Martial Arts Enthusiast

21/09/2025

10/11/2024

Lessons Martial Arts Taught Me.

23/10/2024

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Daniel T. Soledad, Jake Flores, Daize Elumba, John Paul Carpentero, Jims Kherdan Salva, Lupa Piclit Ericka, Shane Ea

21/10/2024

Holdings Technique

Check out these effective holding techniques to improve your ability to subdue and control an opponent with confidence and skill. Perfect for martial artists focused on self-defense, law enforcement, or anyone interested in learning safe and efficient control methods.

18/11/2021

13/11/2021

Stance

06/11/2021

03/11/2021

Biomechanics of the Kimura

The kimura or the double wrist lock is one of the most powerful submissions in grappling. This is the joint lock famously used by Masahiko Kimura to defeat Helio Gracie in a grappling match.

The kimura is a joint lock that primarily attacks the shoulder (glenohumeral joint) by forcing excessive shoulder internal rotation. The typical person has 60 degrees of internal rotation (clinically I find this closer to 40 degrees).

The primary constraints to excessive shoulder internal rotation:
1. Posterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament
2. The axillary pouch
3. The glenoid labrum
4. The Rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor)

The job of the rotator cuff is to stabilize the humeral head in the glenoid fossa while the prime movers move the arm. The rotator cuff muscles are at their weakest when the shoulder is abducted to 90 degrees. The supraspinatus is at a mechanical disadvantage to stabilize and the infraspinatus has poor muscle activation in this position. Therefore if the rotator cuff muscles are the dynamic constraints they will be inefficient for resisting excessive rotation.

Isolate movement to the shoulder: If the average person only have 60 degrees of motion why can some people move much further? Compensation. When applying the submission they take off too much weight attempting to 'crank' the arm. This allows other parts of the body to move: thoracic rotation, scapular rotation or elbow flexion. So while they are applying force what they are really doing is bleeding energy and being inefficient with their movements.

To ensure you are attacking the glenohumeral joint with your movement make sure to keep the elbow bent at 90 degrees. This allow you to use the wrist control as a lever to focus energy on your intended target, the shoulder, instead of your energy going into the humerus bone or the elbow.

03/03/2021

Block / uke

13/02/2021