I’ve been watching Josh Barnett’s Attacking the guard, and coupled with something I read from SBGi’s Matt Thornton, I’ve been made a big believer in the department of submission prevention. Its the difference between having a fence on the cliff or an ambulance in the valley.  Practice shutting down submission techniques the moment the arise – it’s a good habit.  Waiting till the submission is set in is the equivalent of the college all-night cram session. Yes, you need to do it sometimes, but why not study attack the problem earlier? It’s a healthier, and more successful.

In this vein, I was thinking about the kimura and how to not let it happen.  Below are a few vids that touch on the “shut down as early as possible” theme.

Also check out Gene Simco’s technique (embedding was not allowed)  here.

Of course the real way to stop the kimura is to nerf the basing structure of your opponent and always maintain dominant grips – which is to say, stay in control.

I’d like to know your thoughts – how do *you* like to avoid the kimura and escape it if you get caught?

• Head control -> controlling opponents posture.
• Grip the triceps -> attempt to get opponents arm into dangerous territory (the wrong “body-hemisphere”)
• Angle hips so you are attacking from the side (3 o’clock positioning)
• Keep knees tight (thighmaster squeeze) and ankles seperated.
• Pull arm towards their hip, bridge up elevating yours.

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Each video shows a different take on the armbar, but notice what they do that is the same.  As a professor might say, compare and contrast them. Anyway, enjoy.

Masahiko Kimura is one of best judo practicioners in history, so it reasons that a high class submission would be named after him. The story goes that Masahiko fought jujitsu legend Helio Gracie and broke his arm with this move, and BJJ guys have been calling it the kimura ever since.

Just look at the dude. (above) I’d name my firstborn after him, even if he wasn’t a hardcore judoka.

Now days, because every mixed martial artist with even a passable knowledge in jujitsu knows the the kimura, it can be a bit tricky to submit a guy with it. A lot of fighters know the specific counters or blocks, or just how to posture and prevent kimura opportunities. Which is, of course, why we need to take our game to the next level.

In the video below, Ari shows how to use your legs to help sneak in the kimura.

One of the most important things about getting the kimura to work is to escape your hips on the side on which you are working the arm. Getting your hips out will help you flatten out your opponent. It is important to keep the leg on top squeezing down, so the kimura’d person doesn’t try to roll out of the lock.

Another tip to getting the kimura is to keep your opponent’s hand well away from his/her body so they don’t block the kimura by grabbing their gi pants or wrestling shorts. If they do grab some clothing – keeping their arm from going backward – you can try to overpower them or do something trickier. That’s where the kimura sweep comes into play.

After you sweep them and take the mount, it’s candyland. You can either abandon the kimura and work something else, or you can finish the kimura from the mount. If you follow that link, I think you’ll enjoy their clever way to sweep from the guard and finish the lock.

One more thing – so people have trouble finishing their opponent.(Some guys just have really flexible shoulders!). Three things to keep in mind.

1. Keep a 90 degree angle in the elbow joint. If the opponent’s hand gets too close to their armpit, the kimura becomes a hammerlock – which many people are more immune to – or they can try to grab clothing and block.

2. Move the elbow up toward the head. If you have fully escaped your hips, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.

3. Roll the wrist towards the back of their head.

Happy submission hunting!

It can take many years to get it, but it’s worth it. Its the symbol of hard work, discipline, mastery, patience. The black belt has gravity, weigtht. When I guy says he’s got a black belt in BJJ – he’s probably one serious hombre.

Jujitsu blackbelts make a very good showing in MMA. There’s a laundry list of UFC, Pride, and K-1 champions with the BJJBB.

For those fighters in training, I urge you to make it a goal to get your blackbelt – whether you’re into jujitsu or some other martial art. It’s a meaningful life achievement. It might take 5, 10 or 15 years, but it will be worth it if you let it.

Now if you’re on the jujitsu path and haven’t made it to one of the higher colored belts, don’t worry and keep training. If you work hard and get your blue belt, that’s still pretty awesome. I know a lot of guys who consider a purple belt in BJJ as if it were a black belt in other martial arts.

IF you get down on yourself, just remember that there are guys out there beating the pie out of other manly men with only a blue belt.

Plus, George St. Peirre just got his black belt this summer ( see article here ). Submission-grappler monster Jeff Monson has only had his black belt for about a year or so. Trust me, these guys were hardcore back in ’06 and ’07 … even without the belt.