thus, it’ll include small details that most novices forget to implement. Therefore, they end up unsuccessful when they try and use it.

If you want to master this technique, this article is for you. Likewise, if you want to start winning rolls more often, this article will help you with that.

Without further introduction, let’s dive into the article.

Kimura 101 – Complete Grappling Guide (BJJ & MMA) | Blinklift (1)

If you want to boost your grappling skills, I encourage you to read another guide I wrote on the Armbar, another effective finishing submission. Please give it a read to become a better grappler.

What is the Kimura (BJJ submission)

BJJ, or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a martial art that teaches grappling-based techniques. If you want to become a solid fighter that knows ground grappling, it’s the martial art for you. So, let’s see one variation of this effective technique.

The Kimura is a submission that originates from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It utilizes applying pressure on the opponent’s arm. It’s easy to learn and execute compared to other grappling submissions that BJJ teaches. As a result, many MMA fighters implement the Kimura submission in their toolbox because it’s effective.

I’m confident that learning this submission will significantly boost your grappling skills. You won’t need as long to learn the basic variations and will start using it in rolls and competitions.

Of course, you can use the Kimura in self-defense and street fights. Most people don’t know how to defend against a solid grappler; that means you’ll have an advantage in any fight, whether it’s self-defense or a street fight.

Hopefully, however, you’ll never find yourself needing to use it. You must be responsible for your actions, especially once you learn to fight fiercely. Don’t start fights with people to check how much of a great fighter you are. Stay humble and be responsible for yourself and others around you.

How to perform the Kimura (BJJ submission)

Performing the Kimura won’t be as tricky as other techniques, such as the Armbar. While there are more accessible techniques you can learn, it’s an uncomplicated one you can learn and practice quickly. Let’s see how to perform it from the closed guard position.

You must pull the opponent toward you to perform the Kimura while ensuring his hands are on the mat. You want to grab the wrist then (and not the forearm.) The next step will be to open your guard and shift your body. Next, insert your hand between his arm and lean backward. Apply pressure and wait for the tap.

This is, as you saw, the Kimura from the guard position. However, you can perform it from almost any known position in BJJ.

You can perform it while in mount or with side control. Gaining the side control can get real tricky, especially in the more advanced leagues. Thus, knowing how to use passes is critical. I wrote a complete guide on how to pass anyone’s guard using the Toreando pass. Could you give it a read?

We will discuss how to perform the Kimura from the different positions. I recommend not waiting too long on each variation. Instead, learn them all individually to ensure you’re boosting your grappling skills swiftly.

If you want to learn how to implement to progress faster in BJJ, follow the link.

A step-by-step guide to the Kimura

This section will demonstrate a step-by-step guide to performing the Kimura from the side control position. People often understand instructions in a list format rather than a paragraph. Here we go.

  1. Start in the side control position: Begin by passing your opponent’s guard and securing side control with your chest and hips pressed against their torso.
  2. Isolate your opponent’s arm: With your closest arm, reach under your opponent’s arm and grab their wrist. Your other hand should be placed on their triceps, pushing it down towards their hip.
  3. Pivot on your knees: While maintaining pressure on your opponent’s arm, pivot to bring your chest closer to their shoulder.
  4. Clasp your hands together: Once you have rotated to the correct position, clasp your hands together and use your body weight to apply pressure to the shoulder joint.
  5. Finish the submission: Once you have a secure grip on their wrist and have clasped your hands together, rotate your hips away from your opponent to apply pressure to their shoulder joint further. This will cause pain and discomfort, forcing your opponent to tap out.

If you want to learn another excellent and effective BJJ submission, you can follow the link to learn to perform the wrist lock. (A complete guide)

Variations of the Kimura

Kimura from guard

The Kimura from the closed guard position is the most popular one. However, there are many more you might find more suitable to your style. Therefore, don’t limit yourself to one variation.

This is how you perform the Kimura submission from the closed guard position:

  1. Establish a closed guard position
  2. Clear the opponent’s arms to the side
  3. Grab the opponent’s wrist (not forearm)
  4. Move your hip outward
  5. Lean to the side of the opponent’s wrist you caught
  6. Insert your other hand in between his hand
  7. Grab your wrist
  8. Use your knee for rotation
  9. Apply pressure on the opponent’s shoulder
  10. Wait for the tap out

You want to extend the opponent’s arm to create more pressure on his shoulder. You must apply as much pressure as possible to get the tap quickly.

Likewise, try not to lose connection with your hands. Don’t let go of the opponent’s wrist, for example. Instead, ensure to keep your contact with his hands.

You should also watch the following video:

Kimura from mount

Next, discuss another variation you should learn if you want to master the Kimura. You want to learn it because it will help you win more rolls and make you a more complete grappler.

The mounted Kimura is easier to execute than the other variations, such as in the closed guard position. You’ll see why soon.

Here is how to perform the Kimura from the mount position:

  1. Be in a solid mount position
  2. Push the opponent’s elbow down
  3. Keep your elbow on the neck
  4. Insert your other hand below his hand
  5. Grab your wrist
  6. Your right elbow should touch your right knee
  7. Your elbow should follow your leg (at an angle)
  8. Apply more pressure
  9. Wait for the tap out

This variation is relatively easy to understand. I’ve been able to learn it in a rather short period. I’m confident you can see the same results if you work hard.

Before we dive in, if you want to learn an extremely effective BJJ submission and become a better grappler, follow the link to read about the Straight Arm Lock submission and how you can learn it today!

Kimura from side control

The last variation we’ll discuss is the Kimura from side control. This is how you perform it:

  1. Establish side control
  2. Bring your hand under the opponent’s arm
  3. Use your head to pinch his arm down
  4. Your other hand grabs his wrist
  5. Twist to the side of his head
  6. Apply side pressure with both hands
  7. Wait for the tap out

The side control Kimura has many variations. Different coaches will teach different variations. Thus, don’t think that there’s right and wrong here.

BJJ is a dynamic martial art. That means you can have two BJJ trainees who have learned different variations and know how to use different techniques. This will naturally occur.

Kimura history

Masahiko Kimura, as you can guess, invented it. It was a technique to be proud of.

Masahiko got famous by beating Helio Gracie, a part of the legendary Gracie bloodline, in a fight while using it. Masahiko broke Helio’s arm as he refused to surrender.

Eventually, however, Helio’s bench through in the towel, so his arm could recover adequately.

Ever since, the Kimura has been a legendary technique in the world of grappling. Masahiko was a Judo practitioner, to be precise. Eventually, however, BJJ adopted this submission.

Today, almost all Jiu-Jitsu trainees are familiar with this beautiful, magnificent grapple.

If you want to become a better grappler, follow the link to read about the rear naked choke and how to perform all its variations!

What is the difference between a Kimura and an Americana?

If you get the Kimura and the Americana mixed up, this section is for you. They’re very similar. Therefore, it’s totally fine if you get them mixed up sometimes. But there’s one difference you need to look out for when comparing the two. Here it is.

The Kimura is when you push the opponent’s forearm with his palm facing down. On the other hand, an Americana is when his palm is facing up. Both are similar in their execution. However, the primary difference is how you push the opponent’s forearm and the pressure you apply to finish the technique.

The direction you apply pressure to will be different with these two submissions. I suggest not investing too much effort into understanding them if you haven’t learned one.

But, if you learned both and are still having difficulty understanding, watch for the direction of the forearm.

When should I use the Kimura?

The correct answer to when you should use the Kimura is – it depends. There’s no correct answer other than when you can get into the opponent’s safe zone and finish the roll. Get creative with your executions. Start faking before going for the actual technique. This will help you be more unexpected.

You should use the Kimura whenever you’re in a solid guard, mount, or in a side control position. You can use this submission from any of these techniques. What I recommend you do is test the waters with the opponent. Try to first go with slower movements to see his response; adapt accordingly.

And again, you can fake going for a specific submission to see how the opponent responds. You can test the waters with slow movements and adapt accordingly to the response.

There’s no better way to learn when you should use the Kimura than to roll more and think about using it. You’ll gain a natural instinct for these things the more you train, spar, and roll! Good luck!

If you want to learn the Triangle choke and win more BJJ rolls, follow the link.

How to escape the Kimura?

Escaping the Kimura will be difficult. However, you’ll begin to develop natural instincts with time and experience. I know it might currently be quite intimidating to defend against such submissions. Here are some ways you can use to keep your guard.

To escape the Kimura, you have to control your arm. You can grab it and twist your body to maintain your guard. There are other ways to maintain your guard when the opponent goes for the Kimura, such as blocking the opponent’s knees with your head.

Eventually, the primary guideline is to prevent the steps discussed in this article. If you can ensure the opponent can’t perform a single of the steps, you’ll be in the clear.

Get creative and start learning from experience. After every single roll, ask yourself what you could have done to be in a better position. There will always be an answer to this question. Start answering and implementing the answers to become a better grappler.

Final words

This is it. You are now a proud owner of this valuable knowledge. I hope you can fire up your BJJ skills and win more rolls. It doesn’t have to be complicated if you’re learning the right way.

The Kimura is one of the most influential and practical grappling techniques. It will help you submit more opponents because of its versatility and dynamic nature.

You can perform this submission from many positions and in diverse variations. As a result, you can always surprise your opponent by being a bit more unexpected than last time.

This website is all about martial arts and self-improvement. You can read more of my work to learn about the beautiful world of martial arts.

While the Kimura is an effective submission, it’s not the most effective. If you want to see which are the most effective BJJ techniques, follow the link to an article of mine (spoiler: the Kimura is one of them.)

Kimura 101 – Complete Grappling Guide (BJJ & MMA) | Blinklift (2024)
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