Kimura: Put the Hand Behind the Back vs Free the Elbow (2 levels)
Mat mode
5:00
Tell the roomKeep your hips connected to their shoulder line and cover their head. Use your legs and hands to separate their hands, then bring the arm behind their back.
Reference video
Open video · 7 Jiujitsu
Show full gameHide full gameRules · how to win
Notes (this phone)
SETUP
Partners switch roles ("flip-flop") every time the defender frees the arm. Rounds of five minutes in the source.
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Level 1: kneeling next to your partner, who is turned on their side with their elbow pointing at the ceiling. You already have the figure four: one hand on their wrist, your other hand through and holding your own wrist, their elbow on your chest. The coach prefers both knees down but says it's your call. Level 2: chest to chest with your top leg over their head and one hand on their wrist. Their hand is on their belly and the figure four isn't on yet.
OBJECTIVE
Keep your hips connected to their shoulder line and cover their head. Use your legs and hands to separate their hands, then bring the arm behind their back. In Level 2, get under their arm and lock the figure four first.
CONSTRAINTS
No rotation to finish. Putting the hand behind the back is the win. If their head comes free, or you end up underneath, keep playing as long as the figure four is still on. Ours, not the source's: go slow on the shoulder. Your partner taps, you let go right away.
WIN CONDITION
Separate their grip and put their hand behind their back while you still hold the figure four.
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
Level 1: on your side under your partner, your arm caught in their figure four. Level 2: on your back with your partner chest to chest and their leg over your head, your hand on your belly and your wrist held.
OBJECTIVE
Keep your hands together and don't let them get under your arm. Free your elbow.
CONSTRAINTS
Ours, not the source's: tap early. Your partner lets go right away.
WIN CONDITION
Free your elbow line and get out of the figure four. In Level 2, freeing your hand before they lock the figure four also wins.
7 Jiujitsu, Stop killing your jiujitsu by DRILLING (free class video on the 7 Jiujitsu YouTube channel, 24 May 2025).
Problem
Level 1: kneeling next to your partner, who is turned on their side with their elbow pointing at the ceiling.
Setup
Level 1: kneeling next to your partner, who is turned on their side with their elbow pointing at the ceiling. You already have the figure four: one hand on their wrist, your other hand through and holding your own wrist, their elbow on your chest. The coach prefers both knees down but says it's your call. Level 2: chest to chest with your top leg over their head and one hand on their wrist. Their hand is on their belly and the figure four isn't on yet. Level 1: on your side under your partner, your arm caught in their figure four. Level 2: on your back with your partner chest to chest and their leg over your head, your hand on your belly and your wrist held.
Score
Separate their grip and put their hand behind their back while you still hold the figure four. Free your elbow line and get out of the figure four. In Level 2, freeing your hand before they lock the figure four also wins.
Rules
- No rotation to finish.
- Putting the hand behind the back is the win.
- If their head comes free, or you end up underneath, keep playing as long as the figure four is still on.
- Ours, not the source's: go slow on the shoulder.
- Your partner taps, you let go right away.
- Ours, not the source's: tap early.
- Your partner lets go right away.
submissions · kimura
Wall card
Kimura: Put the Hand Behind the Back vs Free the Elbow (2 levels)
TOP PLAYER
Position
Level 1: kneeling next to your partner, who is turned on their side with their elbow pointing at the ceiling. You already have the figure four: one hand on their wrist, your other hand through and holding your own wrist, their elbow on your chest. The coach prefers both knees down but says it's your call. Level 2: chest to chest with your top leg over their head and one hand on their wrist. Their hand is on their belly and the figure four isn't on yet.
Win condition
Separate their grip and put their hand behind their back while you still hold the figure four.
Constraints
No rotation to finish. Putting the hand behind the back is the win. If their head comes free, or you end up underneath, keep playing as long as the figure four is still on. Ours, not the source's: go slow on the shoulder. Your partner taps, you let go right away.
BOTTOM PLAYER
Position
Level 1: on your side under your partner, your arm caught in their figure four. Level 2: on your back with your partner chest to chest and their leg over your head, your hand on your belly and your wrist held.
Win condition
Free your elbow line and get out of the figure four. In Level 2, freeing your hand before they lock the figure four also wins.
Constraints
Ours, not the source's: tap early. Your partner lets go right away.
Elevated safety. Confirm tap-and-release before the first rep. Stop at the tap. Do not run this if the room is not already serious about it.