Escapes · No-gi
Kimura grip escape with knee support from bottom side control
Catalog preview · Technical review pending
Bring your knee to the trapped hand, then use the leg to separate the kimura grip while you remain underneath.
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Kimura control · Defending No-gi variation
WATCH VIDEO · 2 min section · 6:34–8:17
Opens the video at this section · No-gi demonstrationDefending the Kimura from Side Mount
Stephan Kesting / Grapplearts
Setup & key ideas
Also called knee-assisted side-control kimura grip break
Before you start
- You are underneath side control with the far arm caught in a kimura and their elbow blocking your hip, but you still have enough leg and shoulder movement to reach behind your knee without forcing the joint.
Key ideas
- Move your legs toward the trapped hand and hook behind your knee to support the hand in front of your body.
- Use the free hand underneath their body to create room at their controlling arm.
- Bring the knee farther from the attacker inside their grip and use the leg to separate the connection; re-establish arm protection after release.
Common pitfalls
- Treating support from your own knee as proof that the shoulder is safe under any amount of finishing pressure.
- Counting the grip break as a guard recovery or reversal.
- Forcing a trapped shoulder to reach the knee when the necessary space is gone; tap and reset.
Connections Reactions and next steps
Where this can lead
- Side control · Escaping
The figure-four grip separates, but you remain underneath the side-control position and still need a positional escape.