The Kimura Grip & Completing the Pins (diary entry)

20.08.19   My client reached the fourth hour of his Basic Course on Submission Grappling for Martial Arts Cross Training. Tonight we finished the basic pin series, looking at knee-pin (knee-on-stomach), reverse scarf-hold and full mounted position. No new specific submission techniques were introduced. We looked at the versatility of the Kimura key-lock and also used the arm-bar, the arm-triangle and the Americana key-lock.   We warmed up with a straight series of crawling calisthenics – no agility equipment this time.  Then we moved onto eight sets of ground transition exercises – 3 x flow drills each side with no pressure, 1 x with moderate resistance each side. Whilst flowing through these positions I emphasised the importance of establishing reference points on the body with each pin. With the warm up muscle memory exercises finished, we focused on the remaining selected pins from the basic series.   From the knee-pin we looked at a simple set up for an arm-bar. Tonight I generally favoured using the Kimura grip to obtain this submission. We looked on exerting maximum pressure and maintaining a strong defence from this position.   From reverse scarf-hold we looked at three variations from attacking with a kimura key-lock. The first attack was a straightforward attack to the far-side arm. We then looked at the opponent defending the grip by tucking their arm into the nearside. From here we explored two possible alternative submissions. The first was the arm-bar and the second was to manoeuvre into a reverse scarf-hold position on the opposite side and achieve the Kimura where the opponent was retreating.   From mount we explored a wide range of submissions already covered from other positions. We chained these as counters to a failed Americana key-lock. They included the arm-bar, the Kimura, the arm-triangle and the snake-choke. I also introduced the grapevine mount position completely immobilise the opponent’s hips and legs whilst attacking from the top.   The lesson finished with one 5 minute round of specific sparring – attacking from the top position. DON'T MISS OUR VAGABOND WARRIORS THIS SUNDAY 25TH AUGUST. BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbXmXspA_1Q&t=194s   Above image from this excellent instructional video from JM Modern Jiu Jitsu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqXCaCj0JoM