The Kimura is a submission hold commonly seen in mixed martial arts fights. This submission effects mainly the shoulder joint, but also to a lesser extent the elbow joint. When applied, this joint lock hyperrotates the shoulder causing intense pain and the tap out.
The name for this grappling technique comes from the great judo master Masahiko Kimura. Practitioners of Brazilian jiu jitsu gave the grappling technique that name after Masahiko Kimura used it to break Helio Gracie’s arm during a 1955 challenge match in Brazil.
There are two primary positions from which this submission hold is applied. The guard and side control. Both of these positions give the practitioner the leverage needed to apply the technique with power and get the tap. It is also very common for someone applying this submission technique from the side control position to step over the opponents head with the leg closest to the head. This gives even more leverage and power to the technique.
The kimura has been used on many occasions, by many fighters, to get the tap and end a fight. There are literally hundreds of examples of this submission hold being used in MMA fights. Some of the notable examples of it in mixed martial arts are: Kazushi Sakuraba using it to break Renzo Gracie’s arm in Pride 10, Fedor using it to tap Kevin Randleman in the 2004 Pride FC Heavyweight Grand Prix and Matt Hughes tapping Joe Riggs with the technique in UFC 56.
This submission grappling technique has been and will continue to be a favorite for many of the top MMA fighters in the world.
Kimura from the Closed Guard.
[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]
Stephan Kesting Demonstrates how to Counter Someone Defending the Kimura.
[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]
