3 Ways to use Kimura Grip in BJJ

The Kimura grip is a fundamental and versatile technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that involves controlling your opponent’s arm and shoulder. It can be used for both attacking and controlling your opponent. Here are three common ways to use the Kimura grip in BJJ:

Kimura Submission:

The Kimura submission is one of the most well-known techniques using the Kimura grip. To perform this submission, follow these steps:a. Secure the Kimura grip:

Begin by controlling your opponent’s arm by gripping their wrist and cupping their elbow with your other hand, forming a figure-four grip. Make sure to isolate their arm and keep it close to their body. Apply pressure:

Once you have the grip, you can apply pressure to their shoulder joint by lifting their elbow and twisting it behind their back.

This creates a submission hold, and if your opponent doesn’t tap out, it can lead to shoulder injury.Maintain control:

While applying the submission, you need to control your opponent’s posture and movement to prevent them from escaping or countering.

Sweeps and Reversals:

The Kimura grip can be used to set up sweeps and reversals from various positions in BJJ. Here’s an example from the guard position: Secure the Kimura grip on your opponent’s arm. Use the Kimura grip to off-balance your opponent by manipulating their arm and applying pressure. As they react to defend against the Kimura, you can create opportunities to sweep or reverse them, taking top position.This approach takes advantage of your opponent’s reactions to the Kimura threat to gain a dominant position.

Control and Positional Advantages:

Even without submitting or sweeping your opponent, the Kimura grip can be used to control their movement and posture. For example, from side control or top mount: Secure the Kimura grip on your opponent’s far arm.Use the Kimura grip to control their arm and limit their ability to defend or escape.Transition to better positions, such as moving to a more dominant side control or setting up for other submissions.