Kimura vs americana
The kimura turns the arm behind the back. In the americana, the hand points toward the head and stays on the mat. Both use the same grip.
Both moves are shoulder locks: they turn the shoulder until your partner taps. Both use a figure-four grip. One hand holds their wrist. Your other arm goes under their arm and holds your own wrist.
Side by side
| What to look at | Kimura | Americana |
|---|---|---|
| How you finish | You turn their hand behind their back, slowly. | You slide their pinned wrist toward their hip and lift the elbow a little. |
| Where their hand points | Toward their hips or feet | Toward their head |
| Grip | Figure-four grip. You can hold their wrist from many angles. | Figure-four grip. Their wrist stays pinned flat on the mat. |
| Best from | Closed guard, half guard, side control, north-south. Top or bottom. | Mount, side control and kesa gatame (scarf hold). From the top. |
| Common mistake | Turning the arm fast. You can hurt the shoulder before your partner taps. | Lifting their wrist off the mat. Keep the wrist pinned and slide it toward their hip. |
| Legal at white belt (IBJJF) | Yes | Yes |
When to use which
- Their hand is low, near their hip: use the kimura.
- You are on top and their hand is up near their head: use the americana.
- You are on the bottom, in guard or half guard: use the kimura. The americana is hard from the bottom.
- You are in mount and they push your chest with one hand: the americana is close.
You are in side control on top. Your partner pushes your neck, and their far hand comes up near their head. You pin that wrist to the mat and finish the americana. Next time their far hand stays low, near their hip. Now the kimura fits.
Your partner's bent arm is on the mat. Their hand points toward their head. Which lock fits?
In the library
Train it on the Path
The Escaping chokes and locks unit turns this into short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.
Escaping chokes and locks is part of the Blue belt, included in Rolla Plus. Start free with Foundations and the white belt.