SAFETY: Kimura from Lasso Guard targets the Shoulder joint, rotator cuff, and shoulder capsule. Tap early and often. Your safety is more important than any training round.
Defending against the Kimura from Lasso Guard requires understanding the specific moments of vulnerability that the top player exploits. As the lasso guard player, your commitment to maintaining sleeve control and shin positioning creates windows where your non-lasso arm becomes exposed—particularly when reaching for collar grips, posting on the mat, or adjusting hip angles. Successful defense begins with recognizing the attack early, before the figure-four grip locks, and involves a combination of arm retraction, hip movement, and grip fighting to prevent the top player from establishing the mechanical advantage needed to finish the submission. The critical defensive principle is maintaining elbow connection to your torso at all times, denying the space the attacker needs to thread the figure-four.
Opponent’s Starting Position: Lasso Guard (Top)
How to Recognize This Submission
How do you know when someone is attempting Kimura from Lasso Guard?
- The top player’s free hand reaches for and controls your non-lasso wrist or forearm with deliberate purpose rather than standard passing grips
- The top player suddenly drives chest pressure forward and down, flattening your hips against the mat in preparation for figure-four threading
- The top player begins threading their arm under your controlled arm from the elbow side, indicating figure-four grip establishment is imminent
- The top player’s posture shifts from an upright guard passing stance to a low, compressed position focused on controlling your arm rather than addressing your legs
Key Defensive Principles
What are the key principles for defending Kimura from Lasso Guard?
- Keep your non-lasso elbow connected to your hip or ribs whenever not actively gripping—the Kimura requires space between your arm and body to thread the figure-four
- Recognize the attack at the wrist control stage, before the figure-four establishes, when defense is simplest and most energy-efficient
- Use hip movement to create angles that prevent the top player from establishing the chest pressure needed to flatten you for the finish
- Prioritize arm retraction over maintaining secondary grips when you sense Kimura danger—releasing a collar grip costs far less than defending a locked submission
- If the figure-four locks, immediately grip your own belt, lapel, or shorts to create an anchor that prevents the attacker from generating rotation
- Be willing to abandon the lasso entirely if necessary to safely extract your arm from the Kimura threat—position recovery is always available
Defensive Options
What can you do to defend against Kimura from Lasso Guard?
1. Retract the targeted arm immediately by pulling your elbow to your hip and gripping your own lapel or belt
- When to use: Early stage when the attacker first reaches for wrist control before the figure-four is established
- Targets: Lasso Guard
- If successful: Attacker cannot establish the figure-four grip and must return to passing. You maintain lasso guard position with increased awareness
- Risk: Releasing your collar grip may temporarily weaken your overall guard structure and reduce offensive options
2. Bridge toward the Kimura side and hip escape to create space, then reguard to closed guard
- When to use: When the figure-four is partially or fully locked but rotational pressure has not yet begun
- Targets: Closed Guard
- If successful: You escape the shoulder lock threat and transition to closed guard where the Kimura is significantly harder to finish
- Risk: Bridge must be committed and explosive—a weak bridge allows the attacker to settle back into finishing position with better control
3. Release lasso grips entirely and use both hands to fight the figure-four grip while hip escaping
- When to use: When the Kimura is locked and rotational pressure is building beyond what single-hand defense can manage
- Targets: Lasso Guard
- If successful: You break the grip configuration and can work to re-establish a guard position, though the lasso must be rebuilt
- Risk: Abandoning the lasso means losing your primary guard structure and potentially facing immediate passing pressure if the grip strip fails
4. Roll with the Kimura rotation toward the attacker to relieve pressure and create a scramble situation
- When to use: Last resort when rotation has begun and the submission is approaching the finishing range
- Targets: Closed Guard
- If successful: The roll disrupts the attacker’s base and may create a scramble opportunity or transition to a less dangerous position
- Risk: If the attacker follows the roll while maintaining the grip, you may end up in a worse position with the Kimura still locked from mount or side control
Escape Paths
How do you escape Kimura from Lasso Guard?
- Retract the arm early and grip your own lapel or belt to create an anchor against rotation before the figure-four locks completely
- Bridge toward the Kimura side and hip escape to create space, then pull the elbow free and immediately close guard around the attacker’s waist
- Release all lasso grips and use both hands to strip the figure-four grip at the wrist connection point while shrimping away to create distance
Best-Case Outcomes for Defender
What is the best outcome when defending Kimura from Lasso Guard?
→ Lasso Guard
Retract the targeted arm before the figure-four establishes, maintain lasso guard integrity, and continue playing guard with greater awareness of arm positioning and exposure
→ Closed Guard
Bridge toward the Kimura side and hip escape during the early rotation phase, pulling your arm free and immediately closing your guard around the attacker’s waist before they can transition to passing