KIMURA FROM HALF-GUARD

The kimura from half-guard is the canonical shoulder-lock attack from the bottom half-guard position. The technique uses the figure-four kimura grip to attack the opponent's same-side arm, producing one of the highest-percentage half-guard submissions and one of the most-taught half-guard attacks. The technique pairs alongside the underhook sweep system as the two primary half-guard offensive options for the bottom player.

The mechanics begin from bottom half-guard with the bottom player establishing a kimura figure-four grip on the opponent's near-side arm. The bottom player's near-side hand grips the opponent's wrist while the opposite arm threads under the opponent's near arm and grips the bottom player's own wrist, completing the figure-four. The bottom player then rotates the hips to apply the shoulder-rotation force — typically pulling the opponent's wrist toward the opponent's own back while controlling the elbow with the figure-four. The finish produces shoulder hyperextension that forces the submission.

The kimura from half-guard has been used extensively at every competitive level. Notable practitioners include various modern half-guard specialists who have integrated the kimura attack into their broader half-guard offensive system. The technique pairs particularly well as both a submission attempt and a control configuration — even if the kimura finish is defended, the figure-four grip provides structural control that can produce sweep transitions or back-take opportunities. Defensively the kimura from half-guard is escaped by maintaining tight elbow position before the figure-four consolidates, by rolling toward the kimura side to disrupt the rotation geometry, or by attacking the opposite arm with submission entries while the bottom player commits to the kimura.