The Kimura Arm Lock Technique: How to Perform and Defend the Shoulder lock Submission Hold in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) image 17

Understanding the Kimura Arm Lock: A Comprehensive Guide

The Kimura Arm Lock Technique: How to Perform and Defend the Shoulder lock Submission Hold in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) image 16

The Kimura arm lock, also known as a reverse ude-garami, is one of the most effective joint lock techniques in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). If applied correctly with the proper technique, it can force an opponent to submit in seconds due to the immense pain. As a brown belt, I’ve used this move many times in competitions and learned a lot about its ins and outs. In this article, I’ll try to answer all your questions about the Kimura while sharing some of my experiences along the way.

How does the Kimura work?

The Kimura Arm Lock Technique: How to Perform and Defend the Shoulder lock Submission Hold in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) image 15

Basically, the Kimura works by hyper-extending the shoulder joint. When you grab the opponent’s wrist and hyper-extend the arm across their body at an angle, it places an insane amount of pressure on the shoulder. From my experience, it feels like the arm is about to rip out of its socket! The submitting player has no choice but to yell “tap tap” before any serious damage occurs. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key mechanics:

  1. Isolate one of your opponent’s arms while in their guard or from side control.
  2. Control their wrist with one hand while placing your other hand behind their elbow.
  3. Push their wrist towards their opposite shoulder while pulling their elbow away, essentially hyper-extending their shoulder joint.

Proper positioning and leverage are crucial. You basically torque their shoulder in a way it’s not meant to rotate. If done right, it’s lights out super fast – but form is important to avoid injuries. More on that later!

What are some common mistakes with the Kimura?

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Dude, even as an experienced BJJ player, it’s easy to mess up the Kimura sometimes. Here are a few typical errors I’ve seen over the years:

  1. Gripping their wrist too high or low – you want to isolate exactly between the wrist and elbow.
  2. Not controlling their far side arm – they can flip you if you let them curl that arm in to relieve pressure.
  3. Loose hips – you need to post your knee into their gut and use your whole body to finish the move.
  4. Going for it from weak positions – don’t Kimura from guard unless their posture is totally broken already.
  5. Not finishing the roll – once you hyperextend, roll your hips under their body for the tap.

Pay attention to details and perfect your form over time. Rushing slick subs is a rookie mistake, friend. Take your time and explode with precision when the moment is right.

What are some variations of the basic Kimura?

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The bread and butter Kimura we talked about works great, but experienced players know there are a bunch of sneaky variations too. Here are a few I’ve found success with over the years:

  1. Kimura from mount – sneak your hand beneath their trapped arm and finish from the dominant mount position.
  2. Kimura stack pass – finish the Kimura as you pass to side control for a slick transition.
  3. Gearshift Kimura – switch grips and hyperextend their elbow for a nasty armbar/Kimura combo.
  4. Kimura from knee ride – finish it behind their back when knee-riding in their half guard.
  5. Kimura roll – use it to sweep opponents and take the back if they don’t submit.

The options are endless once you understand the basic mechanics. Keep drilling and be creative – that’s how legends like Marcelo Garcia come up with crazy new moves, right bro?

What are some defense strategies against the Kimura?

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Look man, no submission is undefendable. As an attacker, my goal is always to overwhelm the defense. But here are a few solid strategies I’ve seen work from the defensive end:

  1. Frame against their face with your forearm to create distance.
  2. Turtle and roll immediately to relieve pressure on the shoulder.
  3. Curl your defending arm in tight and squeeze your elbows together.
  4. Posture up tall and kick your leg over their head for a Granby roll escape.
  5. Threaten submissions from bottom like armbars or omoplatas to make them hesitant.

Awareness and quick reaction time are key to defending. Try not to linger in positions where Kimuras are common. Overall though, prevention is better than cure – keep your limbs tucked and don’t give up dominant positions!

What are some risks of the Kimura if not applied carefully?

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Any submission done recklessly can injure someone, so it’s important to understand the risks with Kimuras. I once saw a guy tear his whole shoulder because his partner cranked it too fast without the proper setup. Yikes! The main concerns are shoulder and elbow injuries if you:

  1. Jump directly to full hyperextension without controlled progression.
  2. Crank on it with poor positioning instead of using technique.
  3. Hyper-extend the elbow joint as well as the shoulder.
  4. Try finishing it from weak, compromised positions.
  5. Crank on it during training when resistance isn’t real.

Be smooth, recognize when they’re in pain before the “pop,” and always apply submissions with care – even during rolls between team mates. It’s not worth injuring a training partner just to prove how tough you are, you know?

What’s the best way to drill and train the Kimura?

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Reps, reps, reps my friend. Shadow drill the mechanics alone first to perfect your hand positioning and angles. Then start hitting it slowly in live rolls, focusing on control rather than finishing. Over time, work up to applying more speed and power as your partners learn to defend. Here are some drills I’ve found useful:

  1. Kimura from various positions like mount, side control against a training partner.
  2. Shadow drill the progression from wrist grip to hyperextension against a wall.
  3. “Kimura flow” – chain various transitions like sweep-to-kimura with a partner.
  4. Use a resistive band around a pole to practice finishing the roll against resistance.
  5. Review instructionals and study Kimura wizards like Jacare, Maia, and Jones for new details.

Constant practice is the only way to truly ingrain techniques into muscle memory. Keep drilling and let your rolls be practice too – before you know it, you’ll hit Kimuras like a boss just like me!

In summary, what are the key takeaways about the Kimura?

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To wrap this up basically, here are the main things I want you to remember about the Kimura technique:

  1. It is one of the most effective joint locks with the power to finish fights in seconds.
  2. The mechanics involve hyper-extending the shoulder by torquing the arm in an unnatural position.
  3. Focus on control, precision, and progressive resistance – don’t just yank submissions during training.
  4. Drill the basic variations like from mount or sweeps, but also experiment with your own flair.
  5. Understand risks like shoulder injuries so you aren’t “that guy” who hurts training partners.
  6. Defense requires quick reaction, framing, rolling, and threatening your own submissions from bottom.
  7. Repetition is key – hit it slowly in rolls while perfecting setups, grips, and finishing mechanics.

I hope this helps explain everything you need to know about hitting slick Kimuras, defending against them, and training the technique safely, homie. Feel free to ask if any part needs more clarification. Later!

The Kimura Arm Lock

The Kimura Arm Lock Technique: How to Perform and Defend the Shoulder lock Submission Hold in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) image 8
Name Description
Arm Trap Secure opponent’s arm by wrapping both hands around it and controlling the wrist.
Hip Drive Drive hips toward opponent’s body to torque the arm and shoulder joint.
Wrist Control Maintain control of opponent’s wrist to prevent escape and maximize torque on shoulder.
Elbow Placement Place elbow down toward opponent’s body for leverage when applying pressure.
Submission Options Submit via shoulder hyperextension or wrist manipulation depending on opponent’s response.

FAQ

The Kimura Arm Lock Technique: How to Perform and Defend the Shoulder lock Submission Hold in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) image 7
  1. What is a kimura arm lock?

    The Kimura Arm Lock Technique: How to Perform and Defend the Shoulder lock Submission Hold in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) image 6

    A kimura arm lock is basically a submission hold used in wrestling and mixed martial arts. It involves trapping an opponent’s arm and forcing their shoulder to hyperextend.

  2. How does a kimura arm lock work?

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    To apply it, you grab the opponent’s wrist with one hand and place your other hand behind their elbow. Then you pull their arm toward you while pushing their elbow away. This puts lots of pressure on their shoulder joint. Ouch!

  3. “But can the kimura arm lock really hurt someone?”

    The Kimura Arm Lock Technique: How to Perform and Defend the Shoulder lock Submission Hold in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) image 4

    Yes indeed! While it appears to be a simple move, the kimura arm lock can do major damage if done right. According to expert MMA fighters, it can dislocate or even break the shoulder if the person doesn’t tap out in time. Yikes!

  4. What are some ways to escape a kimura arm lock?

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    There are a few options to get out of this hold. You can bridge your body and roll to relieve the pressure. Some people bring their trapped hand behind their back instead of fighting against the submission. Or you can post your free hand on the ground and push off to create space. Basically, you gotta act fast!

  5. When should a referee stop a kimura arm lock?

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    Referees are supposed to call the match if the fighter doesn’t tap out and their arm appears to be in danger. However, sometimes it’s hard to tell just how much pain they’re in! Perhaps the arm lock should be ended sooner rather than later to protect athletes. Safety should always come before spectacle, right?

  6. Have any MMA stars gotten seriously hurt by a kimura?

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    Sadly, yes – some bad kimura injuries have happened at the pro level. Georges St-Pierre famously dislocated his elbow from one back in the day. More recently, Brian Ortega’s shoulder got wrecked by Holloway’s kimura. Amazingly, both those guys came back stronger, but it goes to show how dangerous even “minor” submissions can be if not released promptly. Yowza!

  7. In summary, is the kimura arm lock worth learning?

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    When done right, the kimura arm lock is undoubtedly an effective submission hold. But one must be very careful applying it due to the serious damage it can inflict. On the other hand, knowing how to defend or escape the kimura is equally important self-defense knowledge. In the end, it’s up to each fighter and gym to decide if the risks outweigh the rewards for their own style and abilities.