⚠️ SAFETY: Kimura from Guard targets the Shoulder joint and rotator cuff. Risk: Rotator cuff tear (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor). Release immediately upon tap.
The Kimura from Guard is a fundamental shoulder lock that can be applied from multiple guard positions, with the closed guard variation being one of the most reliable entries. This submission targets the shoulder joint and surrounding structures through a figure-four grip configuration, creating rotational pressure that can damage the rotator cuff, shoulder capsule, and associated ligaments if applied forcefully. The technique’s versatility lies in its dual nature as both a finishing submission and a powerful control position that opens pathways to sweeps, back takes, and other submissions. From the bottom position, the Kimura provides exceptional control over your opponent’s posture and base, allowing you to dictate the pace of the engagement while maintaining offensive threats. The figure-four grip configuration creates a mechanical advantage that allows smaller practitioners to control and submit larger opponents through proper technique rather than raw strength. Understanding the Kimura from guard is essential for developing a complete bottom game, as it integrates seamlessly with guard retention, sweeping systems, and transitional attacks.
Category: Joint Lock Type: Shoulder Lock Target Area: Shoulder joint and rotator cuff Starting Position: Closed Guard Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rotator cuff tear (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor) | High | 3-6 months with physical therapy, potential surgery |
| Shoulder capsule damage and labral tears | High | 4-8 months, often requires surgical repair |
| Posterior shoulder dislocation | CRITICAL | 6-12 months including surgery and rehabilitation |
| Spiral fracture of humerus (rare but catastrophic) | CRITICAL | 6-12+ months with surgical fixation required |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum application time, with constant awareness of partner’s tap
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (spoken word or sound)
- Physical hand tap on opponent or mat
- Physical foot tap on mat or opponent
- Any distress signal or unusual vocalization
- Rapid repeated tapping motions
Release Protocol:
- Immediately stop all rotational pressure on the shoulder
- Release the figure-four grip while maintaining gentle arm support
- Allow partner to control their arm’s return to neutral position
- Do not suddenly release the arm - guide it back safely
- Check with partner before resuming training
Training Restrictions:
- Never spike or jerk the submission - smooth, progressive pressure only
- Never use competition speed or intensity during drilling
- Never continue applying pressure after feeling resistance pop or crack
- Always allow clear tap access with the free hand
- Never apply Kimura during warm-up or cooldown periods
- Avoid training Kimuras with injured shoulders or recent shoulder injuries
Key Principles
- Figure-Four Grip Integrity: The thumb-to-thumb connection creates the mechanical lock; maintain this connection throughout the entire sequence without allowing gaps or looseness in the grip structure
- Hip Connection and Control: Keep your hips close to opponent’s body to prevent them from rolling or spinning out; distance equals escape opportunity in shoulder lock mechanics
- Elbow Isolation: Pin opponent’s elbow to your chest or body to create a fixed fulcrum point; the shoulder lock requires a stable pivot point to generate rotational pressure
- Rotational Direction: Apply pressure by rotating the arm away from opponent’s back (externally rotating the shoulder); internal rotation reduces effectiveness and may allow escape
- Progressive Pressure Application: Gradually increase rotational force over 3-5 seconds minimum; sudden jerking movements risk catastrophic injury and prevent partner from tapping safely
- Posture Breaking Integration: Use the Kimura grip to break opponent’s posture and control their base before attempting the finish; the grip itself is a powerful control position
- Transition Awareness: Recognize when opponent defends effectively and transition to sweeps, back takes, or alternative submissions rather than forcing a low-percentage finish
Prerequisites
- Establish closed guard with legs locked around opponent’s waist, creating fundamental control structure
- Break opponent’s posture forward or secure an underhook/overhook control position to access the target arm
- Isolate one of opponent’s arms by controlling the wrist while preventing them from establishing strong defensive frames
- Create the proper angle by shifting your hips perpendicular to opponent’s body (approximately 90 degrees)
- Secure a deep overhook or grip on opponent’s wrist before attempting the figure-four configuration
- Ensure opponent’s elbow is positioned close to your centerline, not extended far from your body
- Maintain guard closure or establish strong hip connection to prevent opponent from creating distance
Execution Steps
- Control opponent’s wrist and break posture: From closed guard, use your right hand to grip opponent’s left wrist (palm-to-palm or four-finger grip). Simultaneously pull their wrist across your body while using your legs to break their posture forward. This creates the initial off-balancing necessary for arm isolation. (Timing: 0-2 seconds - Initial control establishment) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Thread your arm and establish overhook: Thread your left arm over and around opponent’s left arm, moving from outside to inside. Your left forearm should pass over their bicep and come underneath their forearm. This overhook position is crucial for controlling the arm’s elevation and preventing early escape attempts. (Timing: 2-4 seconds - Arm threading phase) [Pressure: Light]
- Secure figure-four grip configuration: Grab your own right wrist with your left hand, creating the characteristic figure-four shape. Ensure the grip is tight with no gaps - your thumb should connect with your thumb or your fingers should overlap significantly. This grip creates the mechanical lock that generates shoulder pressure. (Timing: 4-6 seconds - Grip establishment) [Pressure: Firm]
- Hip escape and angle creation: Open your guard and perform a hip escape (shrimp) to your right side, creating a perpendicular angle to opponent’s body. Your shoulders should be approximately 90 degrees to their shoulders. This angle is essential for proper leverage and prevents opponent from simply rolling through the submission. (Timing: 6-8 seconds - Positional adjustment) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Secure hip connection and arm positioning: Bring opponent’s elbow tight to your chest while placing your right leg over their back or shoulder. Ensure their elbow is pinned to your centerline. Your left leg should hook under their body or maintain connection to prevent them from creating space. The elbow must remain stationary as you prepare to apply rotational pressure. (Timing: 8-10 seconds - Final position stabilization) [Pressure: Firm]
- Apply controlled rotational pressure: Keeping the elbow fixed to your chest, slowly rotate opponent’s wrist toward their head and away from their back (external shoulder rotation). Your hands should move in a circular arc while the elbow stays stationary. Apply pressure progressively over 3-5 seconds, constantly monitoring for the tap. The shoulder will reach its limit as you increase rotation past 90 degrees. (Timing: 10-15 seconds - Submission application) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Grabbing their own belt, gi, or pants to prevent figure-four completion (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Use your body weight to pry their defensive grip loose, or transition to triangle choke, omoplata, or hip bump sweep while maintaining wrist control. The grip itself weakens their base for sweeping.
- Rolling forward over their trapped shoulder to relieve pressure (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Follow the roll and transition to mounted Kimura or take the back during their roll attempt. Alternatively, extend your legs and maintain the angle to prevent the roll from completing, then reapply pressure.
- Posturing up and creating distance to pull the arm free (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Use your legs to pull them back down while maintaining the figure-four grip. If they create significant distance, transition to hip bump sweep or use the Kimura grip to off-balance them forward into alternative attacks.
- Turning their thumb down (internal rotation) to reduce shoulder pressure (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Increase your grip control on their wrist and use your body position to prevent the internal rotation. If they succeed, transition to straight armbar or adjust your angle to reestablish external rotation leverage.
- Stacking forward and driving their shoulder toward the mat (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Use the stack momentum to sweep them over to side control or mount while maintaining the Kimura grip. The forward stack actually helps you execute a reversal if you follow their momentum.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the minimum safe application time for a Kimura shoulder lock during training, and why is this critical? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The minimum safe application time is 3-5 seconds of progressive, smooth pressure. This is critical because shoulder joints have multiple structures (rotator cuff, labrum, capsule, ligaments) that can be catastrophically damaged by sudden force. Gradual pressure allows your training partner to recognize the danger and tap before injury occurs, whereas explosive application can cause permanent damage before they can signal submission. In training, safety always supersedes finishing the submission quickly.
Q2: Why must you create a 90-degree angle to your opponent before applying rotational pressure in the Kimura from guard? A: The perpendicular angle is essential because it prevents opponent from simply rolling forward through the submission to escape. When you remain square to them, they can follow the direction of pressure and spin out safely. The 90-degree angle creates a mechanical disadvantage for their escape while maximizing your leverage for applying rotational pressure to the shoulder joint. Additionally, this angle allows you to use your entire body and leg positioning to prevent their movement while keeping their elbow fixed to your centerline.
Q3: What are three immediate actions you must take when your training partner taps to a Kimura? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: First, immediately stop all rotational pressure on the shoulder - cease the finishing motion completely. Second, release the figure-four grip while maintaining gentle support of their arm to prevent sudden uncontrolled movement. Third, allow your partner to control their own arm’s return to neutral position rather than quickly releasing it, as sudden release can cause secondary injury to the stressed joint structures. Finally, verbally check with your partner before resuming any training activity to ensure they are okay.
Q4: Explain why the elbow must remain pinned to your centerline during Kimura application, and what happens if it drifts away? A: The elbow pinned to your centerline serves as the fixed fulcrum point for creating rotational leverage on the shoulder joint. When the elbow is stable against your chest, rotating their wrist creates pure shoulder rotation pressure with maximum mechanical advantage. If the elbow drifts away from your body, opponent can straighten their arm, distributing pressure along the entire arm length rather than concentrating it at the shoulder. This eliminates your leverage and allows easy escape. The stationary elbow is what transforms wrist rotation into effective shoulder lock pressure.
Q5: When opponent grabs their own gi or belt to prevent the figure-four grip, what are three effective tactical responses? A: First, recognize that their defensive grip significantly weakens their base and posture, making sweeps highly effective - execute hip bump sweep, scissor sweep, or other guard sweeps. Second, transition to alternative submissions that capitalize on their compromised structure, such as triangle choke or omoplata, while maintaining wrist control. Third, use your body weight and positioning to methodically break their defensive grip by creating angles that make holding their own gi mechanically disadvantageous. The key principle is that forcing the finish against strong defense is lower percentage than transitioning to attacks that their defense actually facilitates.
Q6: What are the primary anatomical structures at risk during Kimura application, and what are typical recovery times if damaged? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The primary structures at risk include: the rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor) with tears requiring 3-6 months recovery and potentially surgery; the shoulder capsule and labrum with damage requiring 4-8 months including possible surgical repair; posterior shoulder dislocation (catastrophic injury) requiring 6-12 months with surgery; and in extreme cases, spiral fracture of the humerus requiring 6-12+ months with surgical fixation. These extended recovery times emphasize why controlled, progressive application is absolutely mandatory in training environments. Competition intensity is never appropriate during drilling or regular sparring.
Q7: Describe the ‘Kimura trap’ concept and how it transforms a defended submission into offensive opportunities? A: The Kimura trap recognizes that the figure-four grip itself is an extremely powerful control position that enables multiple attacking sequences beyond just the shoulder lock finish. When opponent defends the submission by rolling forward, you maintain the grip and take their back. When they defend by sitting up or posturing, you use the grip to execute sweeps to top position. When they turn into the lock, you can transition to armbars or other joint locks. The trap philosophy means you never ‘lose’ the Kimura - you either finish it, sweep with it, take the back with it, or transition to other submissions from it. This makes the Kimura one of the most versatile control positions in BJJ.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Kimura from guard represents one of the most mechanically sound submissions in our arsenal due to its figure-four grip configuration, which creates a closed kinetic chain that maximizes force transmission to the shoulder joint while minimizing your energy expenditure. The critical element that most practitioners misunderstand is that the Kimura is fundamentally a control position first and a submission second - this conceptual reframing opens an entire subsystem of attacks including sweeps, back takes, and transitional submissions. When applying the finish, understand that you are creating external rotation of the glenohumeral joint past its natural range of motion, which stresses the posterior capsule and rotator cuff complex. The anatomy dictates that progressive application over 3-5 seconds is not merely about safety - it’s about allowing the proprioceptive system to recognize the danger and signal submission before structural damage occurs. The perpendicular angle is biomechanically non-negotiable: without it, the opponent can simply follow the rotational force and escape. In training, I emphasize the Kimura trap philosophy where maintaining the grip while opponent defends becomes a platform for systematically attacking in multiple directions, making this one of the highest-percentage control positions in modern grappling.
- Gordon Ryan: The Kimura from guard is something I use constantly in competition, but here’s the key difference between training and competing with it: in the gym, you apply it slowly over several seconds and release immediately on the tap because you want training partners tomorrow. In competition, once I have the angle and the grip locked, I’m finishing it as quickly as possible because my opponent isn’t going to tap until they absolutely have to - that’s the reality of high-level competition. From closed guard specifically, I’m usually setting it up by threatening triangles or armbars first, which forces them to defend in ways that expose their arms. When they post or reach to break grips, that’s when I’m attacking the Kimura. The biggest mistake I see is people trying to force the finish from bad angles without establishing proper control first - you need that perpendicular position or you’re wasting energy. I also use the Kimura grip defensively in scrambles; if someone’s trying to pass my guard aggressively and they reach, I’m grabbing that Kimura and either sweeping them or taking their back when they try to defend it. The submission itself is great, but honestly, the control position and all the transitions it opens up are what make it elite-level. Know when you have the finish and when you need to transition - that’s what separates good grapplers from champions.
- Eddie Bravo: The Kimura from guard is fundamental, man, but in the 10th Planet system we’re constantly looking at how to integrate it with rubber guard, lockdown, and our other control positions to create that ‘cooking’ pressure where they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t. From closed guard, traditional guys will hit the basic Kimura, but we’re thinking about chaining it with the triangle, omoplata, and especially using it as a back take entry when they defend. The beauty of the Kimura grip is it’s like this universal adaptor - you can plug it into almost any guard system and it works. When I’m teaching it, I’m big on safety culture because shoulder injuries will end someone’s jiu-jitsu career, and we need training partners who can show up consistently. So we drill it slowly, we tap early, we communicate constantly about pressure levels. But innovatively, I’m always looking at unconventional entries - like hitting it from mission control in rubber guard, or using it as a sweep when they’re trying to break lockdown. The Kimura isn’t just a submission in our system; it’s this control position that lets you create dilemmas and keep them constantly defending multiple threats. That’s when jiu-jitsu becomes art - when you’re not just hunting one finish, but creating this web of interconnected attacks where every defense opens up something else. Stay creative with it, stay safe with your training partners, and remember that control positions are more valuable than rushed submissions.