Kimura Trap System | Mastering BJJ Kimura Techniques and Submissions

Few systems in grappling give you as much control, versatility, and finishing power as the Kimura Trap. What begins as a simple figure-four grip around the arm can quickly evolve into a cascading sequence of sweeps, back takes, armlocks, and chokes. Whether you roll in gi or no-gi, against wrestlers or guard specialists, the Kimura Trap lets you halt scrambles, punish shots, and keep opponents in a web of attacks where every escape opens another door.

At RollBliss, we’re big believers in systems that scale—from white belt fundamentals to black belt nuance. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to build a Kimura Trap game that’s reliable under pressure. Expect clear entries, positional checkpoints, finish mechanics, and troubleshooting so you can start landing it in live rounds, not just in drilling.

What Is the Kimura Trap System?

The Kimura Trap is a strategic framework that uses the Kimura grip (a figure-four on the opponent’s arm) to control posture, redirect movement, and attack across multiple positions. It shines when opponents turn away, shoot takedowns, or try to scramble out of danger. Instead of chasing submissions in isolation, you secure the grip first and then navigate a predictable decision tree: back exposure → sweep → finish. Once you understand the trap’s logic, you’ll start seeing Kimuras everywhere.

Core Concepts You Must Own First

Before diving into entries, dial in these fundamentals:

    1. The Figure-Four

• Dominant hand grabs opponent’s wrist with a thumbless (monkey) grip.
• Other arm threads over/under to grab your own wrist.
• Keep your elbows tight; your forearms operate as a clamp, not a push.

    2. Shoulder Line and Hip Angle

• Your hips and chest should face the opponent’s shoulder line.
• If their elbow slips past your ribs, you lose the lever. Keep their elbow trapped.

    3. Wrist Rotation and “Pull-Cut” Motion

• Imagine pulling their wrist toward their hip while cutting your own forearm across like a guillotine blade.
• Don’t bench press the arm; rotate and wedge.

    4. Head Position & Chest Connection

• Your head glues to the near shoulder; your chest stays heavy on the upper arm.
• Space is your enemy—compress the hinge at the shoulder.

    5. Move the Body Around the Grip

• Once you have the figure-four, the grip is home base.
• You rotate, step, and sit around it. The grip stays glued.

With these principles, every entry becomes a higher percentage.

Step-by-Step Entries into the Kimura Trap

Entry 1: Versus the Single-Leg (Front Headlock to Kimura Trap)

This is the signature Kimura Trap scenario and a wrestler’s nightmare.

   1. Sprawl and Frame

• As they shoot a single, they sprawl their hips back. Hands on their shoulders/head.
• Beat the shoulder line: cross your forearm lightly over their face to turn their head away.

   2. Thread and Clamp

• Use your near arm to reach under their armpit and grab their wrist.
• Wrap the far arm over your own wrist (figure-four). Elbows tight.

   3. Sit and Angle

• Sit to the near hip (same side as their trapped arm).
• Pull their elbow to your ribs. Knees pinch their arm/shoulder.

   4. Kill the Post, Tip the Base

• Scoop their far hip or shin with your free leg to topple them.
• If they roll, follow the roll, keeping the figure-four glued.

   5. Finish or Funnel

• Finish the Kimura with hips facing their shoulder line, head glued to their near shoulder.
• If they hide the hand, switch to back take or trap triangle (details below).

Entry 2: From Closed Guard

Kimura from closed guard is a classic that chains perfectly into the Trap.

  1. Break Posture

• Cross-collar or collar-tie to pull their head down; scoop an elbow.

  2. Open and Clamp

• Open guard only when you’ve isolated the arm. Hip out, angle off.
• Lock figure-four. Pin their hand to the mat or your hip.

  3. Hip Shift and Shoulder Walk

• Shrimp until your sternum faces their shoulder.
• Knees hug their lat; keep their elbow trapped.

  4. Finish or Sweep

• If they posture up, sit up with them, and come on top into Kimura Trap side control.
• If they stack hard, swing your leg over their head for armlock/crucifix transitions.

Entry 3: From Half Guard (Bottom)

The half guard provides easy access to the near-side arm.

  1. Frame and Inside Tie

• Frame at their collarbone/neck. Use your inside hand to control their wrist.

  2. Thread Over and Lock

• Pummel your top arm over for the figure-four. Clamp elbow to rib.

  3. Undercut the Base

• Shoot your bottom knee to their butt; elevate slightly.
• Kick through to your hip and come up on an elbow.

  4. Decision Point

• If they post wide, sweep to the top and finish.
• If they roll away, follow the back or trap triangle.

Entry 4: From Top Side Control/North-South

Top players can use Kimura Trap transitions when opponents frame.

  1. Bait the Frame

• Allow their near arm to frame your neck. Control the wrist.

  2. Overwrap and Staple

• Wrap your far arm over to lock the figure-four.
• Step your near leg over their head or staple their wrist to the mat with your knee.

  3. Walk to the Shoulder Line

• Slide to north-south, chest heavy on tricep.
• Finish, or if they belly-down, ride to back exposure with the Trap intact.

Entry 5: From Turtle (Seat-belt to Kimura Trap)

When opponents turtle to avoid points/subs, trap the arm they post with.

  1. Catch the Post

• As they post to stand, snag the posting wrist.

  2. Spin the Lock

• Thread over for figure-four; shoulder pressure on tricep.

  3. Tilt and Topple

• Sit near your hip, scoop a knee, and tip it.
• Land in a Kimura Trap side ride or straight into the finish.

The Kimura Trap Funnel: Your Option Tree

Once you have the grip, choose based on their reaction:

• They Stiff-Arm or Hug Their Beltline → Back Take
  Slide your top knee behind their back, step your bottom leg through, and seat-belt as you peel the arm free. Hooks or body triangle follows.
• They Roll Away → Crucifix / Reverse Triangle.
  Keep the figure-four, step over the head, and thread your near knee behind their shoulder. Lock a reverse triangle while maintaining the wrist.
• They Stack Into You → Hip-Bump Sweep or Armbar.
  Sit up with the grip, bump them over the posted hand you’re controlling. On the other hand, they throw a quick armbar across.
• They Hide the Hand Under the Body → Monoplata / Shoulder Crunch.
  Slide your shin across their bicep, sit toward their head, and angle your hips to pry the shoulder line open.
• They Stand Up → Trip / Tight Waist to Mat Return.
  Keep the figure-four, circle behind for a mat return, land in the top Kimura Trap.

Picture the grip as the hub of a wheel; each reaction is a spoke leading to control or finish.

Finish Mechanics: Make Tap-Rates Soar

   1. Wedge, Don’t Push

• Think vice, not bench press. Pin their elbow to your ribs and rotate the forearm.

   2. Head-to-Shoulder Seal

• If your head is floating, they’ll wiggle out. Glue it to their neck.

   3. Hip Line Wins

• Your hips must face your shoulder. If you’re square, you’re weak.

   4. Walk the Hand Up the Back (When Available)

• In gi or sticky no-gi positions, “paintbrush” the wrist up the spine while you rotate the elbow down.

Finish Angle

Small angle shifts create big leverage. Two inches of hip scoot can be the whole tap.

Positional Control: Never Lose the Arm

• Climb the Elbow
  Your rib cage should own its tricep. If the elbow slips below your ribs, reset.
• Knee and Hip Shields
  Place a knee near their head/shoulder to block their torso rotation. Your hip blocks their escape path.
• Tether Points
  Grab their beltline/hip (gi) or cup the near hip (no-gi) with your leg to anchor while you adjust.
• Follow the Roll
  If they roll, you roll—grip never leaves. Land, re-angle, continue.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

• Problem: They clasp hands and create a powerful defensive lock.
  Fix: Wedge your shin across their forearms to pry, or thread your top knee under their near elbow to separate. Switch to monoplata or trap triangle if needed.
• Problem: You can’t break their posture to rotate the shoulder.
  Fix: Move your body, not your arms—walk your hips until your sternum points at their shoulder.
• Problem: You lose the elbow as they slip it past your ribs.
  Fix: Re-pinch elbow-to-rib instantly; use your lat to drag their elbow back up.
• Problem: They stand and peel grips with two hands.
  Fix: Circle to the back while keeping wrist control; step behind the far leg for a trip.

Drilling Blueprints (Solo & Partner)

Solo (5–8 minutes each):

• Hip-switch ladders: Rep the hip angle change with a dummy or shadow.
• Shoulder-line shrimps: shrimp while keeping a medicine ball glued to your chest (simulates elbow clamp).
• Figure-four speed locks: practice the hand path and lock 50–100 times.

Partner Positional Rounds (3×2 minutes each side):

1. Start at single-leg shot; top must secure Kimura Trap.
2. Closed-guard Kimura to sweep or finish only.
3. Half-guard (bottom) to Kimura Trap sweep or back take.
4. North-south finish with escalating resistance.

Constraint Games:

• Offense may not finish; only allowed to transition through three funnel branches. Builds patience and control.
• Defense must attempt three specific escapes; offense anticipates and counters each with the correct funnel option.

Integrating the Kimura Trap into Your A-Game

• Guard Player: Use the trap to punish posture breaks and to sweep directly into top control with the grip intact.
• Top Pressure Passer: Hunt the near-side arm whenever opponents frame. Trap it, then decide: finish, back take, or mount.
• Wrestler/No-Gi Scrambler: Make it your sprawl-and-go plan. Every shot becomes your attack.
• Leg-Lockers: Force them to hand-fight to defend entries; jump to the Kimura Trap when the hand comes out.

At RollBliss, we see athletes progress fastest when a single system becomes their “net” for scrambles. The Kimura Trap is that net.

Gi vs No-Gi Adjustments

• Gi: Sleeve/collar grips help you isolate wrists; the friction lets you “park” hands on the mat longer. Beware of stall-outs—use the added control to angle faster.
• No-Gi: Expect slipperier wrists. Prioritize head-to-shoulder pressure and knee staples. Underhook the far hip more often to anchor while you reposition.

Competition Notes & Rule Awareness

Most rule sets allow Kimuras at all adult belt levels, but variations (e.g., shoulder locks combined with certain leg positions) can raise flags. Always check your event’s rules, especially for kids and teens divisions. Tactical tips:

• Score First, Then Finish: Use the trap to secure top/sweep points; finish once you’re safely ahead.
• Clock & Mat Awareness: If the opponent turtles near the edge, trap them to the back and drag them back in before finishing.
• Energy Management: The figure-four is strong; let structure work so you don’t gasp while squeezing.

Strength, Mobility, and Recovery for a Better Trap

• Grip & Forearm: Towel pull-ups, rice bucket rotations, plate pinches.
• Shoulder Health: Scap pull-ups, Cuban rotations, band external rotations, thoracic openers.
• Hips & Core: Copenhagen planks, deadbugs, hip airplanes for angle control.

And yes—clean, breathable gear matters. RollBliss rash guards and GIs are built with mobility panels and reinforced seams, so your elbows clamp cleanly, and the fabric never fights against your frames. Train longer, stay drier, move freer.

Safety First: Protect Partners, Protect Shoulders

The Kimura is powerful—treat it with respect.

• Apply pressure slowly; taps can come fast.
• Communicate mid-roll when drilling new finishes.
• If a partner’s shoulder feels sticky or sore, switch to the funnel (sweep/back take) rather than cranking.

Step-By-Step: Your First “Day-One” Kimura Trap Flow

1. Partner shoots a single → sprawl and frame.
2. Snag the wrist → lock figure-four.
3. Sit to near hip → pull elbow to ribs.
4. Tip them using a knee scoop → land on top, grip intact.
5. Walk hips to face shoulder line → finish gently.
6. If they bury the hand → step over head, switch to monoplata.
7. If they roll → ride to back exposure, seat-belt, hooks in.

Run that sequence for 10 minutes on each side. You’ll feel the system “click.”

Conclusion

Mastering the Kimura Trap System turns chaotic scrambles into high-percentage opportunities. By prioritizing the figure-four, protecting the elbow line, and learning the funnel of reactions, you’ll gain a reliable pathway to control and finishes from nearly any position—standing or ground, gi or no-gi. Build it step by step, drill the angles, and treat every shot or frame as an opportunity to set the trap.

And as you put in those reps, let your gear support the grind. RollBliss designs gis and no-gi kits that stay comfortable under pressure, endure the constant elbow clamping of Kimura work, and keep you focused on the craft. Grip, angle, finish—then reset and do it again. The Kimura Trap isn’t just a move; it’s a language your whole game can speak.

FAQs

How do I keep opponents from ripping their arm out once I lock the Kimura?

Close the space: glue your head to their shoulder, clamp their elbow to your ribs, and face your hips toward their shoulder line. If they still try to yank free, step a knee near their head as a wedge and walk your hips a few inches to re-tighten the seal.

What should I do if my opponent clasps their hands defensively?

Use wedges, not brute force. Slide your shin across their forearms to split the grip, or thread your top knee under their near elbow. If the grip won’t break without burning energy, switch to the back take or reverse-triangle branch; the funnel punishes stubborn grips.

Is the Kimura Trap safe for beginners to practice?

Yes, with supervision and control. Emphasize positional control and the funnel (sweeps/back takes) before hard finishes. Apply pressure gradually and tap early when you’re caught—shoulders are delicate. Good partners and good habits make the system beginner-friendly.