FAR-SIDE KIMURA FROM SIDE CONTROL

The far-side kimura from side control is one of the most-attempted shoulder-lock submissions in modern competitive BJJ. The technique uses the figure-four kimura grip on the opponent's far-side arm to apply external rotation force on the shoulder joint. The technique is structurally one of the highest-percentage side-control finishes when the opponent's far arm extends in defensive frame.

The mechanics begin from chest-to-chest side control. The attacker reaches across the opponent's body with the far-side arm to grip the opponent's far wrist. The near-side arm then threads under the opponent's far elbow and grips the attacker's own opposite wrist, completing the figure-four. The finish comes from rotating the opponent's wrist toward the opponent's head while controlling the shoulder, producing the external rotation force that hyperextends the shoulder capsule.

The far-side kimura has been extensively used by competitors at every level. Notable practitioners include Bernardo Faria (who built much of his competitive game around far-side kimura attack chains) and various other side-control specialists. The technique pairs particularly well in attack chains with back take (when the opponent rolls to defend) and with sweep (when the opponent's structural commitment opens reversal opportunities). Defensively the far-side kimura is escaped by tucking the far arm tight to the body before grip consolidation, by hand-fighting the wrist grip before the figure-four locks, or by rolling away from the kimura side to relieve shoulder rotation.