Kimura
Also known as: Double Wristlock, Chicken Wing, Gyaku Ude-garami
The Kimura is named after Masahiko Kimura, who used it to defeat Hélio Gracie in 1951. This figure-four grip on the wrist creates devastating leverage against the shoulder joint. Beyond being a fight-ending submission, the Kimura grip is a powerful control and transition tool—you can sweep from guard, take the back, and threaten from virtually any position. Understanding the Kimura as a system rather than just a submission transforms your game.
🎯Key Details
The grip
Figure-four their wrist: your hand grabs their wrist, your other hand grabs your own wrist. Keep your grips tight and elbows close to your body.
Elbow control
Their elbow must be kept tight to their body or pinned to your chest. If their elbow gets away from you, your leverage disappears.
Rotation, not lifting
The finish comes from rotating their arm behind their back, keeping their elbow tight. Don't just lift their arm up—rotate it like you're painting a wall behind them.
Hip positioning (from guard)
Sit up and angle toward the trapped arm. Your hip should be tight to theirs, preventing them from rolling away. Control their posture with your legs.
The Kimura trap
Even if you can't finish, the Kimura grip controls their arm. Use it to sweep, take the back, or transition to other attacks.
⚠️Common Mistakes
Letting their elbow flare out
Keep their elbow pinned to your chest or their ribs. Wide elbow = no leverage = no finish.
Lying flat when attacking from guard
Sit up into them. Flat back = they stack you and escape. Sitting up = offensive position.
Trying to overpower instead of using leverage
Small rotational movements with proper body positioning beat strength. Don't muscle—use mechanics.
Releasing the grip when they defend
The Kimura grip is valuable even without finishing. Hold it, be patient, use it to control or transition.
🚀Setups
- •Guard—they post on your chest
- •Side control—bait their arm up
- •Half guard—underhook to Kimura
- •Turtle—arm drag to Kimura
- •North-south attack
🛡️Counters / Defenses
- •Grab your own belt/pants
- •Roll over the trapped shoulder
- •Straighten the arm (armbar counter threat)
- •Stand up before they secure position
🔄Variations
📍Applicable Positions
🔗Related Techniques
Track Your Progress on Kimura
Log when you drill this technique, track your success rate in sparring, and get AI-powered insights to improve.
Start Tracking