The Kimura armlock is a bread-and-butter move in BJJ, but not many people know that they can use it from on top in the half guard. In this technique Marcio Feitosa shows you how... Marcio (dark gi) is in Marco’s half guard. Marco has his left arm under Marco’s armpit. Marcio encircles Marco’s left arm and … [Read more...]
Kimura
How to Finish the Kimura Armlock from Half Guard
The Kimura armlock is one of the highest percentage submissions from the half guard, but to apply it you have to know how to get your opponent to release his grip on his pants, shorts or thigh. Here's how to break his grip and finish the Kimura! This Jedi mind trick can actually be used for other submissions like the armbar and different leglocks as well. To see the same video of the … [Read more...]
Mastering the Kimura
By Stephan Kesting and Marcus Soares Originally published in Grappling Magazine, May 2002 The Kimura lock is one of the most important submission holds in Jiu-jitsu. It is also found in many other grappling systems, where it might be called a hammerlock, a chickenwing, or ude-garami. Whatever it is called, it is a powerful and versatile attack. Wherever you see grapplers competing, whether … [Read more...]
Double Threat Attacks from the Bottom Position
In grappling, sometimes a submission can be more than just a submission. Let me explain… There is no shortage of different submission attacks from the bottom position. Most typically you'd attack from the closed guard, open guard or half guard position, but you can also use submissions if you're turtled under your opponent, or even pinned in side mount. Of course if you finish a … [Read more...]
Frank Mir’s Kimura on Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140
UFC 140 last Saturday night was one of the best MMA shows in recent memory. There were lots of exciting matchups, but THE fight of the night was the much-anticipated rematch between heavyweights Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir. This fight displayed the highest level grappling ever seen in the heavyweight division of the UFC! As soon as the match ended I looked at my good friend and … [Read more...]
Jiu-jitsu and Physical Attributes
Physical attributes are things like balance, neck strength, limb length, explosiveness, leg flexibility, and percent body fat. Your physical attributes are the foundation of what you can do with your body, and are influenced by genetics, training, age and injuries. Some instructors teach as if everyone, regardless of age, build and flexibility, can use the same techniques. Well I'm here to tell … [Read more...]
The Dangerous Locks
Not all submissions are created equal: some cause pain, some put you to sleep, and some do a lot of damage. Today I want to talk about the latter category, those submissions most likely to send you to the orthopedic surgeon. Knowing which locks are dangerous is important for at least two reasons: first, you need to know which submissions to tap out early to if you are caught in one yourself, … [Read more...]
Submissions as Sweeps
Submissions end fights, and sweeps take you from the bottom to the top. At first glance they seem like very different types of techniques, but this week I'm going to discuss how they sometimes merge into one another. There are times when you lock on a submission but sense that you won't be able to finish it - maybe your opponent is too strong, perhaps you don't have it on quite right, or maybe … [Read more...]
A Very Last-Ditch Kimura Defense
There is a slightly wacky Kimura (chickenwing) defense that has saved my butt several times recently. I haven't seen it described anywhere else, so I thought I'd share it with you this week. If you don't know what the Kimura armlock is you can see some examples in this article here. Suppose that your opponent has you in side control; he is on your right side and is attacking your left arm … [Read more...]