Kimura
The kimura is a shoulder lock finished with a figure-four grip on the opponent's wrist, rotating the arm behind their back. It is both a submission and a control: the same grip that finishes also sweeps, takes the back, and pins.
Browse Kimura flowcharts in ExploreA grip that does three jobs
Once you own the figure-four, you can finish the shoulder, use it to off-balance for a sweep, or ride it to the back when the opponent defends. Because the grip itself is the control, the kimura rarely fails outright; it just turns into the next position.
Entries and the kimura trap
Closed guard, half guard, and side control are the main entries, and the modern kimura-trap systems weave them together. Defending the finish feeds the sweep, defending the sweep feeds the back take, which is exactly the kind of branch a flowchart captures well.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kimura?
A shoulder lock using a figure-four grip on the opponent's wrist to rotate their arm behind their back. It attacks the shoulder and also works as a powerful control.
Why is the kimura grip so useful?
Because it is control as much as a submission. From the same grip you can finish the shoulder, sweep, or take the back, so the opponent's defense to one option simply opens the next.
Where can you set up a kimura?
Most often from closed guard, half guard, and side control. These entries connect through the kimura-trap system, which links the finish to sweeps and back takes.
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