Submission: Kimura (Ude Garami)

The key aspects of the kimura

1. Control: To execute an effective kimura, you must first establish control over your opponent’s arm and isolate it from their body. This typically involves securing a grip on their wrist with one hand, while your other hand slides under their arm to grip your own wrist, creating a figure-four lock. Proper control of your opponent’s arm is critical to prevent them from escaping or defending the submission.
2. Mechanics: The fundamental mechanics of the kimura involve creating a lever with your opponent’s arm and using your body as a fulcrum to apply pressure against their shoulder joint. Your figure-four grip and your body positioning act as the fulcrum, allowing you to generate force while maintaining control. The kimura is most effective when you maintain constant pressure on the shoulder joint and adjust your positioning as necessary to maximize the force applied.
3. Setups: The kimura can be set up from various positions, including side control, half guard, guard, and north-south. The key to setting up the kimura is recognizing opportunities as they arise, such as when your opponent extends their arm to create space, frame, or attempt a counter. By maintaining control and pressure, you can manipulate their arm into the desired position and transition to the kimura.
4. Finishing: Once the kimura has been set up, the final step is to apply pressure to your opponent’s shoulder joint, forcing them to submit. This can be done by externally rotating their arm while maintaining the figure-four grip and controlling their body with your legs and hips. It’s crucial to maintain control throughout the finish and adjust your positioning as necessary to prevent your opponent from escaping.
5. Defense and counters: As with any submission, it’s essential to be aware of your opponent’s potential defenses and counters. Common defenses to the kimura include grip breaks, escaping their arm from the lever position, or transitioning to a more advantageous position. Developing a deep understanding of the kimura mechanics and common defenses will allow you to anticipate and counter these defenses, leading to higher submission success rates.

In summary, the kimura is a highly effective and adaptable submission that focuses on isolating and attacking the shoulder joint. By understanding and applying the principles of control, mechanics, setups, finishing, and defense, you can develop a formidable kimura game that will challenge your opponents and lead to more submission victories. Always remember to approach the kimura with a systematic and methodical mindset, constantly refining your technique and exploring new variations and setups.