The Rolling Kimura is a dynamic and highly effective technique that combines sweeping mechanics with submission threats from the turtle position. This versatile technique capitalizes on the kimura grip to create a rolling motion that either sweeps the opponent to expose their back or sets up the kimura submission itself. The beauty of the Rolling Kimura lies in its dual-threat nature—the opponent must defend both the positional advancement and the submission simultaneously, creating a powerful dilemma that is difficult to counter effectively.
Historically developed through innovation in no-gi grappling, the Rolling Kimura represents modern BJJ’s emphasis on dynamic, flowing techniques that maintain offensive pressure throughout transitions. The technique requires precise timing, proper grip mechanics, and the ability to maintain control through rotation. When executed correctly, it seamlessly chains into back attacks, crucifix positions, or direct kimura finishes, making it a cornerstone technique for anyone looking to develop a comprehensive turtle attack system.
The Rolling Kimura works particularly well in both gi and no-gi contexts, though the mechanics differ slightly. In gi, you have additional grip options using the opponent’s clothing, while in no-gi, you rely more heavily on wrist and arm control. Understanding both variations allows practitioners to adapt the technique across different competitive formats and training environments.
Starting Position: Turtle Ending Position: Back Control Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
Key Principles
- Establish dominant kimura grip before initiating the roll to maintain control throughout the movement
- Use your body weight and momentum during the roll to amplify leverage rather than relying on arm strength
- Keep your hips close to the opponent’s body throughout the rotation to prevent escape opportunities
- Maintain continuous pressure on the opponent’s shoulder joint to create submission threat that limits their defensive options
- Time the roll when opponent is defensive and stationary rather than actively mobile
- Stay connected to the opponent’s body throughout the transition to ensure you move together as one unit
- Anticipate opponent’s reactions and be prepared to chain to crucifix, back take, or submission finish based on their response
Prerequisites
- Opponent must be in defensive turtle position with you on top
- Clear access to one of the opponent’s arms (typically the far arm)
- Ability to establish and maintain kimura grip configuration (figure-four on the arm)
- Positional dominance with opponent not actively escaping or standing up
- Enough space to execute the roll without environmental obstacles
- Strong base and balance to initiate the rolling motion without losing control
Execution Steps
- Secure kimura grip: From top turtle position, reach over the opponent’s back and secure a kimura grip on their far arm. Your same-side hand grips their wrist while your opposite hand threads under their arm and grabs your own wrist, creating the figure-four kimura configuration. Ensure the grip is tight and positioned at or above their elbow for maximum control. (Timing: Establish grip when opponent is stationary and defensive)
- Break down posture: Pull the trapped arm away from the opponent’s body at approximately a 90-degree angle while driving your chest weight into their back. This breaks their base and prevents them from posting effectively with their free hand. Your head should be positioned near their far hip, creating downward pressure. (Timing: Immediately after securing kimura grip)
- Position for the roll: Adjust your body position so you’re perpendicular to the opponent, with your hips near their trapped arm’s shoulder. Your inside leg (closest to opponent) should be ready to post, while your outside leg prepares to initiate the rolling motion. Maintain constant tension on the kimura grip. (Timing: Setup phase before initiating roll)
- Initiate the roll: In one fluid motion, throw your outside leg over your own head while simultaneously pulling the kimura grip toward your chest. Roll diagonally over your shoulder, keeping your hips close to the opponent’s body throughout the rotation. Your momentum should pull the opponent’s upper body with you. (Timing: Explosive movement once positioned correctly)
- Control during rotation: As you roll, keep the kimura grip tight and pull the opponent’s trapped arm across their body. Your body should rotate completely while maintaining connection to the opponent. Drive your near-side elbow to the mat to guide the roll and maintain balance. The opponent should be forced to follow your rotation due to the shoulder lock pressure. (Timing: Throughout the rolling phase)
- Complete the transition: As the roll completes, use your momentum to establish dominant position. Depending on the opponent’s reaction, you can secure back control by establishing hooks and seat belt control, transition to crucifix by trapping the far arm, or finish the kimura submission by maintaining the grip and applying rotational pressure to the shoulder joint. (Timing: As you finish the roll and land on top)
- Secure finishing position: Immediately consolidate your position by establishing back control (both hooks in with seat belt grip), crucifix control (trapping both arms), or completing the kimura submission (hips to shoulder, rotating arm behind back). Maintain constant pressure to prevent opponent from escaping during this critical transition moment. (Timing: Immediately after completing the roll)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent grabs their own belt or pants to prevent arm isolation (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Break the grip by using your body weight to drive the arm away while posting with your free hand. Alternatively, switch to attacking the near arm or transition to different turtle attacks like the crucifix entry.
- Opponent rolls with you to prevent the sweep and recover guard (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Maintain the kimura grip throughout their counter-roll and use their momentum to establish the submission finish. As they roll, keep your hips connected and finish the kimura from the top position or transition to armbar if they overcommit.
- Opponent postures up and stands to escape the roll (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: If they stand before you commit to the roll, abandon the rolling kimura and transition to standing back take or single leg takedown using the kimura grip to control their posture and break their balance.
- Opponent drops their trapped shoulder to the mat to relieve pressure (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: This actually facilitates the roll—follow their shoulder to the mat and continue the rolling motion. Their defensive movement helps complete your technique and often exposes their back more readily.
- Opponent uses their free arm to frame against your hip or shoulder (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use your chest weight to collapse their frame before initiating the roll. Alternatively, trap their free arm with your leg to establish crucifix position, then proceed with the roll having even greater control.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary mechanical advantage of the rolling motion in the Rolling Kimura technique? A: The rolling motion uses your entire body weight and rotational momentum to amplify the leverage on the opponent’s shoulder joint, making it far more effective than relying on arm strength alone. The rotation also creates a dynamic situation where the opponent must move with you or risk serious shoulder injury, limiting their defensive options while simultaneously advancing your position toward back control or submission finish.
Q2: Why is it critical to maintain hip connection to the opponent’s body throughout the rolling kimura? A: Maintaining hip connection ensures that you and the opponent move as a single unit during the roll, preventing them from escaping the kimura grip or creating distance. If your hips separate from their body during the rotation, they can use the space to extract their arm, defend the submission, or potentially reverse the position. The hip connection is what transforms this from an arm lock into a full-body control technique.
Q3: What are the three most common finishing positions after completing a successful Rolling Kimura? A: The three most common finishing positions are: (1) Back control with hooks and seat belt grip, achieved when opponent defends by turning away from the kimura; (2) Crucifix position with both arms trapped, achieved when you trap the free arm during the roll; and (3) Kimura submission finish from top position, achieved when opponent’s defense is insufficient and you maintain the grip through rotation to complete the shoulder lock.
Q4: How should you respond if the opponent rolls with you during your Rolling Kimura attempt? A: If the opponent counter-rolls with your momentum, maintain the kimura grip and use their rolling motion to help finish the submission. As they roll, keep your hips connected and apply pressure to the shoulder joint, often finishing the kimura from the top position after their counter-roll completes. Alternatively, if they overcommit to the counter-roll, you can transition to an armbar by releasing the figure-four and extending their arm. The key is maintaining grip and connection regardless of direction.
Q5: What is the correct timing to initiate the Rolling Kimura? A: The optimal timing is when the opponent is stationary and defensive in turtle position, with their weight settled and their base established but not actively mobile. Avoid initiating the roll when they are already moving, standing, or turning, as their momentum will work against your technique. The best moment is immediately after breaking their posture by pulling the trapped arm away from their body, when they are most unstable and committed to defending their position.
Q6: Why is the Rolling Kimura considered a ‘dilemma technique’ in modern BJJ? A: The Rolling Kimura creates a true dilemma because the opponent must simultaneously defend both a dangerous submission (the kimura shoulder lock) and prevent a major positional advancement (back take or crucifix). If they focus entirely on defending the submission by keeping their arm close to their body, they make the positional advancement easier. If they focus on preventing the back take by turning into you, they expose their shoulder to greater submission danger. This dual-threat nature makes the technique highly effective even when the opponent knows it’s coming.
Safety Considerations
The Rolling Kimura involves significant rotational stress on the shoulder joint and must be practiced with appropriate caution and progression. When training, always start with zero resistance and gradually build up to full-speed application over weeks of practice. Communicate clearly with training partners about the shoulder pressure, and both partners should understand proper tap protocols. The person executing the technique should maintain controlled movement throughout the roll and never jerk or spike the rotation, as this can cause shoulder injuries even without full submission pressure. For the person defending, tap early if you feel significant shoulder discomfort, as shoulder injuries can be severe and have long recovery times. When first learning the technique, use crash pads or soft surfaces to practice the rolling mechanics safely. In competition or advanced training, be aware that the momentum of the roll can create unexpected joint stress, so maintain awareness and respect your partner’s safety signals throughout the technique.
Position Integration
The Rolling Kimura is an essential component of a comprehensive turtle top attack system, functioning as a primary offensive weapon that chains naturally with other turtle attacks. Within the positional hierarchy of BJJ, the turtle position represents a defensive but vulnerable state for the bottom person, and the Rolling Kimura capitalizes on this vulnerability by creating immediate submission threats while advancing position. The technique integrates seamlessly into the broader kimura-based attacking system, connecting with standard kimura finishes from various positions, kimura to back take sequences, and the crucifix entry system. Understanding the Rolling Kimura’s place in the larger game plan helps practitioners develop a systematic approach to turtle attacks, where each defensive reaction from the opponent creates opportunities for different techniques. The position also serves as an excellent training vehicle for developing kinesthetic awareness, rotational mechanics, and the ability to maintain control through dynamic movements—skills that transfer to numerous other BJJ techniques and positions.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Rolling Kimura exemplifies the principle of using rotational force to amplify mechanical advantage against a joint. The beauty of this technique lies in its biomechanical efficiency—by rolling your entire body weight through the opponent’s shoulder joint, you create exponentially more pressure than could ever be generated through arm strength alone. The figure-four kimura grip configuration already provides superior leverage, but the addition of whole-body rotation transforms this into an overwhelming attacking system. Systematically speaking, the Rolling Kimura represents the intersection of position and submission—it’s neither purely one nor the other, but rather a dynamic technique that uses submission threat to facilitate positional advancement. When teaching this technique, I emphasize that students must understand the shoulder joint’s vulnerable positions and how the rolling motion specifically targets the weakest angle of resistance. The technique also demonstrates crucial BJJ principles: maintaining connection through transitions, using momentum instead of muscular strength, and creating dilemmas where every defensive option leads to a different form of defeat.
- Gordon Ryan: In high-level competition, the Rolling Kimura is one of the highest-percentage techniques from top turtle because it’s extremely difficult to defend properly when executed with correct timing. I’ve used this technique to finish multiple ADCC and IBJJF matches because it creates an impossible defensive scenario for the opponent—they literally cannot defend both the submission and the positional advancement simultaneously. The key to making this work at the elite level is disguising your intention until the last possible moment and then exploding into the roll with total commitment. Against world-class opponents, you can’t telegraph the technique or give them time to prepare their defense. I particularly favor this technique in no-gi competition where the turtle position is less stable and opponents are more vulnerable to dynamic attacks. The transition to back control that results from a well-executed Rolling Kimura often leads directly to match-ending rear naked choke or armbar sequences. When training this technique, focus relentlessly on the grip—your kimura grip must be absolutely unbreakable because that’s what controls everything else in the sequence.
- Eddie Bravo: The Rolling Kimura is a perfect example of how dynamic, flowing techniques can be more effective than static positional grinding. This technique embodies the 10th Planet philosophy of constant motion and creating chaos that your opponent can’t predict or control. What I love about the Rolling Kimura is how it opens up the entire turtle attack game—once your opponent knows you can hit this, they become defensive about their arms, which creates openings for guillotines, darces, and back takes from different angles. We’ve developed several variations at 10th Planet that incorporate leg triangles and crucifix traps during the roll, making it even more devastating. The no-gi application is particularly nasty because you can chain it directly into the twister position if they defend by turning the wrong direction. When teaching this technique, I emphasize that students should think of it not as a single move but as an entry point into a flow state where you’re continuously attacking through rotation and momentum. The rubber guard and lockdown systems can actually set up situations where your opponent turtles, and then the Rolling Kimura becomes your primary turtle-breaking weapon, creating a complete offensive system from guard to submission.