Choke And Strangle Lock

The arm triangle choke (kata-gatame) is a family of blood chokes that use the attacker's arms in combination with the opponent's own trapped shoulder to compress both carotid arteries. [1,2] The defining mechanism is a triangular structure formed by the attacker's arm on one side of the neck and the opponent's own shoulder pressed against the other side, creating bilateral vascular compression. The attacker typically threads one arm under the opponent's head and clasps hands (or grips the biceps in a figure-four), then drives the opponent's trapped arm across the neck to complete the seal. Arm triangles can be applied from mount, side control, half guard, north-south, and even standing positions, making them among the most versatile choke families in grappling. The technique is high-percentage because even partial application creates significant discomfort and positional control. [3]

Back control chokes are submission techniques applied when the attacker has secured a position behind the opponent, typically with hooks (legs wrapped around the torso) or a body triangle for control. [1] This family includes the rear naked choke (hadaka-jime), collar chokes from the back (okuri-eri-jime, kata-ha-jime), lapel-feed chokes, and hybrid variations that combine arm compression with rear choking mechanics. The rear naked choke — a no-gi technique using the forearm and biceps to compress both carotids — is statistically the most successful submission in UFC history and one of the highest-percentage finishes in all grappling competition. Back control represents the most dominant position in submission grappling because the attacker can attack the neck while the defender has no offensive options and limited defensive tools. [2]

Forearm and collar chokes are submission techniques that use the gi lapel, collar, or the bare forearm pressed against the front or side of the neck to restrict blood flow or airflow. [1] This family includes cross-collar chokes (juji-jime variations), loop chokes, Ezekiel chokes (sode-guruma-jime), and thrust chokes that drive the lapel or forearm into the throat. The cross-collar choke from mount and guard is one of the most fundamental gi submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, requiring deep collar grips and proper wrist rotation to create the shearing force across both carotids. The Ezekiel choke uses the sleeve of the gi as a fulcrum, allowing application from mount, side control, and even inside an opponent's closed guard. [2] Forearm and collar chokes are primarily gi-dependent, though no-gi adaptations exist using wrist-on-wrist grips.

Front headlock chokes are submissions applied from a front headlock position — where the attacker controls the opponent's head and one arm from the front, typically after a sprawl or snap-down. [1] This family includes the guillotine choke (mae-hadaka-jime), the anaconda choke, the D'Arce/Brabo choke, the Peruvian necktie, and various head-and-arm wrapping variations. The guillotine choke — applied by wrapping an arm around the opponent's neck from the front and squeezing — is one of the most common submissions in MMA, effective from standing, in the clinch, and from guard. [1] The anaconda and D'Arce chokes use an arm-in configuration where the attacker threads an arm through the space between the opponent's head and arm, creating a figure-four compression against the neck. [3] Front headlock positions are high-value transitional positions in both wrestling and grappling.

Guard chokes are choking submissions executed from bottom guard positions — closed guard, open guard, half guard, and various guard variations. [1] These techniques exploit the guard player's ability to control distance, break posture, and use the legs to create leverage while the opponent is trapped between the legs or in a guard configuration. Common guard chokes include cross-collar chokes from closed guard, loop chokes from half guard, gogoplatas (shin-across-throat chokes from rubber guard or mission control), and various collar drags into choking positions. Guard chokes are a defining feature of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's strategic innovation — the ability to submit an opponent from the bottom position was revolutionary in early MMA and remains central to BJJ's competitive identity. [2]

Leg chokes are submissions that use the legs — primarily the thighs and calves — to compress the neck and restrict blood flow or airflow. [1] The triangle choke (sankaku-jime) is the defining technique of this family: the attacker traps the opponent's head and one arm between the legs, then locks a figure-four with the legs to squeeze the opponent's own trapped shoulder into one carotid while the attacker's thigh compresses the other. Triangle chokes can be applied from guard (most common), mount, side control, and back control positions. Other leg chokes include the head-and-arm triangle using the legs, gogoplata (shin choke), and various calf-compression chokes. The triangle choke is one of the highest-percentage submissions in both gi and no-gi competition because the legs generate significantly more squeezing force than the arms. [2]

Neck crank chokes are hybrid submissions that combine cervical spine manipulation with vascular or airway restriction. [4] Unlike pure chokes (which target blood/air) or pure cranks (which target the spine), neck crank chokes apply both mechanisms simultaneously — twisting or laterally flexing the neck while also compressing the throat or carotids. This family includes the can opener (cranking the neck from inside closed guard), the twister (lateral spine rotation from back control), cervical neck locks, and various headlock-based cranking chokes. [1] Neck crank chokes are considered high-risk techniques because the cervical spine is vulnerable to serious injury from rotational and compressive forces. The IBJJF prohibits cervical locks (neck cranks) at all belt levels [1]; judo prohibits them; but ADCC and MMA under Unified Rules permit them. [2,3]

The north-south choke is a strangulation applied from the north-south position (kami-shiho-gatame orientation), where the attacker lies chest-to-chest on top of the opponent but facing the opposite direction. [2] The attacker wraps an arm around the opponent's neck, drives the shoulder downward in a 'paper cutter' motion against the wrist, and uses body weight and arm pressure to compress the neck — the exact mechanism (carotid blood choke vs. esophageal airway compression) is taught differently across schools (Marcelo Garcia teaches it as a blood choke; John Danaher emphasises esophageal pressure). [1,4] The technique requires precise weight distribution — the attacker must drop the hip on the choking side to create the necessary angle and pressure. The north-south choke is effective in both gi and no-gi grappling and is particularly useful as a transition from side control or as a counter when an opponent turns into the attacker. [1] It is classified as a high-percentage submission at black belt level but requires significant body feel and timing to execute correctly.