Become Fighter
Kimura and americana: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
Two shoulder locks that use the same figure-four grip.
The kimura and the americana are shoulder locks. Both trap one arm in a figure four and rotate the shoulder. The kimura bends the arm behind the back, the americana pushes the wrist towards the hip from a pin.
Shoulder joints are fragile. Apply these locks very slowly and stop at the first sign of resistance. Do not jerk, and never try them on an unwarned partner. A shoulder injury can take months to heal.
Key points
- Pin the wrist to the mat or your chest before you begin the lock.
- Grip your own wrist to make the figure four. Keep the elbow bent at 90 degrees.
- Rotate the shoulder by turning your body, not by pulling with your arms.
- Keep their elbow close to their body. Do not let it move away.
- Tap early and stop when your partner taps. Go slowly through the last inch.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Yanking the arm. Use slow body rotation. A jerk damages the shoulder.
- Letting the elbow drift away. Pin the elbow tight. Without it, the lock simply fails.
- Trying it in a hurry on a stranger. Only drill these with trusted partners who know how to tap.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Submissions system module of Jiu-jitsu foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Submissions system
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- The triangle choke: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- The guillotine: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
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Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.