The Vocabulary of Submissions

Kimura.  We call it the reverse key lock.  It’s named after Masahiko Kimura, who defeated Helio Grace (of Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fame) during a match in 1953.

Don’t worry, I didn’t know that either, I looked it up and found this article by Stephan Kesting, whose name I’ve bumped into many times before when searching the internet for grappling info.

The point of all this is it’s interesting to know the meaning of the words we use in martial arts.  It’s nice to know the history too, when the information is available.  Will knowing this information help you sink a better arm lock? 

Maybe.  If knowing the meaning of a word helps you remember a technique better and remembering a technique helps you see the opportunity to use that technique then BAM, we have a success story.  In the long run, all those steps will become intuitive but learning the name of something can be a great starting point.  In addition, it gives people who train a way to communicate efficiently.

Speaking of communication, earlier this week we did a wrist lock (from our deleted grab counter # 7) and then I stumbled across this video by Submissions 101.  Is it synchronicity or do I just spend too much time on the web?