Defending the Kimura to Back Take requires understanding the attacker’s strategic intent: they are using submission pressure as a tool to force you into a rolling or turtling motion that exposes your back. The critical insight for the defender is that the back take does not happen because of the roll itself, but because of uncontrolled rolling without addressing the grip and connection. Your defensive priority shifts depending on the phase of the attack - early defense focuses on neutralizing the Kimura grip or preventing the pressure that forces movement, while mid-transition defense focuses on controlling your own rotation speed and direction, and late-stage defense addresses hook prevention and guard recovery.
Successful defense begins before the transition starts, at the Kimura grip itself. If you can prevent the attacker from establishing deep figure-four control or break the grip early, the entire back take sequence is neutralized. Once the grip is established and pressure is applied, your defensive focus shifts to controlling how you move rather than whether you move. Directed defensive movement - such as turning into the attacker rather than away, or recovering guard frames during the roll - gives you the best chance of arriving in a recoverable position rather than conceding back control with hooks.
The defender must also recognize that panic rolling or explosive uncontrolled movement is the attacker’s ideal scenario. Measured, deliberate defensive actions that address each control point systematically yield far better results than desperate attempts to rip free of the grip.
Opponent’s Starting Position: Kimura Trap (Top)
How to Recognize This Attack
- Attacker secures figure-four Kimura grip and begins lifting your hand toward your shoulder blade while driving elbow across your body
- Attacker shifts weight off your hips and begins repositioning to follow your body rotation, indicating they want you to roll
- Attacker applies progressive submission pressure in pulses rather than committing to the finish, suggesting they are using the Kimura as a positional tool
- You feel increasing shoulder pressure that makes staying flat untenable and creates an instinctive urge to roll toward the trapped arm
- Attacker’s chest lifts slightly from your torso as they prepare to follow your movement rather than pinning you down
Key Defensive Principles
- Address the Kimura grip early - prevention of the grip is the strongest defense against the entire sequence
- Control the speed and direction of your own movement rather than trying to remain completely static against pressure
- Keep elbows tight to your body to deny space for hook insertion during any rolling or turtling motion
- Turn into the attacker when possible rather than turning away, as facing them eliminates the back take angle
- Prioritize recovering inside position and guard frames over simply escaping the grip under pressure
- Avoid panic rolling or explosive uncontrolled movement which creates the exact back exposure the attacker seeks
- Use two-on-one grip fighting on the Kimura configuration to strip or weaken the figure-four before pressure escalates
Defensive Options
1. Two-on-one grip strip on the Kimura figure-four before pressure escalates
- When to use: Early in the sequence before the attacker applies significant shoulder pressure or begins following your movement
- Targets: Kimura Trap
- If successful: Breaks the Kimura grip entirely, eliminating both the submission threat and the back take pathway, allowing you to work standard side control or half guard escapes
- Risk: If grip strip fails, you have momentarily stopped defending other threats and the attacker may increase pressure or adjust angle
2. Turn into the attacker by rotating your body to face them during the roll, establishing frames on their shoulder and hip
- When to use: During the rolling phase when you must move but can choose the direction of your rotation
- Targets: Half Guard
- If successful: You face the attacker and recover half guard or closed guard, completely negating the back take while the Kimura grip becomes less effective from inside guard
- Risk: If you turn too slowly or without frames, the attacker can follow your turn and still establish back control or mount
3. Turtle tight with elbows pinched and deny hooks by keeping knees together and hips low to the mat
- When to use: When the roll has already occurred and you cannot turn to face the attacker, as a damage control measure to prevent hook insertion
- Targets: Kimura Trap
- If successful: You prevent hooks from being inserted and create a stalemate where you can work to strip the Kimura grip from turtle or sit out to recover guard
- Risk: The attacker maintains the Kimura grip and can continue applying pressure, transition to other turtle attacks, or patiently work to insert hooks
4. Grab your own wrist or belt with the trapped hand to prevent arm isolation and Kimura pressure escalation
- When to use: Immediately when you feel the Kimura grip being established, before significant pressure is applied
- Targets: Kimura Trap
- If successful: Prevents the attacker from generating enough shoulder pressure to force your roll, buying time to work grip strips or positional escapes
- Risk: Creates a static defensive posture that the attacker can work around through angle changes, and your defensive grip will eventually fatigue
Best-Case Outcomes for Defender
→ Kimura Trap
Strip the Kimura grip through two-on-one fighting or wrist peel before the attacker can apply enough pressure to force your roll. Alternatively, turtle defensively with tight elbows to deny hooks and patiently work to strip the grip from the stalled position. The attacker remains in Kimura Trap Top but without the back take pathway.
→ Half Guard
During the rolling phase, direct your rotation toward the attacker rather than away from them. Establish frames on their shoulder and hip as you turn, insert your knee shield or half guard hook on their trapped leg, and recover to a standard half guard position. The Kimura grip becomes significantly less dangerous from inside your guard, and you can work standard grip strips and sweeps.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the single most important early defensive action when you feel a Kimura grip being established? A: The most important early action is to immediately begin two-on-one grip fighting to prevent the figure-four from being locked or to strip a shallow grip before the attacker can deepen their control near your elbow. Early grip prevention is exponentially more effective than fighting a fully established Kimura because the mechanical advantage of the figure-four increases dramatically with depth. Use both hands to peel the attacker’s grip hand off your wrist while keeping your elbow tight to your body.
Q2: Why is turning into the attacker a superior defensive strategy compared to turning away during the rolling phase? A: Turning into the attacker eliminates the back take angle entirely because you end up facing them rather than presenting your back. When you turn toward the attacker, you can establish frames on their shoulder and hip, recover guard position, and the Kimura grip becomes significantly less dangerous from inside your guard. Turning away is the natural panic response but it presents your back at maximum exposure, which is exactly what the attacker wants. The direction of your rotation is the single most important defensive decision during the transition.
Q3: Your opponent has secured a deep Kimura grip and begins applying pressure - you cannot strip the grip. What is your next defensive priority? A: If the grip cannot be stripped, your priority shifts to controlling how you move under the pressure rather than remaining static. Grab your own belt or wrist with the trapped hand to reduce pressure and buy time, then prepare to direct your inevitable movement toward the attacker rather than away. If you must turtle, keep elbows pinched tight, knees together, and hips low to deny hook insertion. The key is accepting that movement will happen while ensuring that movement does not give the attacker free back access.
Q4: What body positioning prevents hook insertion after you have been forced to turtle during this transition? A: To prevent hook insertion from turtle, keep your elbows pinched tight against your ribcage so there is no space between your arms and body. Press your knees together and keep your hips as low to the mat as possible, eliminating the gap between your thighs and torso where hooks would be inserted. Tuck your chin and keep your forehead near the mat. This compact defensive posture makes hook insertion extremely difficult and buys time to work grip strips or sit-out escapes. Any space between your limbs and torso becomes an entry point for the attacker’s feet.
Q5: How do you recognize whether the attacker is using the Kimura as a genuine submission attempt versus a positional advancement tool? A: A genuine submission attempt typically shows constant escalating pressure in one direction with the attacker’s weight committed to finishing the shoulder lock. A positional tool shows intermittent pressure pulses, the attacker’s weight shifting to a more mobile position that can follow your movement, and their chest lifting slightly rather than driving down for the finish. When the attacker is using it positionally, they want you to move, so they apply enough pressure to motivate rolling but not enough to commit fully to the finish. This distinction informs your defense: against genuine finish attempts, fight the grip; against positional setups, control your movement direction.