Americana
Americana — figure-four to the mat in external rotation. Inverse of the kimura. Primary submission from mount.
Adapted from InGrappling, Americana. System Games did not invent this curriculum.
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The americana is the external rotation counterpart to the kimura. Both use an identical figure-four grip — one hand on the opponent’s wrist, the other arm under the opponent’s upper arm gripping the first wrist. The finish direction is opposite: the kimura drives the forearm behind the opponent’s back (internal rotation); the americana drives the forearm toward the mat (external rotation with the elbow bent).
The americana’s defining context is mount with a flat-backed opponent. When the opponent’s back is flat on the mat and their arm is extended outward at 90°, they cannot rotate their shoulder in the direction of the submission. All force goes through the glenohumeral joint — specifically the anterior capsule-ligament complex and the subscapularis, the internal rotator being stretched — without the relief valve of body rotation that side-mounted attacks allow.
The americana is among the first submissions taught in grappling because the setup position (mount with flat back) is accessible early and the mechanics are direct. Understanding why the flat back is essential — not incidental — separates the practitioner who executes the americana from the one who understands it.
Ruleset context This technique is legal in all major competitive formats.
Elevated RiskAmericana is an elevated risk technique. The americana forces external rotation with the arm abducted, loading the anterior capsule-ligament complex — the anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament and the coracohumeral ligament — along with the subscapularis, the internal rotator being stretched. The humeral head translates forward under that load, which is what puts the anterior labrum at risk. The flat back eliminates shoulder rotation, the primary escape mechanism, so all lever force goes through the joint without relief. Serious injury can occur rapidly once the external rotation reaches structural limit — the flat back removes the escape valve.
If you are new to this technique: read this section before anything else. Understanding the danger is part of understanding the technique.
The person applying the technique is responsible for releasing immediately.