Americana

The americana (also called ude-garami or the keylock) is a shoulder lock that works as the reverse of the kimura. While the kimura rotates the arm behind the opponent's back, the americana pins the opponent's wrist to the mat and rotates the elbow upward, creating external rotation pressure on the shoulder joint. It is most commonly applied from mount or side control, where the attacker can use body weight to keep the opponent's arm pinned.

The americana is legal in all youth and adult divisions across every major BJJ organization. It is often one of the very first submissions taught to beginners because the mechanics are straightforward: control the wrist, keep the elbow bent at 90 degrees, and slide the wrist toward the mat while lifting the elbow. The submission is high-percentage from dominant positions and is a natural follow-up when an opponent defends the mount by placing their arms on the mat.

In youth competition, the americana is universally considered a safe technique. The tap window is generous, the pressure builds gradually, and the defending athlete has clear sensory feedback before any injury risk. It is commonly seen at IBJJF, NAGA, and AGF kids tournaments. Many coaches use the americana as a teaching tool for understanding shoulder lock mechanics before progressing to the kimura and omoplata.