Kimura

Kimura is a Japanese surname written 木村, literally meaning "tree village." It is a common family name in Japan and is borne by many people around the world, across various fields and communities.

In science and medicine, the name appears in several concepts named after individuals with the surname Kimura. The Kimura two-parameter model, proposed by Motoo Kimura in 1980, is a widely used model of nucleotide substitution in molecular evolution that distinguishes between transitions and transversions. Kimura disease, a rare chronic inflammatory condition of the head and neck region, is named after a Japanese physician who first described it; the condition features subcutaneous swelling and eosinophilic tissue infiltration, and is studied in otolaryngology and pathology.

The Kimura arm lock, commonly simply called the Kimura, is a submission hold in grappling martial arts such as judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It involves a figure-four grip around an opponent’s arm and can apply pressure to the elbow joint, forcing a tap or submission. The hold is associated with Masahiko Kimura, the Japanese judoka who popularized it through competitive use.

Beyond these uses, Kimura is a surname shared by many individuals in science, sports, arts, and other disciplines. The term’s presence in various fields reflects its status as a common name with diverse cultural and academic associations.