BJJ Beginners Tutorial - North South Kimura
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Kimura Grip North-South·Chess Club Jiu-Jitsu·Added by Admin
Welcome back to our BJJ tutorial series! Today, we're diving deep into the North-South Kimura, an incredibly effective t…
Kimura Grip North-South
Genusキムラグリップ南北(Kimura Gurippu Nanboku)
HybridTranslation: Kimura grip north-south
Overview
The Kimura Grip North-South establishes north-south control while maintaining a kimura grip (double wrist lock) on one of the opponent's arms, creating immediate submission pressure from the position. [1] The kimura grip allows the top fighter to attack the shoulder joint while the north-south weight keeps the opponent pinned and unable to roll or escape. [1],[2] The combination of chest pressure and kimura control makes this one of the most difficult positions to escape. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Kimura grip north-south secures a kimura grip from north-south, providing a platform for the kimura submission or transition to other attacks. [1]
Lineage
Kimura grip north-south combines two fundamental BJJ techniques. [1]
Competition Record
The kimura from north-south is a common submission path in BJJ competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Establishing and maintaining a controlling position relative to the opponent
Joints Involved — Body positioning determines which joints and limbs are available for control and attack
Force Vector — Varies by position — gravity, frames, hooks, and pressure dictate control dynamics
Positional Mechanic — Hierarchy of positions — each position offers different offensive and defensive capabilities
Position & Entry
From side control (walking around) — Walk around the opponent's head from side control to north-south position, sprawling chest on their chest
From kimura attempt — When the opponent defends the kimura from side control, transition to north-south to maintain pressure
Variants
Standard variation — primary positioning for control and attack
Offensive variation — configured for submission or striking opportunities
Transitional variation — positioned for quick movement to the next position
Defensive variation — prioritising stability and control over attack
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, mount scores 4 points — highest-scoring po...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, mount scores 2 points
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal dominant position
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— UWW — Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match ...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal, pin scores points
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Kimura grip north-south uses the figure-four kimura grip on the opponent's arm from the north-south position — creating submission and transition opportunities (Danaher, Pin Escapes and Turtle Turnover, 2019)
✓The kimura grip from north-south: grip the opponent's near wrist with one hand, thread the other arm under their arm and grip your own wrist — the classic figure-four
✓From the kimura grip in north-south, options are: finish the kimura (rotate the arm behind the back), transition to armbar (step over the head), or use the grip to advance position
✓The kimura grip is a control grip as much as a submission grip: it immobilizes the opponent's arm completely
✓Kimura grip north-south transitions naturally to side control kimura: walk back to side control while maintaining the grip
✓The grip can also be used to turn the opponent: pull the kimura grip to force them to their stomach, exposing the back
✓Kimura grip north-south is particularly effective in no-gi: the figure-four grip doesn't require fabric
Common Mistakes
!Gripping the kimura without chest pressure — maintain north-south pressure while setting up the grip
!Attempting to finish the kimura before the grip is secure — the figure-four must be fully locked
!Not using the kimura grip for transitions — the grip is a control tool, not just a submission
!Forcing the kimura finish when the opponent defends — transition to armbar or use the grip to advance position
!Releasing the grip to attempt a different technique — the kimura grip chains to multiple attacks
!Not maintaining the figure-four tightness — the grip must be vice-like; a loose grip allows escape
!Only training the kimura finish from north-south — the grip-to-transition chain is equally important
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Achieve Position — transition into this position through passing, sweeping, or scrambling
2Stabilize — establish controlling grips and weight distribution
3Maintain — adjust to the opponent's escape attempts to hold position
4Attack — launch offensive techniques from the stabilized position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
5CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
body awareness, stability, control of weight distribution
Favours
athletic build with good proprioception
Key muscles
core, hips, legs for base stability
Frequently Asked Questions
What grip should I use when setting up the Kimura from North-South position?
Use a palm-up grip to lock your opponent's wrist against your chest, which prevents them from moving their hand freely. Chess Club Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes positioning one knee in and one knee out while maintaining this grip.
How do I finish the Kimura once I have the grip in North-South?
After securing the grip, go behind the triceps and lower elbow to bring your opponent to the side, then feed your hand through to control your own wrist with the goal of bringing their hand behind their back. Chess Club Jiu-Jitsu notes you can also break toward the other side if going straight back doesn't work.
How do I keep my opponent on their side during the Kimura submission?
Sit over the head with one leg positioned over their head and clamp their body with your legs by covering the back of your knee in front of your other knee, maintaining diagonal control. Chess Club Jiu-Jitsu demonstrates this leg positioning to prevent them from rolling back to their back.
How does the Kimura Grip North-South work?
The Kimura Grip North-South establishes north-south control while maintaining a kimura grip (double wrist lock) on one of the opponent's arms, creating immediate submission pressure from the position. The kimura grip allows the top fighter to attack the shoulder joint while the north-south weight keeps the opponent pinned and unable to roll or escape.
Where does the Kimura Grip North-South come from?
The kimura grip north-south developed in BJJ as a natural combination of north-south pinning and kimura submission attack, used by grapplers who sought to maintain submission pressure while controlling from north-south. It is a common transition in the kimura system of BJJ.
Is the Kimura Grip North-South legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, mount scores 4 points — highest-scoring position; IJF: legal — Legal, osaekomi (pin) — 10-19 seconds scores waza-ari, 20 seconds scores ippon; ADCC: legal — Legal, mount scores 2 points; Unified MMA: legal — Legal dominant position; UWW: legal — Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match by fall; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal, pin scores points
How dangerous is the Kimura Grip North-South?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
How do I set up the Kimura Grip North-South?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Position → Stabilize → Maintain → Attack.
How do I defend against the Kimura Grip North-South?
Standard counters include: Bridge (Upa) — explosive hip elevation to off-balance the top player / Elbow-Knee Escape (Shrimp) — create space by driving elbow to knee and hip-escaping / Frame — establish forearm frames to prevent the top player from settling weight.
What are the variants of the Kimura Grip North-South?
Common variants: Standard variation (primary positioning for control and attack); Offensive variation (configured for submission or striking opportunities); Transitional variation (positioned for quick movement to the next position); Defensive variation (prioritising stability and control over attack).
How effective is the Kimura Grip North-South in competition?
The kimura from north-south is a common submission path in BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Kimura Grip North-South?
Top errors to watch for: Gripping the kimura without chest pressure — maintain north-south pressure while setting up the grip / Attempting to finish the kimura before the grip is secure — the figure-four must be fully locked / Not using the kimura grip for transitions — the grip is a control tool, not just a submission / Forcing the kimura finish when the opponent defends — transition to armbar or use the grip to advance position.
What are other names for the Kimura Grip North-South?
The Kimura Grip North-South is also known as Kimura Gurippu Nanboku, Kimura Trap North-South, Double Wrist North-South, Kimura NS.