Ude Garame

Lately I have been using a lot of ude garame. I use it when I practice jiyu waza. In free practice, I always try to take ikkyo or irimi as my primary techniques and move to secondary techniques only when the first don't quite gel.

Ude garame is an excellent secondary technique. Particularly when ikkyo ura doesn't quite connect, ude garame is right there to absorb resistance.

Yesterday. I saw a picture labeled ude garame except it appeared to be a reverse form. Instead of cutting uke's hand toward the fron of his shoulder, uke's arm bends the opposite direction and cut back and up toward the rear of his shoulder. Naturally, I had to try it.

It was slightly awkward to get a position where it made sense, but once the technique was applied, it turned out to be extrememly powerful. More powerful I felt than the usual version.

I learned that BJJ players call the technique the kimura after the judo man who used it to defeat Helio Gracie. I've seen a lot of talk about it in online circles but have never looked closely. Now I will have to go back and see what the fuss is about and how all of the grapplers like to use it.