Become Fighter
Arm-triangle and kimura: MMA guide
A choke and a shoulder lock from the top, drilled with attention to the partner's joints.
The arm-triangle (head-and-arm choke) uses the opponent's own shoulder to close the neck. It is applied from side control or mount and works well on top because you can finish and still be safe. The kimura is a shoulder lock with a figure-four grip, found everywhere from guard to side control.
Both work against the shoulder or neck. Apply them slowly, stop at the first tap, and never crank a kimura.
Key points
- Tap early and release immediately. A kimura can injure a shoulder in a second.
- Arm-triangle: trap the arm against the head, cross-body, and walk your hips to the side of the trapped arm.
- Keep your head tight to the opponent's trapped arm, chest low and heavy.
- Kimura: grip the wrist with the far hand, thread the other arm over the elbow, grab your own wrist. Rotate the arm behind the back in a controlled arc.
- Both are applied with the body, not the hands. The pressure comes from your hips and chest.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Cranking the kimura fast. Move at half speed. Shoulders break without much warning.
- Lifting your head away from the trapped arm. Keep the head glued to the arm so the choke stays closed.
- Skipping the tap rule. Say the rule before you start and keep it for every rep.
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 for MMA module of MMA foundations.
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More from Submissions for MMA
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.