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How to Kimura from Closed Guard (White Belt Fundamentals)

Learn how to properly set up and finish the Kimura submission from closed guard. In this Legacy BJJ Omaha curriculum guide, we cover breaking posture, hand swimming, figure-four grip mechanics, and hip positioning to help you secure clean taps safely on the mat. Perfect for white belts and beginner BJJ students!

The Kimura from Closed Guard is one of the most versatile, high-percentage upper-body submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Named after the legendary Judo strategist Masahiko Kimura, this shoulder lock utilizes leverage over strength, making it an essential technique for every beginner building a foundational submission toolkit.

In this guide, we break down the step-by-step mechanics taught in the Legacy BJJ Omaha White Belt Curriculum.

Watch: Senior Professor Ed Shobe Execute Kimura from Guard

Phase 1: Breaking Posture & Exposing the Arms

A smart opponent will rarely leave their hands flat on the mat. In closed guard, top players naturally position their hands near your stomach or belt line to stack their weight, posture up, and open your legs to pass.

To create an opening for the Kimura, you must break their posture and force their hands onto the mat:

  1. Climb the Guard: Walk your legs up your opponent’s back, alternating one side at a time, to raise your hips and secure tight guard positioning.
  2. Control the Elbows: Reach up and cup your opponent’s arms near the elbow joints.
  3. Pull with the Lower Body: Do not rely solely on upper-body arm strength to pull them down. Instead, engage your core, lift your knees, and pull them directly toward your chest with your legs.
  4. Force the “Prayer Position”: If your opponent defends properly, they will post their hands against your shoulders or chest (the “prayer position”) to absorb the momentum.
       [ Top Player Postures Up ]
                   │
                   ▼
     [ Control Arms at Elbow Joints ]
                   │
                   ▼
    [ Pull Knees to Chest (Break Posture) ]
                   │
                   ▼
   [ Swim Arms Outward ➔ Hands to Mat ]

Phase 2: The Swim Move & Guard Recovery

Once their weight is loaded forward onto your chest:

  1. Underneath & Swim Out: Reach underneath both of your opponent’s arms and swim your hands outward. This breaks their framework and forces their palms straight onto the mat.
  2. Time the Reaction: As soon as their hands hit the mat, their natural instinct will be to push up and regain their posture. This upward motion is your exact trigger for the attack.

Phase 3: Setting the Figure-Four Grip

Speed and correct hand placement are critical when locking in the submission grip:

  1. Isolate the Wrist: The moment they attempt to rise, reach across with your near hand and grab their same-side wrist (same side as the arm you intend to attack).
  2. Sit Up & Over: Post your opposite hand or elbow on the mat to sit up off the floor at a 45-degree angle. Clear their shoulder so you can reach your back arm over their upper triceps.
  3. Lock the Grip: Thread your back arm over their upper arm and reach through to grasp your own wrist, creating a tight figure-four (Kimura) grip.

Coach’s Tip: Keep your fingers together (a “thumbless monkey grip”) on both wrists. This prevents your hands from slipping when you apply rotational pressure.

Phase 4: Angle Cut, Body Bite, and Finishing Mechanics

A common beginner mistake is trying to finish the submission while lying completely flat on your back. To maximize leverage:

  1. Fall Back & Rotate: Lock your grip securely, then fall back to the mat while turning your hips away from the side you are attacking.
  2. Bite with the Leg: Bring your near leg high up over your opponent’s lower back and bite down hard. This prevents them from posturing up or rolling over your body to escape.
  3. Apply Rotational Force: Keep their arm bent at a tight 90-degree angle. Slowly slide their hand toward the back of their shoulder blade while drifting your hips out.

Apply smooth, controlled pressure until your training partner submits.

Best Practices for Beginners

  • Control the Elbow Angle: If the opponent’s arm straightens, you lose submission leverage. Keep their elbow bent at a strict 90 degrees throughout the lock.
  • Move Your Body, Not Just Their Arm: The submission comes from full-body hip rotation, not just arm strength.
  • Tap Early, Tap Often: When practicing this move with partners, respect the shoulder lock early. Give your partner time to tap safely without sudden, jerky movements.

Summary Checklist

  • [ ] Walk guard up the back to break posture using leg power.
  • [ ] Swim arms outward to force opponent’s hands to the mat.
  • [ ] Time their posture recovery to catch the wrist and sit up.
  • [ ] Lock the figure-four grip using thumbless monkey grips.
  • [ ] Rotate hips, bite down with the top leg, and rotate the shoulder to secure the tap.

Want to train it in person? Start your free trial at Legacy BJJ Omaha, browse more breakdowns on the blog, and learn about our story and lineage. Position before submission — one step at a time.

How to Kimura from Closed Guard (White Belt Fundamentals)

Learn how to properly set up and finish the Kimura submission from closed guard. In this Legacy BJJ Omaha curriculum guide, we cover breaking posture, hand swimming, figure-four grip mechanics, and hip positioning to help you secure clean taps safely on the mat. Perfect for white belts and beginner BJJ students!

The Kimura from Closed Guard is one of the most versatile, high-percentage upper-body submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Named after the legendary Judo strategist Masahiko Kimura, this shoulder lock utilizes leverage over strength, making it an essential technique for every beginner building a foundational submission toolkit.

In this guide, we break down the step-by-step mechanics taught in the Legacy BJJ Omaha White Belt Curriculum.

Watch: Senior Professor Ed Shobe Execute Kimura from Guard

Phase 1: Breaking Posture & Exposing the Arms

A smart opponent will rarely leave their hands flat on the mat. In closed guard, top players naturally position their hands near your stomach or belt line to stack their weight, posture up, and open your legs to pass.

To create an opening for the Kimura, you must break their posture and force their hands onto the mat:

  1. Climb the Guard: Walk your legs up your opponent’s back, alternating one side at a time, to raise your hips and secure tight guard positioning.
  2. Control the Elbows: Reach up and cup your opponent’s arms near the elbow joints.
  3. Pull with the Lower Body: Do not rely solely on upper-body arm strength to pull them down. Instead, engage your core, lift your knees, and pull them directly toward your chest with your legs.
  4. Force the “Prayer Position”: If your opponent defends properly, they will post their hands against your shoulders or chest (the “prayer position”) to absorb the momentum.
       [ Top Player Postures Up ]
                   │
                   ▼
     [ Control Arms at Elbow Joints ]
                   │
                   ▼
    [ Pull Knees to Chest (Break Posture) ]
                   │
                   ▼
   [ Swim Arms Outward ➔ Hands to Mat ]

Phase 2: The Swim Move & Guard Recovery

Once their weight is loaded forward onto your chest:

  1. Underneath & Swim Out: Reach underneath both of your opponent’s arms and swim your hands outward. This breaks their framework and forces their palms straight onto the mat.
  2. Time the Reaction: As soon as their hands hit the mat, their natural instinct will be to push up and regain their posture. This upward motion is your exact trigger for the attack.

Phase 3: Setting the Figure-Four Grip

Speed and correct hand placement are critical when locking in the submission grip:

  1. Isolate the Wrist: The moment they attempt to rise, reach across with your near hand and grab their same-side wrist (same side as the arm you intend to attack).
  2. Sit Up & Over: Post your opposite hand or elbow on the mat to sit up off the floor at a 45-degree angle. Clear their shoulder so you can reach your back arm over their upper triceps.
  3. Lock the Grip: Thread your back arm over their upper arm and reach through to grasp your own wrist, creating a tight figure-four (Kimura) grip.

Coach’s Tip: Keep your fingers together (a “thumbless monkey grip”) on both wrists. This prevents your hands from slipping when you apply rotational pressure.

Phase 4: Angle Cut, Body Bite, and Finishing Mechanics

A common beginner mistake is trying to finish the submission while lying completely flat on your back. To maximize leverage:

  1. Fall Back & Rotate: Lock your grip securely, then fall back to the mat while turning your hips away from the side you are attacking.
  2. Bite with the Leg: Bring your near leg high up over your opponent’s lower back and bite down hard. This prevents them from posturing up or rolling over your body to escape.
  3. Apply Rotational Force: Keep their arm bent at a tight 90-degree angle. Slowly slide their hand toward the back of their shoulder blade while drifting your hips out.

Apply smooth, controlled pressure until your training partner submits.

Best Practices for Beginners

  • Control the Elbow Angle: If the opponent’s arm straightens, you lose submission leverage. Keep their elbow bent at a strict 90 degrees throughout the lock.
  • Move Your Body, Not Just Their Arm: The submission comes from full-body hip rotation, not just arm strength.
  • Tap Early, Tap Often: When practicing this move with partners, respect the shoulder lock early. Give your partner time to tap safely without sudden, jerky movements.

Summary Checklist

  • [ ] Walk guard up the back to break posture using leg power.
  • [ ] Swim arms outward to force opponent’s hands to the mat.
  • [ ] Time their posture recovery to catch the wrist and sit up.
  • [ ] Lock the figure-four grip using thumbless monkey grips.
  • [ ] Rotate hips, bite down with the top leg, and rotate the shoulder to secure the tap.

Want to train it in person? Start your free trial at Legacy BJJ Omaha, browse more breakdowns on the blog, and learn about our story and lineage. Position before submission — one step at a time.