Academy Four Eleven

The Kimura: How This One Submission Works From Everywhere

If you’ve spent any time on the mats, you’ve probably heard the word “Kimura” before. The Kimura in BJJ is one of the most powerful and flexible submissions. Whether you’re in a top position, a bottom position, or even transitioning between the two, it can be used to control, reverse, or submit your opponent. But how does it work exactly?

The Kimura is a shoulder lock submission that targets your opponent’s arm by isolating it and applying rotational pressure. Beyond just a finish, it’s a grip you can use to control movement, set up sweeps, or transition into dominant positions. What many students miss is that the Kimura isn’t just a single move; it’s a whole system of control that works from just about everywhere.

Key takeaways:

  • The Kimura works from almost anywhere and is one of the most versatile tools in BJJ.
  • It’s more than just a submission. It’s a full control system that helps you sweep, transition, or dominate position.
  • With the right timing and leverage, anyone can make the Kimura work without relying on strength.
  • Mastering the Kimura trap system lets you chain attacks and take control of the roll.

What is the Kimura Lock in BJJ? A Quick History

The Kimura lock — also known as a double wristlock — is a shoulder lock submission that uses a figure-four grip to isolate and crank your opponent’s arm behind their back. It’s brutal, effective, and surprisingly versatile.

The move gets its name from Masahiko Kimura, a legendary judoka who popularised the move when he used it to defeat Hélio Gracie in a historic match back in 1951. The story goes that Kimura broke Hélio’s arm with the lock, forcing his corner to throw in the towel. Since then, the technique’s been a staple in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a symbol of respect for its devastating effectiveness.

Today, the Kimura isn’t just a powerful submission. It’s a gateway to positional control, transitions, and sweeps. At Academy 411, it’s one of the first systems we teach because it fits so naturally with our vision and approach to BJJ.

The Fundamental Mechanics of the Kimura BJJ Move

The Kimura BJJ move is a blend of timing, control, and leverage. Here’s how it works, step-by-step:

  1. Isolate the arm: Move your opponent’s elbow away from their body so you can trap it.
  2. Secure the figure-four grip: Grab their wrist with one hand, loop your other arm over theirs, and grab your own wrist.
  3. Break their posture: Use your body to keep them off balance so they can’t escape or counter.
  4. Pin the arm tight: Keep their elbow roughly at a 90° bend and away from their body, so they can’t straighten their arm, slip out, or grab their own belt to defend.
  5. Finish with rotation: Lift their elbow and rotate the wrist behind their back, creating pressure in the shoulder until they tap.

You’ll see this Kimura lock setup in all positions, and we drill it often in our adult classes.

How to Set Up the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kimura from Common Positions

Setting up the Kimura from Closed Guard

From closed guard, your first goal is to break their posture. Once their hands are on the mat or close to your body, isolate one arm by grabbing the wrist with your same-side hand. Sit up and reach over their shoulder to lock in the Kimura grip. Angle your hips out, clamp their arm to your chest, and fall back slightly to tighten everything. Keep your knees high and active to control posture. From there, finish the Kimura lock by bringing their wrist behind their back with slow, steady pressure. Keep it tight and controlled.  Don’t rely on brute force.

Securing the Kimura from Side Control

When you’re in side control and your opponent hugs you tight, pin their upper arm to the mat with your near-side arm first. Then switch your far arm from the underhook to grab their wrist and pin it to the mat, and loop your near arm over the top to secure the figure-four grip. Step over their head with your far leg to block movement and shut down any bridging. Pull their elbow towards their hip to kill their shoulder mobility, then lift the wrist slowly to apply pressure. This setup works in both Gi and No-Gi, especially when they’re tired and defending late. Stay patient and control the position before chasing the finish.

Attacking with the Kimura from Half Guard

Half guard is a goldmine for Kimuras. From the bottom half, you can use the Kimura to force sweeps or create space. Start by controlling the wrist on the far arm, then thread your arm over and lock in your figure-four grip. Keep their elbow bent around 90° and away from their ribs. Angle your hips out so you aren’t flat. If the finish isn’t there, use the Kimura trap to sweep, come on top, or take the back.

From the top half guard, the setup is similar to side control when they cling around your torso with their near arm. Pin their upper arm, switch your far arm to grab the wrist, and lock the figure-four. Once secured, clear your trapped leg or step over their head for control before finishing. The Kimura BJJ move works here as both a submission and a pathway to more dominant control.

Beyond the Submission: Understanding the Kimura Trap System

Once you’ve got the Kimura grip, you’re not just hunting for a finish — you’re setting a trap. The Kimura trap is a control system built around that same grip, giving you the ability to dictate where the roll goes next. You can use it to stop their movement, flatten them out, or off-balance them for a sweep. If they defend the submission, no problem. You can flow straight into an armbar, triangle, or even take the back.

That’s the real beauty of the Kimura: it’s not just a move. It’s a doorway to endless options. Whether you’re training Gi or No-Gi, mastering the Kimura trap helps you turn defence into offence and missed submissions into dominant positions. Want to see it in action? Check out how we train it at our No-Gi BJJ classes.

Start Your BJJ Journey and Master the Kimura in Sydney

When you have a strong Kimura, you can build your game around a whole system that helps you stay in control, create opportunities, and finish fights, no matter where you are on the mat. Whether you’re brand new to the sport or already rolling a few times a week, learning how to use the Kimura in BJJ can improve your skills in both Gi and No-Gi. Ready to go beyond the theory and start training in person? Book a free Jiu-Jitsu class today and learn the Kimura firsthand with experienced coaches. Or check our timetable and find a class that suits your schedule.