Side Control Kimura — Establish and Defend the Grip
Mat mode
3:00
Tell the roomClose and maintain the figure-four loop. The finish is not the goal — the grip is.
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Notes (this phone)
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Standard side control.
OBJECTIVE
Close and maintain the figure-four loop. The finish is not the goal — the grip is.
CONSTRAINTS
Reset when the top player achieves a five-second hold, when the bottom player escapes to their feet or back take position, or when the grip is completely broken and both players reset to side control. Five points per side, then switch roles. Default rounds 3:00.
WIN CONDITION
Establish and hold the figure-four loop for five consecutive seconds.
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
Defending under standard side control.
OBJECTIVE
Prevent the loop from closing, or break it once it is on.
CONSTRAINTS
Any defensive tool — framing, elbow drive, wrist wrap — but cannot attempt to sweep, stand up, or take the back during this game. Same five-points-per-side scoring.
WIN CONDITION
Prevent the figure-four loop from closing, or break it after it has closed, without conceding a full back take.
Original positional game. Side Control Kimura — Establish and Defend the Grip. GAME-KIM-01.
Problem
Standard side control.
Setup
Standard side control. Defending under standard side control.
Score
Establish and hold the figure-four loop for five consecutive seconds. Prevent the figure-four loop from closing, or break it after it has closed, without conceding a full back take.
Rules
- Reset when the top player achieves a five-second hold, when the bottom player escapes to their feet or back take position, or when the grip is completely broken and both players reset to side control.
- Five points per side, then switch roles.
- Default rounds 3:00.
- Any defensive tool — framing, elbow drive, wrist wrap — but cannot attempt to sweep, stand up, or take the back during this game.
- Same five-points-per-side scoring.
Progressions
Harder constraint variants from the source. Same game, tighter problem.
- Bottom player may attempt to sit up and recover guard — top player must prevent guard recovery while establishing the grip.
- Remove the five-second hold requirement — any momentary clean grip plus a back-take initiation wins.
- Open the bottom player’s restrictions fully — this becomes the full kimura trap game.
submissions · kimura
Wall card
Side Control Kimura — Establish and Defend the Grip
Foundations
TOP PLAYER
Position
Standard side control.
Win condition
Establish and hold the figure-four loop for five consecutive seconds.
Constraints
Reset when the top player achieves a five-second hold, when the bottom player escapes to their feet or back take position, or when the grip is completely broken and both players reset to side control. Five points per side, then switch roles. Default rounds 3:00.
BOTTOM PLAYER
Position
Defending under standard side control.
Win condition
Prevent the figure-four loop from closing, or break it after it has closed, without conceding a full back take.
Constraints
Any defensive tool — framing, elbow drive, wrist wrap — but cannot attempt to sweep, stand up, or take the back during this game. Same five-points-per-side scoring.