Chokes From the Back: The Short Choke, RNC, and Every Variation That Finishes Fights

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Back control is the most dominant position in grappling. Once an attacker secures the back with hooks and a seatbelt grip, the fight is statistically over — the finish rate from back control exceeds 70% in high-level submission grappling. The reason is the family of chokes available from this position: the rear naked choke, the short choke, and their many variations.

Most people know the rear naked choke — the figure-four lock behind the head that compresses both carotid arteries. It is the most common submission in MMA history, accounting for nearly 40% of all submission finishes in the UFC. But the rear naked choke has a weakness: it requires getting the choking arm deep under the chin, past the opponent's defensive hands. Against a trained defender with a tight chin tuck, this can be difficult or impossible.

This is where the short choke becomes essential. The short choke — also called the forearm compression choke, quick choke, or short RNC — uses a partial wrap of the forearm across the throat without threading the arm fully under the chin. It sacrifices the clean bilateral carotid compression of the RNC for raw crushing pressure on the trachea and arteries. The result: a finish in 2–5 seconds instead of the RNC's typical 8–10 seconds.

Understanding the full spectrum of back chokes — from the clean RNC to the brutal short choke and every variation between — separates an intermediate grappler from an advanced one.

The rear naked choke is the most studied and most applied submission in combat sports. The mechanics are well-established: the choking arm slides under the opponent's chin, the free hand grabs the bicep of the choking arm, and the free hand presses behind the opponent's head, creating a sealed triangle of pressure.

The RNC works by compressing both carotid arteries simultaneously. This bilateral compression cuts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness in approximately 8–10 seconds. It is a blood choke, not an air choke — the trachea is not the primary target.

Key details of the classic RNC:

• The blade of the forearm (not the bicep) aligns with the center of the throat
• The elbow must be directly under the chin
• The free hand presses the head forward into the choking arm
• The finish comes from drawing the elbows together while expanding the chest

The RNC's weakness is the setup. A trained opponent will tuck the chin, fight the hands, and create frames to prevent the arm from sliding under. This defensive battle can last minutes and consume enormous energy.

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The forearm compression short choke bypasses the RNC's setup problem entirely. Instead of threading the arm fully under the chin, the practitioner places the forearm directly across the front of the throat — often across the chin itself — and applies crushing downward pressure.

Charles Yerkow described this technique in Modern Judo (1942): "This choke will be doubly effective if you force his head forward with your right shoulder while you press your right forearm against his neck." The technique was already well-known in judo under the name hadaka jime, but the specific "short" variation — using a partial wrap rather than a full encirclement — has gained prominence in modern no-gi grappling.

How the short choke differs from the RNC:

The short choke's advantage is clear: it does not require the arm to pass under the chin. The forearm presses directly into whatever is in front of it — chin, jaw, throat. The opponent's primary RNC defence (chin tuck) actually makes the short choke easier because the tucked chin creates a fulcrum for the forearm pressure.

The short choke family includes several grip variations, each with tactical advantages:

Gable Grip Short Choke — The choking arm wraps partially around the neck, and the hands connect in a gable grip (palm-to-palm, fingers interlocked). This is the strongest grip for raw crushing power. The Blitz martial arts manual describes this precisely: "Executes a rear choke in a Gable grip, using the cutting edge of his inner forearm."

Palm-to-Palm Grip — Similar to the gable grip but without interlocking fingers. The palms press together behind the opponent's head or on the far shoulder. This grip allows faster transitions between choke attempts.

S-Grip (Butterfly Grip) — The fingers of both hands hook together in an S-shape. This grip is weaker than the gable but allows more flexibility in adjusting the choking angle.

Cross-Face Short Choke — The forearm presses across the face rather than the throat, using the jawline as a lever to turn the head and expose the neck. This is technically a crank rather than a choke but is equally effective at forcing a tap.

Beyond the RNC and short choke, back control opens access to several other finishing techniques:

Sliding Collar Choke (Gi) — In gi grappling, the lapel provides a handle for chokes that are impossible in no-gi. The practitioner feeds the opponent's own lapel across the throat and uses it as a choking surface. This technique is called okuri eri jime in judo.

Arm-In Rear Naked Choke — A variation where one of the opponent's arms is trapped inside the choking arm's loop. This reduces the leverage compared to a clean RNC but prevents the opponent from hand-fighting the choke.

Mata Leão (Lion Killer) — The Brazilian name for the rear naked choke, mata leão emphasises the predatory nature of the position. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition, the mata leão from back control accounts for 35–50% of all submissions at the World Championships.

Hadaka Jime — The judo name for the "naked strangle" — a choke applied without using the gi. In judo, hadaka jime encompasses both the full RNC and the short choke variations. Competition judo allows all forms of hadaka jime.

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The choice between the RNC and the short choke depends on what the opponent is doing:

Use the RNC when:

• The opponent's chin is not tucked — the arm can slide under cleanly
• There is time — the RNC requires patience to set up
• The goal is a clean blood choke with minimal injury risk
• The opponent is exhausted and their hand fighting is weak

Use the short choke when:

• The opponent has a tight chin tuck — the RNC cannot get under
• Speed matters — a referee might stand the fight up, or time is running out
• The opponent is defending the RNC — they are focused on preventing the full wrap
• The opponent's hands are occupied — they are fighting hooks rather than the choke

The best back attackers in competition — Marcelo Garcia, Gordon Ryan, Craig Jones — cycle between these options. They threaten the RNC to draw the chin tuck defence, then switch to the short choke when the chin drops. Or they attack the short choke first, forcing the opponent to lift the chin to relieve the jaw pressure, creating the opening for the full RNC.

All chokes from the back exploit the same anatomical vulnerability: the carotid arteries run along both sides of the neck, protected only by thin layers of muscle. Any sustained compression — whether from the forearm, the bicep, or the opponent's own shoulder — interrupts blood flow to the brain.

The kinetic chain in a back choke flows from the hips through the hooks (leg control), through the torso (seatbelt grip), and into the arms (choking surface). The hooks prevent the opponent from turning; the seatbelt prevents them from sliding down; the arms apply the finishing pressure.

The short choke adds a biomechanical element that the RNC lacks: direct tracheal pressure. While the RNC targets only the carotid arteries (a blood choke), the short choke often compresses the trachea as well (an air choke). This combination of blood restriction and breathing restriction explains why the short choke produces faster taps — the opponent experiences both oxygen deprivation and the panic of airway compression simultaneously.

Despite its speed and effectiveness, the short choke remains underused in professional MMA. The rear naked choke accounts for 635 finishes in UFC history — roughly 40% of all submissions — while the short choke barely registers in the statistics. The reasons are cultural, tactical, and regulatory.

Training culture favours the RNC. Most MMA fighters learn grappling through Brazilian jiu-jitsu, where the rear naked choke is taught as the primary back attack from white belt onward. The short choke is rarely drilled in fundamentals classes. Fighters default to what they have practised thousands of times.

Coaches teach the "clean" finish. The RNC is considered the technically correct way to finish from the back. Coaches emphasise getting the arm under the chin for a blood choke rather than crushing the throat with a forearm. The short choke is sometimes viewed as a "dirty" or desperate technique — effective but inelegant.

Tracheal pressure concerns. Athletic commissions and referees are trained to watch for dangerous chokes. A short choke that crushes the windpipe looks more violent than a clean RNC, and referees may intervene or issue warnings. Fighters worry about post-fight medical scrutiny or fouls for "crushing" the throat, even though the technique is legal.

Gloves change the equation. MMA gloves make the forearm surface wider and less precise. The blade of the forearm — the ideal choking surface for the short choke — is padded by the glove wrist area, reducing effectiveness. In no-gi grappling without gloves, the short choke is significantly more common.

The counterargument is emerging. A new generation of MMA grapplers — particularly those trained in the Danaher Death Squad system and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu — are increasingly using the short choke as a complement to the RNC. As competition evolves and chin-tuck defence improves, expect the short choke to become a standard weapon in MMA within the next decade.

Browse the complete back choke taxonomy: Back Control Choke, Rear Choke, Short Choke.

Explore more submissions: Choke and Strangle Lock. Or browse the full taxonomy at the A-Z techniques index.

• The Rear Naked Choke — deep dive into the most common submission in MMA

What is the difference between the rear naked choke and the short choke?

The rear naked choke uses a full arm wrap under the chin with a figure-four grip behind the head, creating clean bilateral carotid compression. The short choke uses a partial forearm wrap across the throat with a gable or palm grip, applying combined tracheal and carotid pressure. The short choke is faster (2–5 seconds vs 8–10) but carries higher injury risk.

Why is the short choke faster than the RNC?

The short choke compresses both the carotid arteries and the trachea simultaneously, while the RNC targets only the carotid arteries. The combination of blood flow restriction and airway compression produces unconsciousness or a tap faster. Additionally, the short choke does not require time-consuming setup — it can be applied immediately from back control.

Is the short choke legal in competition?

Yes. The short choke is legal in IBJJF competition at all belt levels, in UFC/MMA, in ADCC submission grappling, and in judo (where it falls under hadaka jime). Some regional competitions may restrict "crushing" chokes, but major rulesets allow it.

How do you defend against chokes from the back?

The primary defences are: hand fighting to prevent the choking arm from setting, chin tucking to block the RNC entry, creating frames with the hands against the forearm, and working to clear the hooks and escape back control entirely. Against the short choke specifically, turning into the attacker to reduce the forearm angle can relieve pressure.

What is hadaka jime?

Hadaka jime is the judo term for "naked strangle" — a choke applied without using the gi. It encompasses both the rear naked choke and the short choke variations. The term "naked" refers to the absence of a gi collar in the choking mechanism.

Can the short choke cause injury?

Yes. Because the short choke applies direct pressure to the trachea (windpipe), it carries a higher risk of tracheal bruising or damage compared to the clean blood choke of the RNC. In training, the short choke should be applied gradually, and training partners should tap early. In competition, the referee may stop the match if the choke appears dangerous.

What grip is best for the short choke?

The gable grip (palm-to-palm with interlocked fingers) provides the most crushing power and is the most common choice. The palm-to-palm grip without finger interlock allows faster transitions. The S-grip offers flexibility but less force. The best grip depends on hand size, arm length, and the specific angle of the choke.