Is a Kimura the Same as an Americana?

The distinction between Kimuras and Americanas can be difficult to understand for many beginner jiu-jitsu practitioners. At times, some novices make the mistake of believing that a Kimura is the same as an Americana. But that belief is not valid, despite these techniques sharing some similarities. 

Kimuras and Americana both attack the shoulder joint with a rotational force. However, some key differences between these moves make them distinct from one another. Mainly, a Kimura causes rotational force in one direction while the Americana causes a rotational force in the opposite direction.

While these moves are alike, it is crucial for you to know the difference between the two. That knowledge will help you understand when and how to apply Americanas and Kimuras.

The Americana vs. the Kimura

The Kimura and the Americana are not the same move, but they share a close relationship. Let’s begin by describing both individually. Then we’ll discuss the subtle differences between these moves.

What is a Kimura in Jiu-Jitsu?

The Kimura is one of the most successful shoulder lock submissions in jiu-jitsu. Performing a Kimura involves twisting your opponent’s arm behind their back, which places strain on the shoulder joint, the elbow joint, and the major bones of the arm.

Kimuras are available in several positions. Most Kimuras that end in a submission begin from side control or the north-south position. Kimuras are also available when you are on the bottom in the guard position. In that scenario, a Kimura can cause submission or lead to a sweep.

The main goal of a Kimura is to submit your opponent. However, this technique is also incredibly useful as a transitional move. In some contexts, the rotational force a Kimura places on an opponent’s shoulder is painful enough to cause them to roll and abandon an otherwise advantageous position.

The Kimura technique comes from Judo and goes by the name Ude-Gurami in that system. The Kimura, or Ude-Gurami, has been an effective grappling move since well before its incorporation into jiu-jitsu and remains effective to this day.

Why is it Called a Kimura?

This technique goes by several names, but Kimura is the most common one. The origin of this name dates back to a famous match between Helio Gracie and Masahiko Kimura. In that match, Kimura used this shoulder lock to defeat Gracie. Since then, the jiu-jitsu community began referring to this move as the Kimura to honor Masahiko Kimura’s skill with this technique.

What is an Americana in Jiu-Jitsu?

Like the Kimura, the Americana is a technique that primarily attacks the shoulder joint by twisting it. When you use an Americana, your opponent will be flat on their back, their elbow joint will be bent, and their palm will face the sky. From that position, lifting the elbow joint while keeping the rest of the arm under control will cause damage to the shoulder joint.

The Americana is less versatile than the Kimura. While you can attack for Kimuras from multiple positions, the Americana is almost exclusively available from side control and mount.

The Americana is also somewhat of a beginner’s move. You can apply it with relative ease and without compromising the stability of your dominant positioning. However, the Americana is not often effective at the higher levels of martial arts competitions. Practitioners with intermediate grappling knowledge should be able to see the Americana coming and defend against it with relative ease.

While it is rare to see high-level competitions end with an Americana, it does happen occasionally. More often, an Americana’s effectiveness increases when you combine it with other submission attempts. For example, your opponent may expose their back while defending an Americana, or they may open the opportunity for an armbar, which is a submission with a much higher success rate.

Why is it Called an Americana?

The Americana gets its name from an American wrestler named Bob Anderson, who introduced the technique to the Gracie family. While the Americana was present in other grappling systems prior to that, this introduction marks the integration of the Americana into modern jiu-jitsu.

What is the Difference between a Kimura and an Americana?

The difference between a Kimura and an Americana comes down to arm positioning. To clarify that difference, let’s assume you’re applying these moves while on top in side control. Based on that context, here is a breakdown of the difference between these two shoulder locks:

• Americana: Your opponent’s palm is facing up, and their hand is closer to their head

• Kimura: Your opponent’s palm is facing the floor, and their hand is closer to their waist

The Americana and the Kimura are essentially opposites. While both are shoulder locks, each one rotates the shoulder differently.

Other Names for Americanas and Kimuras

The parallels between Americanas and Kimuras are confusing enough. But what makes understanding these moves even more challenging is that they can go by other names as well.

What is a Keylock in Jiu-Jitsu?

The term keylock comes from catch wrestling and is a word that can describe a Kimura, an Americana, or other variations of these shoulder locks. Keylock is a more general term that comes up less often in jiu-jitsu compared to words like Kimura and Americana. But if you hear this term, know that it can refer to one of those common jiu-jitsu submission techniques.

What is a Double-Wristlock in Jiu-Jitsu?

The double-wristlock is what catch wrestlers call the Kimura technique, and you can consider these moves to be the same.

What is an Ude-Gurami in Jiu-Jitsu?

The Ude-Gurami is a Japanese term that refers to any arm lock that involves your opponent’s arm being bent. Like the term keylock, Ude-Gurami is a somewhat general term. The literal translation of Ude Garami is “arm entanglement.” By that definition, both Americanas and Kimuras qualify as forms of Ude-Gurami.

Conclusion

The Americana and the Kimura may not be the same submission, but there are ways in which these two moves are similar. Each one is worth adding to your jiu-jitsu game and will be useful to you in different grappling situations.