This is the final article in our series on the submission lock we call the Kimura. This post is called How To Do A Standing Kimura Armlock. This move is definitely a great way to subdue your opponent while standing up. In order for it to be effective you have to get in the right position. In fact, in order to execute any move effectively in Jiu-Jitsu or any other form of martial artist you must be right position. Position is key.
Before we start if you have not read How To Do A Kimura From Mount or the second article entitled How To Do A Kimura From Side Control I suggest you do that also. These three articles will give you great insight on how to dominate your opponent using the Kimura submission lock.
Standing Kimura Countering A Rare Standing Clinch
Lower your Center Of Gravity – In a rare standing clinch your opponent is at the rare of you holding you around your mid-section in a clinch. At this point you want to base out, meaning widen your leg stance a bit and lower your hips by slightly bending your knees. This is a defensive move and it makes it more difficult for your opponent to suplex (wrestling term) you or drag you to the ground from the rare clinch.
Then you want to break your opponents clinch. There are only two ways that an opponent will have their hands locked when clenching you from behind. The first is wrist over wrist and the second is clasping their hands together (palm to palm) in a lock.
Breaking The Wrist Over Wrist Lock
To break the wrist to wrist lock simply take both of your hands and push you opponents wrist away from your body. Remember both your thumb and index finger are tucked in between his arm and your stomach. Once secure you will use your arm to forcefully pushing away his wrist to break the clinch. Tuck both of your thumbs under his wrist and use the rest of your hands and arms to push out. You want to push away his top hand because it would be the east hand to break the clinch.
Breaking The Palm To Palm Lock
To break out from the palm to palm clinch you simply repeat the actions listed above but on the opposite arm. This time with the palm to palm lock you want to take your thumb and stick it between your stomach and your opponents arm and use your arm to push your opponents wrist downward. This will break the clinch. Keep in mind that you will be doing this to your opponents bottom wrist as the above picture shows.
Key Things To Remember – In order to effective break from the clinch lock you have to pay attention to the type of lock you opponent has on you. Whether it’s palm to palm or wrist to wrist. Trying to break the clench the wrong way will leave you struggling and wasting energy. Jo make sure that you observe first before making your move to break free.
Transition into Your Standing Kimura Lock
Now that you’re free from your opponents rare clinch transition into your Kimura by grabbing the same wrist you use to break free from and lock in your kimura. To gain leverage and make him tap out while you have him in the Kimura turn in and lift his elbow. If your opponent tries to spin away don’t worry control his arm and bring him to the ground and maintain your Kimura grip from side control. In our previous article we went over how to do the Kimura from side control, you can reread the article to get a refresher. Below is the full video of the step by step process I just covered.
How To Do A Standing Kimura Against A Double-leg Takedown
Double leg take downs are not only common in competition but also real life fights. They say that 95% of fights end up on the ground and as an MMA practitioner you should know how to defend against a take-down and more importantly how to fight on the ground if you end up being taken down. In MMA we use the Sprawl technique to defend ourselves against a take down. If you are new to MMA training and would like to know more about the move please click on the link below.
When someone is trying to attempt a leg take down on you sprawl so you have better control of the other person’s body. Reach over his back and take control of his arm and lock in your Kimura grip. From here you can do a standing Kimura for the tap out, or roll your opponent to the ground and tap him out with the Kimura there. The choice is entirely yours.
Doing A Kimura Against The Fence In An Octagon
If you are training in an octagon at your gym your opponent may try a double leg take down while you are up against the fence. This is a natural move for people seeing that it would be easier to mount you and pull off a submission than stand and slug it out with you. A Kimura can be pulled off when you’re up against the fence if you position yourself correctly. Remember that patience is a virtue. If there is no way you can pull it off forget about it. Only execute when the opportunity presents itself and you’re in the right position. You can always create the position by setting it up.
While against the fence your opponent is going for a double leg take-down against the fence: base out, reach over his back, lock your Kimura grip, and then start using the attack to shut down his take-down. Just like I mentioned above you can do a standing Kimura or depending on the situation roll your opponent to the ground and finish him there.
You can easily do this move in a real fight if you are backed up again an object such as a wall or even a car. It’s all about position and the right execution.
Sakuraba vs Renzo Gracie Pride Kimura Finish
How To Do A Kimura Like Brock Lesnar
A year ago a friend of mine who I go to MMA training with sent me a link to a Youtube video where wrestling phenom Brock Lesner put Triple H in the Kimura lock. All I could do was smile happily. The reason i was smiling was because Brock Lesner is a huge superstar within the wrestling arena and to see him do the Kimura and have the commentators yell out “He’s doing the kimura!!” over and over again gives much awareness millions of wrestling fans who other wise wouldn’t have heard of or know what the technique is.
Lesner also has a bit of MMA roots seeing that he became the heavyweight champion of the UFC by beating the great legendary Randy Couture. it was a great match up and Randy fought hard big the big man Lesner was too much for him. Below is both the video of Brock Lesner doing the Kimura
Kimura Lock UFC – Frank Mir Vs. Antoni Hardonk
There were many UFC fighters to win by Kimura lock submission even though the Kimura is the least used submission in the UFC! I didn’t want to post all of the video so I picked the one that was in my opinion the most impressive. If you have time please go on Youtube and find the full fight between Frank Mir and Antoni Hardonk it was a great match. Frank pulled of an amazing Kimura from side control.
In conclusion the Kimura can be a powerful submission tool to add to your MMA training because if used properly it can be very effective in subduing your opponent. Learning how to put someone in a Kimura is the first step and practicing it over and over again will allow you to perfect this technique. So go to your local MMA gym and practice, practice, practice!!!