The Kimura lock is a BJJ submission where you attack your opponent’s shoulder.

You use a figure-four configuration on their arm, and turn their shoulder like a “key” to break the shoulder. In that sense, it’s similar to the Americana.

The name “Kimura” comes from professional Japanese wrestler Masahiko Kimura. He used the submission to defeat Hélio Gracie, one of the founders of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

In the UFC, there have been 40 wins by Kimura, making it the 6th most common BJJ submission in the sport.

In this article, I’ll share my favorite method for setting up — and finishing — a deadly kimura lock from top side control.

And you’ll learn how to think about the kimura as not just a submission — but a powerful position where you can transition to other attacks.

Kimura Lock: Table Of Contents

• How To Do The Kimura
• 3 Tips To Make Your Kimura Unstoppable
• How To Defend The Kimura
• Takeaway Thoughts & Discussion

How To Do The Kimura

The Kimura lock can be done from many positions, including bottom guard positions.

However, my favorite way to do it is from top side control. I learned this simple method as a white belt.

Here’s the setup I use that maximizes your control and minimizes the chance that the bottom player can escape.

Step 1: Turn And Face Their Leg

Start with a strong crossface and ensure the bottom player is pinned.

Then, turn your torso to face their legs.

Your ribcage should be heavy on their torso, making it difficult for them to breathe.

Step 2: Lock Up The Kimura

Lock up a figure-four kimura grip on their far arm.

I like to make the grip without thumbs.

This makes the grip harder to break out of, and it generates more rotating power.

Now, you’re in the kimura position. You can proceed with the kimura submission — or, you can look for other ways to use this grip (like the rolling kimura backtake).

Step 3: Turn Towards Their Face

Technically, you could look to finish the kimua right here.

But let’s make our kimura lock more difficult to escape.

With the kimura grip locked up, switch your hips and torso to face towards the bottom player’s head.

Keep your ribcage heavy. Imagine you’re using your body to make it harder for them to breathe.

Step 4: Jump Your Leg Over Their Head

With your hips turned towards your opponent’s head, you’ll have more mobility.

Now, you can jump your leg over their head.

This will break down their posture even more and make it difficult to escape.

Step 5: Lift Up Their Body

Using your kimura grip as a lever, lift the bottom player’s body up.

Now, they won’t have the mat blocking you from rotating their shoulder.

Step 6: Rotate Their Arm & Finish The Kimura

Rotate their arm towards their back to get the tap.

Think about turning a key. The Kimura is often called a “keylock” because that’s the motion you’ll use to finish the submission.

TIP: “Rev” your hands like you’re revving a motorcycle. Often, this will get the tap without you having to even rotate their arm.

3 Tips To Make Your Kimura Unstoppable

1. Focus On The Pin First

If you try and hit a kimura without strong control, it’s not very difficult to escape.

But if you apply the kimura once you’ve totally broken the bottom player’s — twisting their neck, core, and spine — it will be easy to get the tap.

And you’ll minimize their chance of surviving and escaping the kimura.

This is why I recommend several steps after locking up the kimura grip instead of going for the submission right away.

Make them miserable with your bodyweight and break down their alignment.

After that, you’ll have a buffet of submissions available to you.

2. Use The Kimura As A Position

The kimura isn’t just a submission.

It’s a position. You can use it to transition to other submissions and positions.

Entire systems are being developed using the Kimura lock position — known as the Kimura trap.

Personally, I love going for rolling back takes if I have the kimura grip locked up from a top position.

Or, if I’m in a bottom position, I’ll use the kimura grip to get underneath my opponent and sweep them.

In BJJ, submissions are also positions (like the omoplata). Practice using them in other ways than just getting the tap.

3. Specifically Train The Kimura

If you want to get better at the kimura lock, you have to practice the kimura.

Here’s a challenge for you: in your next class, make it your focus during each roll to hit a kimura.

Trying to hit specific moves during sparring is called “specific training” — and it’s how Gordon Ryan masters submissions.

Then, after class, write down in your BJJ journal…

• What worked (example: “During one roll, I got into side control, got the grip, jumped my leg over their head and got the submission.” )
• What didn’t work (example: “During another roll, I tried to hit the kimura from closed guard but it didn’t work.”)
• Questions or notes for next class (example: “Ask coach how to hit the kimura from closed guard or bottom half guard.”)

Ask your training partners if you can start from top side control. This will make hunting for the kimura lock much easier.

Do this for 4 weeks, and I guarantee you’ll get much better at the kimura.

NOTE: I teach this specific training and journaling process in my BJJ Journal Of Champions Course.

How to Defend The Kimura Lock

Learning how to defend the kimura is critical for helping you improve your kimura offense as well.

Think about defending the kimura in 3 “stages.”

1. Preventing The Kimura

Like with any other submission, it’s easier to prevent the kimura than it is to defend one that’s already locked up.

If you’re in bottom side control, you want to focus on good survival principles in this position:

• Not allowing the top player to access your head
• Using your arms as frames against their collarbone and hips
• Using your lower body to bridge and shrimp so you can connect your elbows and knees

With proper survival protocols, you won’t have to worry about the kimura because you’ll be too busy escaping — and disallowing the top player from getting the kimura grip locked up.

An ounce of prevention will keep your shoulders safe!

2. Mid-Stage Kimura Defense

So you’re dealing with a strong top player who was able to get the kimura grip locked up on you.

First things first: as soon as they get the kimura grip, bring your fist up to your heart. Do NOT let them get your hand to the mat.

With your arm that is free, bring it to their hips and create a frame. Use this arm to push their hips down, and bring your kimura’d arm up to break the grip.

Movement is the opposite of control.

So use your free arm to help create movement and instability. That way, you can free your arm from the kimura grip.

3. Late-Stage Kimura Defense

Now you’re in real trouble: the top player has locked up the kimura AND has gotten your hand to the mat.

They’re about to go for the kimura submission. Here’s how you can break out of it.

1. Walk your kimura’d hand along the mat to create space.
2. With your free hand, grab the top player’s wrist where they are doing the kimura
3. Bring your knee up and on top of their wrist, and use your knee to break the kimura grip.

You’ll end up in a scramble, and you’ll have to escape a poor bottom position — but at least they won’t have the kimura grip locked up!

Takeaway Thoughts & Discussion

The kimura lock is one of the strongest submissions in BJJ.

However, it’s more than just a submission…

…it’s a powerful position and system you can use to transition to other attacks, take the back, and sweep your opponent.

It’s not just a “strong man’s move” (although being strong certainly helps).

It’s more of a “thinking man’s move” used to set up other attacks.

What’s YOUR favorite way to hunt for the kimura? Leave a comment in the section below and join the discussion.

And if you hit this kimura setup in class tonight, let me know!

Happy rolling. 🤙

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Tsavo Neal

Tsavo is the founder of BJJ Equipment, author of BJJ For Beginners, creator of the BJJ Missions app, and a brown belt instructor at InFighting. He launched BJJ Equipment to help grapplers at every belt level train smarter, make faster progress, and find the best gear for their game.