Kimura from Half Guard

Kimura from Half Guard is a finishing attack built around a handful of repeatable controls. Bottom player is on the side hip in half guard with the inside leg knee-shielding while the outside leg traps one of top player's legs. Another common starting shape: bottom half guard with a Kimura grip locked on the trapped-side arm, top player defending by sucking the knee in tight against the hip. It is worth attempting once comfortable with: Upa bridge escape from mount to closed or half guard top. The ideas that hold it together are underhook, kimura grip control, and side-hip half guard.

The kimura chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Get to the side hip and pull head to the mat to free the underhook arm. Lock a figure-four Kimura on the near arm to immobilize the upper body. Use the Kimura to read top player's defense and pick sweep vs back take. Trigger the sweep when top player slides the knee in to defend the Kimura. Bump the hips and roll over the Kimura-side shoulder while keeping wrist control. Come up chest-to-chest and consolidate top position before releasing the grip. Keep the arm behind the back; if it must come in front, keep the elbow tucked at the side. Never reach across for a body lock — that hands over the kimura. Bottom player has secured a deep underhook and a Kimura grip on the trapped-side arm, threatening sweeps and back takes while top player is forced to post.

Later in the kimura, kimura sweep mechanics, reading defensive reactions, and arm behind, not in front tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Staying flat on the back instead of turning to the side hip. Letting the underhook elbow flare so top player can whizzer. Releasing the Kimura grip too early during the roll-through. Reaching across with the bottom arm and exposing the kimura. The high-percentage version of kimura from half guard is the one you can still chain when the first squeeze is defended.