Tips To Improve Your Kimura From Side Control With Straight Arm Lock

Since I was a white belt, one of my best submissions has been the kimura from side control. I’ve just had a knack for catching it. Maybe it’s the wrestler in me that feels comfortable in side control and maybe it’s the fact that I have short arms which makes the figure four lock of the kimura a strong position for me.

Either way, over the years of using the kimura I’ve definitely found some different tips and techniques that have made the submission more effective. In fact, it’s effective enough that I still routinely use it successfully against Black Belts.

For me, the litmus test to whether or not a move is effective or not is if I can use it against an opponent of similar skill. There are always slick techniques that I can hit against less skilled people. But if I can hit it against a person of the same level, then that means it’s a solid move.

The kimura from side control definitely isn’t the prettiest technique out there and doesn’t have as many steps as a lot of techniques. But the simplicity and the detail of the few steps it does have is beautiful in a way. It’s such a simple technique. But that’s kind of the cool thing about Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Even with a simple technique, if you take the time to refine it, it can become an unstoppable weapon.

I’ve included a match where I used the technique successfully in competition. If you would like to see what it looks like in action vs just shown as a technique then check out this video as well.

Below is the demonstration of the technique. In the video I demonstrate some simple tips to improve your kimura from side control. I also add in a straight arm lock attack that you can throw in when your opponent tries to straighten their arm out of the lock.