Kimura Trap Top is a dominant control position where the top practitioner secures a Kimura grip on the opponent’s arm while maintaining superior positional control through weight distribution, base, and pressure. This position combines the benefits of traditional top control with the powerful finishing mechanics of the Kimura shoulder lock, creating a double-threat system where the opponent must simultaneously defend positional advancement and submission. The Kimura grip from top provides exceptional control over the opponent’s shoulder girdle, allowing the top player to manipulate their opponent’s posture, prevent escapes, and create finishing opportunities.
The position is most commonly entered from side control, north-south, half guard top, or turtle when the opponent exposes their arm or fails to defend the Kimura grip establishment. The top practitioner uses their positional advantage to secure the grip safely, then applies systematic pressure to break down the opponent’s defensive structure. Unlike Kimura Trap Bottom where the grip inverts positional hierarchy, Kimura Trap Top represents the ideal combination of superior position plus superior grip control, creating an overwhelming offensive advantage.
The Kimura Trap Top exemplifies efficient finishing mechanics in BJJ. The top player can maintain dominant position while working toward the submission, advance to even better positions like mount or back control while maintaining the grip, or use the Kimura threat to force defensive reactions that open other submission opportunities. This multi-layered approach makes the position extremely difficult to defend, as every defensive option creates new vulnerabilities.
Strategically, the position is valued for its control density—the top player controls both position and joint lock simultaneously, making escapes nearly impossible without giving up something valuable. The Kimura grip prevents the opponent from effectively framing, creating space, or establishing defensive postures that would normally enable escapes from top positions. Advanced practitioners use Kimura Trap Top as their primary finishing system from side control and north-south, often preferring it to traditional pin-based approaches due to its superior finishing rate and control characteristics.
Position Definition
- Practitioner maintains Kimura grip on opponent’s arm with figure-four configuration, ensuring deep grip placement near opponent’s elbow while using body weight and positioning to prevent opponent from rolling out or extracting the trapped arm through proper angle and pressure application
- Practitioner positioned on top with chest or shoulder pressure controlling opponent’s upper body, using weight distribution across opponent’s torso and strategic base positioning that prevents bottom player from creating space or establishing effective frames while maintaining mobility for positional transitions
- Opponent positioned on bottom or side with trapped arm compromised and unable to effectively frame or create defensive structure, as Kimura grip forces their shoulder into vulnerable position that eliminates their ability to generate pushing power or establish space-creating frames with the trapped limb
- Practitioner maintains active pressure and angle management, using hip positioning, shoulder pressure, and weight distribution to keep opponent flattened or controlled while preventing explosive escapes or defensive movement that would enable grip breaks or positional recovery
Prerequisites
- Practitioner has achieved top position in side control, north-south, half guard, or opponent is in turtle position exposing arm
- Opponent’s arm is accessible and extended sufficiently to thread practitioner’s arm underneath and establish Kimura grip configuration
- Practitioner able to secure Kimura grip while maintaining positional control and preventing opponent from rolling or escaping during grip establishment
- Sufficient base and weight distribution to control opponent’s body while working Kimura grip toward submission or positional advancement
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain deep Kimura grip with proper figure-four configuration while using positional pressure to prevent opponent from rolling or extracting arm
- Use top position control combined with Kimura grip to create double control system that overwhelms opponent’s defensive capacity
- Apply systematic pressure to break down opponent’s defensive structure by controlling their shoulder girdle and preventing effective framing
- Create finishing angles by walking feet toward opponent’s head or adjusting hip position to increase leverage on trapped shoulder
- Maintain proper weight distribution that allows mobility for transitions while keeping opponent controlled and unable to create escape space
- Use Kimura threat to force defensive reactions that open transitions to mount, back control, or alternative submissions
- Flow between finishing the Kimura, advancing position, and transitioning to connected attacks based on opponent’s defensive responses
Available Attacks
Kimura from Side Control → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Kimura from North-South → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 78%
Kimura to Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
North-South to Kimura → North-South
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 72%
Kimura from Turtle → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 38%
- Intermediate: 53%
- Advanced: 68%
Side Control to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 48%
- Intermediate: 63%
- Advanced: 75%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent keeps arm tight and defensive, preventing finishing angle development:
- Execute Transition to Mount → Mount (Probability: 75%)
- Execute North-South to Kimura → North-South (Probability: 65%)
If opponent attempts to roll or turn into Kimura grip to defend shoulder pressure:
- Execute Kimura to Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 80%)
- Execute Kimura from North-South → Won by Submission (Probability: 70%)
If opponent creates space attempting elbow escape or bridge and shrimp sequence:
- Execute Transition to Mount → Mount (Probability: 78%)
- Execute Side Control to Mount → Mount (Probability: 73%)
If opponent extends arm or loses defensive structure attempting to push or frame:
- Execute Kimura from Side Control → Won by Submission (Probability: 85%)
- Execute Kimura from North-South → Won by Submission (Probability: 80%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Direct Kimura Finish from Side Control
Kimura Trap Top → Kimura from Side Control → Won by Submission
North-South Kimura Path
Kimura Trap Top → North-South to Kimura → North-South → Kimura from North-South → Won by Submission
Mount Transition Path
Kimura Trap Top → Transition to Mount → Mount → Kimura from Mount → Won by Submission
Back Take to Submission Path
Kimura Trap Top → Kimura to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 70% | 55% | 40% |
| Intermediate | 82% | 70% | 58% |
| Advanced | 90% | 82% | 72% |
Average Time in Position: 30-60 seconds before submission or positional advancement
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The Kimura Trap Top position represents the ideal convergence of positional control and submission mechanics in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When you achieve top position with a Kimura grip, you create what I term ‘control density’ - the opponent must simultaneously defend against positional advancement, submission finish, and transitions to alternative attacks. This overwhelms their defensive capacity and creates systematic finishing opportunities. The mechanical advantage of the Kimura from top is profound: your body weight reinforces the grip, your position prevents rolling escapes, and your ability to create angles by walking your feet gives you geometric advantages that make the submission nearly inevitable if executed correctly. The key technical insight is understanding that the Kimura Trap Top is not a static position but rather a dynamic control system where you flow between finishing the submission, advancing to mount or back control, and transitioning to connected attacks based on the opponent’s defensive reactions. Every defensive option they have - keeping the arm tight, rolling, creating space, or extending the arm - creates a specific pathway to either submission or superior position. This systematic approach eliminates guesswork and creates clear decision trees where success becomes a matter of technical execution rather than chance or physical attributes.
Gordon Ryan
The Kimura Trap Top is one of my highest percentage finishing positions in competition because it combines everything I value: dominant position, submission threat, and transitional opportunities. When I get side control or north-south with a Kimura grip on a high-level competitor, I know I’m in an extremely advantageous position where they have very limited defensive options. What makes this position so effective at the elite level is that it forces opponents into lose-lose situations - they can defend the Kimura finish by keeping their arm tight, but then I transition to mount or back control while maintaining the grip. If they try to create space to escape, they expose the finishing angle for the Kimura. If they roll to defend, I take their back. The position has incredibly high control characteristics, meaning once I establish it properly, escapes are extremely difficult even for world-class opponents. My competition strategy from this position is to be patient and methodical - I maintain the grip, use my weight and pressure to break down their structure, and wait for them to make a defensive mistake that opens the finish or positional advancement. The Kimura from north-south is particularly effective because the angle is already optimal for finishing. I’ve submitted multiple black belt world champions from this exact position.
Eddie Bravo
The Kimura Trap Top is a cornerstone of the 10th Planet top game because it perfectly embodies our philosophy of control through submission threats. When you have top position with a Kimura grip, you’re not just holding position - you’re actively threatening to finish while maintaining dominant control. What I love about this position is its versatility: you can finish the Kimura directly, transition to mount or back, or use the grip to control while working other attacks. In the 10th Planet system, we chain the Kimura with other shoulder attacks like the Americana and various arm triangles, creating a submission web where defending one attack opens another. The position works beautifully in no-gi and MMA contexts where the Kimura grip is even more powerful without gi friction helping defensive grips. We’ve found that the Kimura Trap Top from turtle is particularly high percentage because opponents in turtle naturally expose their arms, and the top angle gives you incredible finishing leverage. The key is understanding that the Kimura grip itself is the position - you’re not trying to rush the finish but rather using the grip to control, advance, and create openings. Keep your grip deep, use your body weight intelligently, and let the system work. The taps will come naturally when you maintain proper control and create the right angles.