The Kimura
The kimura is one of the most versatile weapons in jiu-jitsu — a shoulder lock you can attack, control, and finish from almost anywhere: guard, side control, north-south, the back, turtle, even standing. It carries the name of Masahiko Kimura, who used it to break Hélio Gracie's arm in their legendary 1951 match. Here is how it works.
By the numbers: The kimura appears among the arm-lock family that makes up a fifth of finishes in our data study — and it doubles as one of the best control positions in grappling.
What is the kimura?
The kimura (ude-garami, or double-wristlock in catch wrestling) is a shoulder lock applied with a figure-four grip: you grab your opponent's wrist with one hand, thread your other arm behind their upper arm, and grip your own wrist. Rotating their bent arm so the hand travels down toward their hips torques the shoulder to the tap. It is the mirror image of the americana (where the hand points up).
See it on The BJJ Project
Our primary video source for the encyclopedia is The BJJ Project — the channel of Rickson-lineage black belt Chris “Bones” Burns, a friend of the show. Here he teaches the kimura and omoplata alongside our podcast guest Chris Haueter:
▶ “Kimura and Omoplata” — Chris “Bones” Burns with Chris Haueter, on The BJJ Project.
The details that make it finish
- Own the wrist. The figure-four is only as strong as your control of their hand — keep it pinned.
- Peel the elbow off their body before you rotate; a kimura crushed against their ribs will not turn.
- Break the grip first. If they grab their own belt, leg, or gi to defend, strip that grip before you hunt the finish.
- Rotate, don't yank. Slow, controlled rotation of the hand behind their back is what taps the shoulder.
Common mistakes
- No wrist control, so the arm slips free.
- Trying to finish against the body instead of peeling the elbow away.
- Ignoring their defensive grip and muscling a locked arm.
How to defend the kimura
The instant you feel the figure-four, grab your own belt, thigh, or gi to stop the arm from being isolated, keep your elbow tight to your body, and work to bring the trapped hand back to safety. As always, early defense beats a late escape.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kimura in BJJ?
A shoulder lock applied with a figure-four grip that rotates the bent arm so the hand travels toward the hips. It can be hit from guard, side control, the back, turtle, and standing.
What is the difference between a kimura and an americana?
They are mirror images. In the kimura the hand rotates down toward the hips; in the americana it rotates up toward the head. Both torque the shoulder.
How do you defend the kimura?
Grab your own belt, leg, or gi to stop your arm being isolated, keep the elbow tight, and recover the hand before the shoulder is rotated.
Learn from the source: the Rickson lineage
The breakdown above features Chris “Bones” Burns of The BJJ Project — our primary source for the encyclopedia — alongside our podcast guest Chris Haueter. Go even deeper on The BJJ Project and with Henry Akins' Hidden Jiu-Jitsu, and hear the philosophy on our podcast with Rickson-lineage black belts Scott Burr and James Driskill.
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