Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kimura: Complete Guide to Mastering This Powerful Submission

By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts specializing in Kimura systems | Last Updated: January 11, 2026

The Kimura is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most versatile grip and submission. Named after legendary judoka Masahiko Kimura who used it to defeat Helio Gracie in their famous 1951 match, the Kimura transcends being merely a submission—it’s a dominant controlling grip that creates guard passes, back takes, sweeps, and throws.​

According to Evolve MMA’s Kimura analysis, the Kimura grip is by far the most versatile grip in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, whether grappling with or without the gi. While mostly known as a powerful submission hold, viewing the Kimura as only useful for submitting would be a big mistake as it has several other useful applications.​

BJJ Fanatics notes that the position has become one of the most favored by contemporary athletes because of its versatility and availability. A number of athletes have popularized a “Kimura Trap” system which utilizes the kimura as a controlling position that can set up other techniques and submissions.​

After coaching hundreds of students and using Kimura extensively in training and competition, I’ve found it’s the fundamental control position that works from every position covered in previous articles—guard, half guard, side control, mount, and even standing. The Kimura isn’t just a submission—it’s a complete system.

Whether you’re a white belt learning basic submissions or a brown belt refining championship strategies, mastering Kimura mechanics gives you the most versatile tool in BJJ that creates opportunities from anywhere.

What Is the Kimura?

The Kimura is a shoulder lock submission that involves controlling your opponent’s arm in a figure-four grip configuration, then rotating their arm behind their back to create shoulder pressure.​​

Core Kimura Components:

• Figure-four grip (controlling their wrist with one hand, threading other arm behind their elbow to grab your own wrist)
• Opponent’s arm bent at 90-degree angle
• Arm isolated and controlled
• Rotation toward their back creates shoulder pressure
• Can be applied from top, bottom, or standing
• Works as submission and control position

BJJ Fanatics describes: This hand placement creates a powerful grip that creates a strong “chicken wing” of the opponent’s arm and keeps the arm at a 90-degree angle.​

The Historic Kimura vs. Gracie Match

The submission’s name comes from one of grappling’s most legendary matches:​

The 1951 Match:

• Masahiko Kimura (Japanese judoka) vs. Helio Gracie (BJJ founder)
• Kimura was 80kg judo champion
• Helio Gracie weighed only 63kg
• Kimura defeated Gracie using this shoulder lock
• Gracie’s arm was broken when he refused to tap
• Out of respect, Brazilians renamed the technique “Kimura”

This historic match cemented the Kimura’s place in grappling history and demonstrated its devastating effectiveness.

Why the Kimura Works Everywhere

Universal Applicability

The Kimura works from virtually every position:​

Top Positions:

• Side control (most common)
• Mount
• North-south
• Knee on belly
• Turtle (opponent defensive)
• Standing

Bottom Positions:

• Closed guard
• Half guard
• Open guard
• Butterfly guard

Gi and No-Gi:

• Works identically in both contexts
• No gi modifications minimal
• Same grip, same mechanics
• Same effectiveness

This versatility is unmatched by any other submission in BJJ.

The Kimura as Control, Not Just Submission

Evolve MMA emphasizes: The key to mastering the Kimura is to view it as a grip that can be used for a variety of means, including taking the back, passing the guard, and even throwing your opponent.​

The Kimura Creates:

• Guard passes
• Back takes
• Sweeps from bottom
• Takedown counters
• Position transitions
• Submission finishes

Viewing Kimura only as submission misses 80% of its potential.

Connections to Other Positions

The Kimura complements techniques from previous articles:

From Half Guard

• Common Kimura entry from top half
• Creates guard passing opportunities
• Forces opponent to unlock half guard
• Natural control position

After Knee Slice Pass

• When pass completes to side control
• Opponent often posts arm (Kimura opportunity)
• Submission or back take available
• Natural progression

Leading to Back Control

• Kimura creates back take opportunities
• Arm already controlled for rear naked choke
• One of highest-percentage back entries
• Covered in detail below

The Kimura Grip Fundamentals

Establishing the Grip

Proper grip mechanics are essential:​

Grip Sequence:

1. Control their wrist with near hand (thumbless grip)
2. Thread far arm behind their elbow
3. Grab your own wrist (creates figure-four)
4. Maintain 90-degree angle in their arm
5. Keep grip tight to your chest

Critical Detail: The grip should feel like you’re hugging their arm to your chest—tight and secure throughout.

The 90-Degree Angle

BJJ Fanatics emphasizes: The Kimura creates a strong “chicken wing” of the opponent’s arm and keeps the arm at a 90-degree angle.​

Why 90 Degrees Matters:

• Maximum control over limb
• Optimal leverage for finishing
• Prevents them straightening arm
• Creates strongest structural position
• Essential for all Kimura applications

Without 90-degree angle, opponent can defend by straightening or by gripping their belt.

Common Defensive Grips

Opponents defend Kimura predictably:​

Defense 1: Straightening Arm

• Opponent tries to straighten targeted arm
• Makes establishing grip difficult
• Prevents 90-degree configuration

Defense 2: Gripping Own Belt/Gi

• Grabs their own belt with attacked hand
• Creates defensive frame
• Makes finishing harder

Solutions to both defenses covered in technique sections below.

Kimura from Closed Guard

The fundamental entry for beginners:​​

Basic Closed Guard Kimura

Setup:

• Opponent in your closed guard
• They post one or both hands on mat (mistake)
• Creates Kimura opportunity

Execution Steps:

1. Control Wrist

• Grab posted hand’s wrist with near hand
• Secure control before they react

2. Sit Up and Thread

• Open guard and plant feet
• Sit up driving forward
• Thread far arm behind their elbow
• Grab your own wrist (figure-four complete)

3. Hug Arm to Chest

• Pull their arm tight to your body
• Lift their hand upward
• Break their posture down

4. Angle and Lock

• Use far leg to block their escape
• Plant near foot and scoot out
• Create angle (not straight-on)
• Re-lock guard if needed

5. Finish

• Rotate their hand toward their back
• Maintain tight grip
• Squeeze knees together
• Apply shoulder pressure until tap

This is the first Kimura most students learn.

Using Kimura for Guard Passing

Evolve MMA teaches: One method of guard passing that is becoming incredibly popular in modern grappling is to use submissions, or the threat of a submission to pass the guard.​

Kimura Pass from Half Guard

The most common passing application:​

Context:

• Passing opponent’s half guard with Base Switch pass
• Turn torso to face their legs
• Sit on hip to break leg free

Kimura Opportunity:

• As you drive knee to mat
• Opponent posts arm on your knee (defending)
• Perfect Kimura setup appears

Passing Sequence:

1. Lock Kimura Grip

• Grab posted wrist
• Thread arm behind elbow
• Complete figure-four grip

2. Drive to Floor

• Drive Kimura toward floor (as if finishing)
• Opponent must unlock half guard to defend
• Uses leg to try breaking your grip

3. Extract Leg

• As soon as they unlock half guard
• Step trapped leg up and out
• Land in side control
• Maintain Kimura grip throughout

Result: Guard passed with Kimura control maintained—can now pursue submission or back take from side control.

This technique revolutionized modern guard passing by making submission threat a passing tool.

Using Kimura to Take the Back

Evolve MMA emphasizes: One common theme in all forms of Submission Grappling is the supremacy of strangulation submissions over joint lock submissions. For this reason, the Kimura lock is used as a mechanism to take the back where strangles are readily available.​

From Side Control to Back

High-percentage back take:​

Setup:

• You’ve passed to side control with Kimura grip
• Opponent unlikely to tap to joint lock
• Use Kimura to pursue back and strangles

Execution:

1. Pull to Side

• Use Kimura grip to pull opponent onto their side
• Maintain tight grip control

2. Walk Around Head

• Walk around their head completely
• Move to opposite side from starting position
• Both now facing same direction
• Still controlling top arm with Kimura

3. Stand and Sit

• Pop up to your feet quickly
• Keep grip tight to chest
• Sit to your back pulling them on top
• Throw in back hooks immediately

4. Transition to RNC

• Hand on own wrist releases
• Immediately grabs their trapped arm’s wrist
• Arm is controlled and out of equation
• Other hand works for rear naked choke

Advantage: Their arm is already controlled, making choke defense much harder.

This is one of the smoothest transitions from submission attempt to back control.

Kimura from Side Control

The most common top position application:

Standard Side Control Kimura

Entry:

• Side control established
• Opponent attempts underhook (very common)
• Perfect Kimura opportunity

Mechanics:

1. Catch the Underhook

• As they reach for underhook
• Grab their wrist immediately
• Thread your arm behind their elbow
• Lock figure-four grip

2. Pin Arm

• Move to diagonal side control
• Keep their arm pinned
• Drive shoulder into their chest
• Prevent them sitting up

3. Step Over Head

• Step over their head with near leg
• Fully immobilizes them
• Creates optimal finishing angle

4. Finish

• Flare top elbow upward
• Pull their wrist toward their back
• Maintain step-over position
• Apply shoulder pressure

Troubleshooting:

• If they push your hips: Use rolling hip movements and small steps
• If they straighten arm: Lift elbow and throttle wrist to create bend
• If they sit up: Execute perpendicular roll and hip bridge to return to finish

These details separate white belt Kimuras from black belt Kimuras.

Kimura Counter to Takedowns

Evolve MMA describes: The most exciting and flashy move is to use the Kimura as a counter throw, particularly against the Single Leg Takedown.​

Kimura Counter to Single Leg

Defensive application:​

Setup:

• Opponent attacks single leg on your left leg
• Defending the takedown

Counter Sequence:

1. Control Head and Wrist

• Push their head down
• Place chest on top of head
• Grab their left wrist with right hand

2. Lock Kimura

• Thread left arm behind their left elbow
• Complete figure-four grip
• Maintain tight control

3. Use Butterfly Hook

• Use trapped leg as butterfly hook
• Step free leg between their legs
• Sit underneath them

4. Roll and Finish

• Use leg as elevator rolling them over you
• Roll back on top
• Land in top position
• Finish with Kimura lock

This spectacular counter transforms defensive situation into offensive finish.

Common Kimura Mistakes

Poor Grip Control

The #1 technical error:

The Problem

• Loose grip on their wrist
• Figure-four not tight to chest
• Gap between your chest and their arm
• They escape easily

The Solution

• Grip their wrist tightly (thumbless)
• Hug arm to your chest like holding baby
• No gap between arm and your body
• Maintain throughout entire sequence

Wrong Angle

Staying perpendicular:

Issue

• Attempting finish straight-on
• No angle created
• Difficult to generate pressure
• Easy for them to defend

Correction

• Always create angle before finishing
• Your body diagonal to theirs
• Creates leverage multiplication
• Essential for completion

Losing 90-Degree Bend

Allowing arm to straighten:​

Problem

• Opponent straightens their arm
• Breaks structural integrity
• Can grab their belt
• Kimura becomes impossible

Fix

• Constantly maintain 90-degree angle
• Use wrist throttling if needed
• Lift elbow to create bend
• Never allow full extension

Not Using Kimura for Position

Viewing it only as submission:

Issue

• Only attempting to finish
• Missing guard passing opportunities
• Missing back take opportunities
• One-dimensional approach

Better Approach

• Use Kimura as positional tool
• Pass guards with it
• Take backs with it
• Create sweeps with it
• Finish when optimal

Elite grapplers use Kimura for control first, submission second.

Training Kimura by Belt Level

For White Belts: Building Foundations

Start with fundamental positions:

Priorities:

• Master closed guard Kimura first
• Perfect the figure-four grip
• Practice 90-degree angle maintenance
• Learn basic finish from guard
• Drill with compliant partner initially

Resources about first BJJ class expectations help beginners understand submission progression.

Training Tip: Drill grip establishment separately from finishing. Perfect each component before combining.

For Blue Belts: Expanding Applications

Develop versatile Kimura game:

Development:

• Learn side control Kimura
• Study half guard passing with Kimura
• Practice Kimura to back transitions
• Master both gi and no-gi versions
• Begin viewing as control position

Exploring blue belt development goals helps structure Kimura integration.

For Purple/Brown Belts: System Building

Create complete Kimura systems:

Advanced Focus:

• Study “Kimura Trap” systems
• Perfect all positional applications
• Develop seamless transitions
• Master submission timing
• Adapt to opponent-specific defenses
• Combine with other techniques

At this level, Kimura becomes a complete game, not just a submission.

For Black Belts: Mastery

Refine championship-level applications:

Master Level:

• Develop signature Kimura sequences
• Teach grip mechanics effectively
• Perfect competition applications
• Create training progressions
• Innovate new applications

Competition Strategy

IBJJF Gi Competition

Kimura thrives in points-based formats:

Strategic Advantages:

• Available from every position
• Creates guard passing opportunities
• Leads to back takes (4 points)
• Submission ends match immediately
• Legal at all belt levels

Competition Reality: Many matches are won by using Kimura for passing rather than finishing.

ADCC and No-Gi

Equally effective without gi:

No-Gi Applications:

• Same mechanics without gi
• Faster establishment without friction
• Works in overtime situations
• Common in high-level competition
• Creates scramble opportunities

MMA Applications

Highly effective in MMA:

MMA Advantages:

• Works from top and bottom
• Creates position transitions
• Submission threat opens striking
• Striking opens submission
• Versatile in cage

The Kimura Legacy

From Masahiko Kimura’s historic 1951 victory to modern “Kimura Trap” systems, the Kimura represents BJJ’s most versatile control position and submission. What makes it special isn’t complexity—it’s the simple figure-four grip that creates opportunities everywhere.

The technique named after the judoka who defeated Helio Gracie has become one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most fundamental tools. From white belts learning basic submissions to black belts building entire systems around it, the Kimura proves that versatility often beats specialization.

Whether you’re using it to pass half guard, transition to back control, or finish matches with submissions, the Kimura provides the most versatile tool in your BJJ arsenal. Master this grip, and you’ve mastered a position that works everywhere.

How We Reviewed This Article

Editorial Standards: Technical information verified through Kimura Trap system instructionals, competition footage, and contemporary Kimura specialists. Mechanical analysis reviewed by competitive black belts using Kimura in tournament settings. Historical information verified through documentation of the 1951 Kimura vs. Gracie match. Strategic applications based on IBJJF, ADCC, and MMA competition analysis (1951-2025).

Sources Referenced:

• Evolve MMA Kimura grip applications
• BJJ Fanatics Kimura details and history
• Masahiko Kimura vs. Helio Gracie historic match
• Kimura Trap system methodology
• Modern competition footage and applications

Last Updated: January 11, 2026