A discussion of one small slice of the Kimura Trap world. While this discussion contains just a sliver, it doesn’t mean it’s not a huge deal.
When you hear someone mention the Kimura Trap during a conversation about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the phrase might be new to you. You may be tempted to ask someone about it or head straight to YouTube to learn about it yourself. Obviously, as an astute student, you’d have a strong desire to learn as much as you possibly can, in the least amount of time. That’s just the way we are, especially when we’re fresh to the sport. We can’t seem to get enough.
Kimura Trap Initiated From Top Half Guard
While browsing videos on YouTube, you’d likely find yourself watching one basic Kimura Trap setup – the one from top half guard – the position where you’d be stuck in someone’s half guard and where you’d be attempting to flatten them out. While flattening your bottom opponent, you’d see the opportunity to take hold of your opponent’s wrist for the Kimura setup. This is definitely the most common chain of events and it’s the one we, as instructors, teach the most.
Basically, it works like this: The top player flattens the bottom player to the floor, settles his weight, and then locks in the Kimura. From there, the top player lurches forward to slide his leg from the bottom player’s grasp. He lands on the mat, sidles up under the bottom player’s head, and takes back control. To see what I’m referring to, please watch the beginning few minutes of this video:
15 Must Know Kimura Trap Attacks (Kimura Trap)
While this is the most popular setup, it’s not the only one.
Each week, I like to write a description of the coming class on Facebook. I do this for my students, so they know what to expect when they walk into our gym. I’m beginning to transition those descriptions here to this blog as I, at times, can be semi-long winded and on this website, I’m able to spread my wings and fly. What I’d like to do from now on is post my class descriptions within each of my Jiu-Jitsu related blog posts and then include some sort of a wrap-up after class in the same post. So it’ll be a before and after approach. As an example, please take a look at last week’s pre-class description below.
I can’t even begin to count how many new students I’ve met over the past few years. Needless to say, Seth has been doing an excellent job with marketing our club and the influx of students is impressive. The training has been good, people are learning, and friends are being made. When it comes to class though and when it comes to rolling with brand-new students those first few times, what I pick up on most is the struggle. The confusion. The despair. “What do I do?” “How do I get out of this?” “I’m not sure I know where to go from here.” I’ve heard it all and if you haven’t noticed, some of the more senior students give little attention to these questions. The way I, and probably most of us see it, is like this: just roll and keep rolling and in a few weeks you’ll absorb enough information to see a huge difference in how you interact with others on the mats. If you stick to it and get over that initial hurdle of having no direction, your life at the gym will be so much better. But as I said in class last Tuesday evening, in order for this to occur, you have to stick to it and you have to, yes, roll. A lot.
TONIGHT: Last week, we began looking at what’s referred to as the Kimura Trap. The Kimura Trap is essentially a number of entries into a number of positions that employ the Kimura and monkey grip for eventual submission. It’s an entire game that very top level players play to astound and demoralize their opponents. Last week, we began in half guard, locked in a Kimura, and then slipped out into a sort of half-back position. From there, we locked in the full monkey grip, appropriately rolled back and forth a few times, and finished our opponents off with a shoulder lock. What’s interesting about that half-back position is that it leads to a wide variety of submission opportunities. Once you obtain and lock in the monkey grip, you’re not beholden to just the shoulder lock. There are armbars, triangles, and many more shoulder locks available. In tonight’s class, we’ll first practice the shoulder lock from last week’s class and then move to an armbar setup and finish. If you think you already know this one, that’s fine. It’s straightforward and easy to pull off. There is one small detail, however, I feel obligated to share with you. It’s got to do with a door that may be inadvertently left open and used for your opponent to escape. I’ll explain how to close that door so full domination can be attained. After all, domination and submission is our ultimate goal.
At this very moment, you may be questioning how my first paragraph relates to my second. I began this post by discussing how new students struggle to find direction. Their actions can oftentimes be erratic. I then discussed the Kimura Trap system. I’d like to offer some comfort to our newer students; at times, you may encounter lessons in class that seem advanced and over your head. The Kimura Trap might be one of these lessons. When confronted with this type of advanced material, don’t even give it a second thought. Simply go with the flow and enjoy yourself during class. You don’t need to absorb everything the very first time you encounter it. As instructors at The Foundry, we like to rotate learning material so all students can learn and have fun, no matter if those students are beginners or more experienced. Some material will be basic and some will be advanced. It won’t be long before we’re back to the basics to learn, practice, and drill, drill, drill. So don’t sweat it if you feel lost during the start of your training.
With all this said, I now ask you this one question with all my heart and with all the sincerity I can muster at the moment: Will you join me in tonight’s class to learn how to dominate and submit? I certainly hope so. After all, there’s a whole group of naysayers out there giving you the stink eye right now, thinking you can’t submit them. Come on down – the weather’s fine and the people are friendly. Prove everyone wrong. BE THERE!
I’m currently a black belt BJJ instructor in Maine and have been teaching since 2017. I teach some excellent students once per week and before each class, I try to settle upon content that’s not only relevant to my students’ games, but that’s fun and entertaining as well. And as you may already know if you’re a student of this art, we all like the cool stuff. There’s a lot out there, but there aren’t many combos cooler than the variety of available Kimura Trap entries.
Kimura Trap From Bottom Half Guard
A few weeks ago, I covered the Hip Bump Sweep in class. It’s an excellent option under the right circumstances. As good as the circumstances are though, the Hip Bump Sweep often fails. For whatever reason, the bottom player can’t pull it off. Whether it be because the top guy knows it’s coming, has good reflexes, or wasn’t leaning as far back as necessary – it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that as the bottom guy, you’re going to get pushback so you once again end up flat on your back in guard.
When this occurs, most instructors will teach plan Bs, or, “things you can do as you’re in the midst of failing.” I covered a few of these options as I was teaching the Hip Bump Sweep. The most common option is to take hold of the top guy’s wrist for a Kimura. It’s actually a great move and one I’ll take instead of the Hip Bump itself. I’ll fake the bump and go for the Kimura and to me, that’s just good Jiu-Jitsu. As you already probably know, attempting straightforward moves in BJJ is going to cost you. Opponents can see things coming from a mile away and in order to win, you’ve got to fake people out.
Think about that Kimura from the hip bump, but now, instead of being on bottom and in full guard, place yourself in half guard. Take the same Kimura. It’ll look something like this:
If you lock in a Kimura from half guard as demonstrated in the above photos, you’ll set yourself up to roll your opponent over your shoulder into the same exact resulting position as if you were doing this from the top half guard position. What’s important to remember is that you’ll need to tuck your and your opponent’s hand under his belly for leverage. Then, use the center leg to help lift him up and over your head. Alternately, you can slide a butterfly hook under your opponent’s leg to help lift as well. Confused? This will offer some clarity. Begin watching at 1:55. This is the exact setup I taught last night.
The Kimura Trap | A Most Effective System
Submissions From Kimura Trap Back Control
I’ll cover submissions from the resulting back control in another post, but for now, just know that you can take a Kimura, rear naked choke, armbar, triangle, and I’m sure more that aren’t top of mind at the moment. Having back control is one of the best control positions in BJJ. Having a Kimura Trap setup from back is even better.
Do you practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Have you ever tried any of these entries? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Let me know your thoughts on them. Tell me your successes and issues, if there were any. I’d love to help. Thanks!
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