Kimura from Butterfly Guard

Kimura from Butterfly Guard is a finishing attack built around a handful of repeatable controls. Half butterfly with the partner's far arm reaching across to defend the underhook or the sweep. Another common starting shape: attacker has secured a figure-four wrist control on the opponent's arm with the elbow above shoulder line. The ideas that hold it together are figure-four, shoulder isolation, and control before attack.

The kimura chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Snake the near arm over the reaching wrist to a figure-four kimura grip. Roll to the underhook side to load the shoulder. Drive the trapped wrist behind the partner's back to finish. Isolate the target limb or neck and remove the opponent's defensive frames before applying the finish. Align hips, shoulders, and grips so the finishing pressure goes through the weakest point of the opponent's defense. Apply the breaking pressure gradually and in the correct vector while denying counter-rotation. Secure a figure-four grip on the wrist and rotate the elbow behind the opponent's back. Pull the opponent's shoulder down by locking the elbow tight; push up on the trapped wrist. A locked kimura grip with the partner's wrist isolated and shoulder rotation pressure applied.

Later in the kimura, use the opponent's reaction to chain to the next technique, butterfly elevation, and hip squaring tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Locking the kimura without first off-balancing, letting the partner posture and rip free. Rolling the wrong direction so the shoulder rotates away from the lock. Rushing the finish before the position is fully consolidated. Allowing the opponent to relieve pressure by hand-fighting or rotating out. The high-percentage version of kimura from butterfly guard is the one you can still chain when the first squeeze is defended.