BJJ Graph

Kimura Control Bottom

Dec 09, 202516 min read

Kimura Control Bottom represents a defensive yet opportunistic position where the bottom practitioner has secured a Kimura grip on their opponent while being on their back or side. This position emerges frequently from failed guard passes, scrambles, or as a defensive response to top pressure. The Kimura grip—characterized by securing the opponent’s wrist with one hand while threading the other arm under their armpit and clasping your own wrist—provides exceptional control over the opponent’s posture, shoulder mobility, and base.

While classified as a bottom position, Kimura Control Bottom is far from purely defensive. The grip itself creates a powerful fulcrum that can be used to off-balance opponents, create space, facilitate sweeps, or even finish the submission directly. The position is particularly valuable in no-gi grappling where it compensates for the lack of collar and sleeve grips, though it remains highly effective in the gi as well. Understanding how to maintain this control while managing distance, creating angles, and capitalizing on the opponent’s defensive reactions is essential for transforming a potentially disadvantageous position into a pathway to dominance.

The beauty of Kimura Control Bottom lies in its dual nature: it simultaneously defends against passes and attacks while threatening both positional advancement and submission. High-level practitioners like Craig Jones and Garry Tonon have demonstrated how this position can be a central component of a comprehensive ground game, seamlessly transitioning between defensive frames, sweeps, and submission attempts based on opponent reactions.

Position Definition

  • Bottom practitioner maintains Kimura grip on opponent’s arm with wrist control and figure-four lock, creating a rigid connection that controls shoulder mobility and restricts opponent’s posting ability while isolating the arm from generating effective pressure
  • Bottom practitioner’s body is positioned on back or side with hips mobile enough to create angles and distance, preventing opponent from establishing stable chest-to-chest pressure or completing the pass while maintaining the structural integrity of the grip
  • Opponent is partially extended or compromised in their base due to the Kimura grip, unable to fully posture up or apply maximum pressure while defending the shoulder lock threat, creating a constant tension between defending submission and advancing position
  • Bottom practitioner’s free arm is actively framing against opponent’s hip, shoulder, or creating space to prevent full consolidation to mount or side control while maintaining the Kimura grip structure and managing optimal distance for both defensive and offensive purposes

Prerequisites

  • Kimura grip established with proper wrist control and figure-four configuration securing opponent’s arm
  • Opponent engaged in passing attempt or pressure from top position creating control opportunity
  • Bottom practitioner has defensive frames or hip mobility to prevent immediate pass completion
  • Understanding of basic Kimura mechanics, shoulder lock principles, and grip retention fundamentals
  • Ability to maintain grip under pressure while managing distance and creating angles for attacks

Key Defensive Principles

  • Maintain relentless wrist control with grip fighting hand while keeping elbow tight to prevent opponent from extracting their arm
  • Use the Kimura grip as a steering wheel to control opponent’s posture, driving them forward, pulling them off-balance, or creating lateral angles
  • Keep hips active and mobile, constantly adjusting distance to prevent opponent from settling weight while creating sweep opportunities
  • Integrate the free arm as a dynamic frame against hips or shoulders to manage distance and prevent consolidation to side control or mount
  • Transition smoothly between defensive frames, off-balancing attempts, and submission finishing mechanics based on opponent’s defensive reactions
  • Create a dilemma for the opponent: defend the shoulder lock and maintain base, or advance position but expose the submission
  • Use hip movement and angle changes to complement the Kimura grip, making it progressively more difficult for opponent to escape or counter

Available Escapes

Kimura Sweep → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Rolling Kimura → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Kimura to Back Take → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 55%

Triangle Setup → Triangle Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 55%

Technical Standup → Standing Position

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Underhook Sweep from Half → Half Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Kimura from Guard → Kimura

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Guard Recovery → Closed Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent drives forward with weight attempting to complete pass while defending Kimura:

If opponent turns away or rolls to escape Kimura shoulder pressure:

If opponent widens base and posts with free hand near hips to defend:

If opponent backs away or creates distance to defend Kimura submission threat:

If opponent attempts to stack or apply vertical pressure while defending grip:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Releasing or loosening Kimura grip under pressure to adjust position

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent escapes grip entirely and consolidates to dominant position (side control or mount) with full weight and pressure control
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain death grip on wrist and figure-four lock even when adjusting hips or creating angles—grip maintenance takes absolute priority over positional adjustment

2. Allowing opponent to settle their weight chest-to-chest without active hip movement

  • ❌ Consequence: Position becomes purely defensive with no sweep or submission opportunities as opponent’s weight pins bottom player and neutralizes Kimura mechanics
  • ✅ Correction: Keep hips in constant motion using shrimps, bridges, and angle changes to prevent opponent from establishing stable pressure while maintaining grip structure

3. Failing to frame with free arm against opponent’s hips or shoulders

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent advances to full mount or side control consolidation despite Kimura grip as there’s no distance management or secondary control point
  • ✅ Correction: Use free arm dynamically to frame against hips when creating space or against shoulders when preventing forward pressure—coordinate frames with hip movement

4. Attempting to finish Kimura submission without first off-balancing or controlling opponent’s base

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent easily defends by widening base and maintaining posture, then systematically works to escape grip or pass guard while submission threat is neutralized
  • ✅ Correction: Use Kimura grip as control mechanism first—off-balance opponent, compromise their base, then transition to finishing mechanics when structure is broken

5. Keeping legs static or inactive during Kimura control from bottom

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent easily passes around legs or establishes leg control leading to mount or side control as lower body provides no defensive barrier
  • ✅ Correction: Integrate butterfly hooks, knee shields, or closed guard legs to complement upper body Kimura control and create comprehensive defensive structure

6. Focusing exclusively on submission finish while ignoring sweep opportunities

  • ❌ Consequence: Miss high-percentage sweeps when opponent defends submission by changing weight distribution and base positioning
  • ✅ Correction: Recognize Kimura control creates multiple pathways—when opponent defends submission by posting or changing base, immediately capitalize with sweeps to top position

Training Drills for Defense

Kimura Grip Retention Under Pressure

Bottom partner establishes Kimura grip from guard or half guard. Top partner attempts to break grip using hand fighting, pressure, and movement while trying to pass. Bottom partner maintains grip and adjusts position for 2-minute rounds. Focus: grip endurance, wrist control, and maintaining figure-four lock under dynamic pressure.

Duration: 5 rounds of 2 minutes

Kimura Sweep Flow Drill

Starting from Kimura Control Bottom with partner applying moderate passing pressure. Bottom partner uses Kimura grip to execute sweep variations: basic Kimura sweep to side control, rolling Kimura to mount, and back take when opponent turns away. Partner offers different defensive reactions (driving forward, backing away, turning) to create realistic sweep opportunities. Emphasize smooth transitions between sweep options based on opponent’s weight distribution.

Duration: 10 minutes continuous flow

Kimura to Triangle/Omoplata Transitions

Partner establishes Kimura Control Bottom while opponent defends by posting free hand or widening base. Practice recognizing posting patterns and smoothly transitioning to triangle setups when hand is near hip or omoplata when opponent’s weight shifts forward. Focus on maintaining Kimura grip during initial phases of transition before releasing to secure new position. Alternate between submission options based on opponent’s defensive posture.

Duration: 15 minutes with position reset

Distance Management with Frames and Grips

Bottom partner maintains Kimura grip while top partner applies various passing pressures (knee slice, over-under, stack). Bottom partner coordinates free arm frames with hip movement and Kimura grip adjustments to maintain optimal distance—close enough to threaten sweeps and submissions, far enough to prevent pass completion. Practice creating angles and space without releasing primary grip control.

Duration: 3-minute rounds, 6 rounds total

Escape and Survival Paths

Direct Kimura Finish

Kimura Control Bottom → Off-balance with grip → Kimura from Guard → Won by Submission

Triangle Transition Path

Kimura Control Bottom → Opponent posts near hip → Triangle Setup → Triangle Control → Triangle Choke → Won by Submission

Back Attack Path

Kimura Control Bottom → Opponent turns to defend → Kimura to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission

Sweep to Mount Submission

Kimura Control Bottom → Rolling Kimura → Mount → Kimura from Mount → Won by Submission

Omoplata Path

Kimura Control Bottom → Opponent drives forward → Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control → Omoplata → Won by Submission

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner50%40%25%
Intermediate65%55%40%
Advanced80%70%55%

Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before transition or resolution

Expert Analysis

John Danaher

The Kimura grip from bottom position represents one of the most versatile control mechanisms in grappling because it simultaneously addresses three critical elements: it restricts the opponent’s ability to generate pressure through arm isolation, it creates a mechanical advantage for off-balancing through the lever arm principle, and it threatens immediate submission forcing defensive reactions. The key to maximizing this position lies in understanding that the grip itself is more valuable than the submission finish—once you have secured proper wrist control and figure-four configuration, you possess a steering wheel that controls your opponent’s entire upper body structure. From bottom position, this becomes particularly powerful because you can use the grip to prevent consolidation while your legs and hips work to create the angles necessary for sweeps. The most common error I observe is practitioners rushing to finish the submission when the opponent’s base is still sound, rather than first using the grip to compromise their structure through off-balancing and then capitalizing on the defensive reactions with sweeps or positional advancement. Think of Kimura Control Bottom not as a submission position, but as a positional control system that creates multiple pathways based on systematic pressure testing of the opponent’s defensive priorities.

Gordon Ryan

In competition, Kimura Control from bottom is one of my highest-percentage positions for generating both sweeps and back takes, especially against opponents who are primarily focused on passing rather than submission defense. The beautiful thing about this position is that it puts your opponent in an impossible dilemma: they can either defend the shoulder lock and stay relatively safe but immobile, or they can try to advance their position and immediately expose themselves to sweeps and back attacks. I’ve found that most competitors, especially in no-gi where the Kimura grip compensates for lack of gi grips, will prioritize defending the submission which gives you extended time to work your sweeps and create angles. My go-to sequence is to use the Kimura grip to off-balance them forward, and when they post with their free hand to defend, I immediately switch to triangle or omoplata attacks. If they try to back away to escape the grip entirely, I use that space to technical stand or recover guard. The key is maintaining absolute control of that wrist—never let them pull their arm out, even if it means giving up some positional ground temporarily. A solid Kimura grip from bottom can completely stall even the best passers because they can’t effectively generate pressure or advance with one arm compromised.

Eddie Bravo

The Kimura grip from bottom position is central to the entire 10th Planet system because it’s one of the most effective ways to control an opponent when you don’t have gi grips to work with in no-gi grappling. What makes this position so deadly is that it integrates perfectly with rubber guard, lockdown, and our whole approach to creating submission chains from bottom. When you have someone in Kimura Control from bottom, you’re not just defending—you’re setting up an entire attack sequence that can go to triangle, omoplata, sweeps, or the Kimura finish itself depending on how they react. We drill this extensively with what we call the Kimura trap game, where you learn to recognize the specific defensive reactions and automatically flow to the appropriate attack. The innovation we’ve added is using the Kimura grip in conjunction with foot on hip or lockdown control to create even more dynamic sweep and back take opportunities. One thing I emphasize is that you need to get comfortable finishing from weird angles—don’t just think of Kimura as a traditional shoulder lock from standard positions. You can hit it while inverting, rolling, standing up, whatever. The grip is the foundation, and once you have it locked in solid, you can get creative with how you manipulate their body and create the angles needed to finish or sweep. Keep that grip at all costs and let the opponent’s defensive movements create the opportunities for you.