The kimura lock is a shoulder joint submission that rotates the arm behind the back, applying pressure to the shoulder and elbow. It is one of the most versatile and widely used submissions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, effective from multiple positions including side control, guard, and turtle. Named after legendary judoka Masahiko Kimura, who famously used it to defeat Hélio Gracie in 1951, the kimura remains a cornerstone of both BJJ and MMA.
What Is the Kimura Lock?
The kimura lock — also called a double wristlock or gyaku ude-garami in judo — isolates one arm and rotates it in a figure-four grip behind the opponent’s back, placing extreme stress on the shoulder capsule, rotator cuff, and elbow. The submission is named after Masahiko Kimura, who broke Hélio Gracie’s arm in a 1951 challenge match in Rio de Janeiro when Hélio refused to tap. In tribute, the Gracie family named the technique after him.
How to Perform the Kimura (Step-by-Step)
- Establish side control — chest-to-chest, weight distributed across their upper body.
- Isolate the near arm — scoop their near arm up so it bends at the elbow.
- Thread your arm under their wrist — wrap underneath their wrist and grab your own wrist from above, forming a figure-four.
- Secure the figure-four grip — grip your bottom wrist firmly with your top hand.
- Apply pressure — keeping their elbow pinned against your torso, rotate their arm up and back toward their head. If the elbow flares out, the leverage disappears.
Kimura from Side Control
Side control offers the best platform for the kimura — weight advantage, positional control, and easy arm access. Turn away from your opponent (toward their legs) as you finish to use your whole body as a lever rather than just your arms. If they turn into you to escape, their arm often becomes even more exposed. Maintain the kimura grip and transition smoothly to mount or back control during any scramble.
Kimura from Closed Guard
When your opponent posts a hand on the mat next to your head or hip, scoop under their wrist, establish the figure-four, open your guard, and use your legs and hips to break their posture and rotate the arm. The guard kimura doubles as a sweep — if they straighten the arm or pull back to defend the submission, immediately transition to the kimura sweep to take top position.
The Kimura Trap System
Advanced grapplers use the kimura not just as a submission but as a control system — often called the kimura trap. The goal is to establish the figure-four grip and use it to control the opponent’s entire upper body, threatening the submission while setting up sweeps, back takes, and positional transitions. From turtle position, the kimura trap is especially powerful: secure the grip on the far arm, sit through, and either finish the submission or take the back. See our New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team profile for more on modern kimura trap systems.
Famous Kimura Finishes in MMA
- Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko (2010) — Werdum submitted one of MMA’s greatest heavyweights with a kimura lock in one of the sport’s biggest upsets.
- Frank Mir vs. Tim Sylvia (UFC 48) — Mir broke Sylvia’s arm 50 seconds into round one, winning the UFC heavyweight title and demonstrating the submission’s real danger.
- Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen (UFC 117) — Silva survived four-plus rounds of punishment before snatching a last-minute kimura in one of the most dramatic UFC finishes ever.
Kimura Defenses
- Grab your own belt or shorts — stalls the rotation before the figure-four is fully locked.
- Stack and roll — from guard, posting on your head and rolling forward can relieve pressure.
- Turn into the pressure — rotating your shoulder in the direction of the submission can create space to free the arm.
- Don’t reach — the best defense is prevention. Keep elbows tight and never post flat next to a skilled grappler.
Common Kimura Mistakes
- Letting the elbow flare — lose elbow contact with your body and the leverage disappears entirely.
- Pulling instead of rotating — the finish is an arc rotation, not a straight pull upward.
- Weak figure-four — grip your own wrist firmly, not your opponent’s.
- Ignoring the sweep — the guard kimura has a built-in sweep. If you only look for the submission, you’re leaving half the technique unused.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a kimura and an americana?
Both are figure-four shoulder locks but with opposite rotation. The kimura rotates the arm upward toward the head; the americana rotates it downward toward the hips. The kimura is typically applied from guard or side control; the americana is most common from mount or side control with the arm flat on the mat.
Is the kimura dangerous?
Yes — the shoulder has limited rotation range and the elbow is also under stress. Tap early. The Frank Mir vs. Tim Sylvia finish is a documented example of what happens when the kimura is held past the tap point. In training, always apply slowly and with control.
Can you do a kimura from mount?
Yes. From high mount, if your opponent frames against your hips or reaches across, establish the kimura grip on the near or far arm, then slide off to the side into a modified side control position as you rotate to finish.
What is the kimura trap?
The kimura trap is using the kimura grip as a positional control system rather than just a submission. By maintaining the figure-four, you can control your opponent’s body, take the back, complete sweeps, and threaten the submission simultaneously — a concept central to modern no-gi grappling and MMA.
