Kimura

The kimura (also known as the double wrist lock or chicken wing) is a shoulder lock that involves gripping the opponent's wrist with both hands in a figure-four configuration and rotating the arm behind the opponent's back. Named after judoka Masahiko Kimura, who famously used it to defeat Helio Gracie in 1951, it remains one of the most reliable submissions in both gi and no-gi competition.

The kimura is legal in all youth and adult divisions across IBJJF, NAGA, AGF, JJWL, and Grappling Industries. It can be applied from side control, closed guard, half guard, north-south, and even from the bottom in scramble situations. In competition, the kimura often serves a dual purpose: it can finish the match via submission or be used as a powerful positional control tool (the "kimura trap" system) to sweep, take the back, or advance position for points.

For youth competitors, the kimura is considered safe because the rotation is controlled and predictable, giving the defending athlete clear warning to tap before injury. Referees at all major organizations are trained to watch for the characteristic grip and intervene if a young competitor does not respond to the lock. The kimura is one of the first shoulder locks taught in most academies and is a staple of competitive BJJ at every level.