Alias · Kimura system
Figure-four (top version)
Also known as Americana — the canonical term used on this site.
Training background: descriptive — distinguishing from kimura
Descriptive — top-position figure-four americana
Figure-four (top version) is the descriptive name for the americana — flagging the figure-four grip geometry and the top-position application that distinguish the americana from the kimura’s bottom-or-mixed-position variants.
Etymology. “Figure-four” specifies the grip-geometry; “(top version)” qualifies the position context. The compound disambiguates from other figure-four configurations (kimura, figure-four leg lock).
Mechanics. The figure-four wrist grip on the opponent’s arm loads the shoulder against its natural range of external rotation — the top-position context provides the chest-pressure leverage the americana finish requires.
Cross-reference. “Americana” is the canonical name; “V-lock” is the alternate. Full mechanical coverage on Americana.