The kimura grip looks simple until somebody refuses to give you their arm. That was the theme of this private lesson. My couple client continued their submission grappling work with the same bigger goal we’ve been chasing for a while: better hip control. This time, we used that goal to build something more specific, getting to the kimura grip from three common places: North South, guard, and turtle.

Submission grappling demands more than just knowing individual techniques. Success often depends on smooth transitions and the ability to chain attacks fluidly. One drill that highlights this approach is the "heat-seeking kimura," a sequence that links multiple arm locks through positional changes. This post explores how this drill fits into training from the north south position, its practical applications, and how it builds a stronger grappling game.