How to Deal with a Collar Tie
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Collar Tie·Stay Safe Martial Arts
A few different approaches to dealing with a collar tie and how you can tie these approaches together. Future videos we…
Collar Tie
Familyカラータイ(Karā Tai)
TransliterationTranslation: collar tie
Overview
The Collar Tie family covers clinch positions where the attacker places one or both hands behind the opponent's neck, gripping the back of the neck or base of the skull to control the head and posture. [1] The collar tie provides direct head control — the attacker can pull the opponent's head down to break posture, push it to the side to create angles, or snap it forward to initiate takedown entries. [1],[2] Single collar ties allow one free hand for strikes or secondary grips, while the double collar tie (Thai plum) provides maximum head control for knee strikes and clinch throwing techniques. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The collar tie has been a fundamental clinch grip in wrestling for centuries, with the hand-behind-the-neck position appearing in the earliest wrestling instruction. [1] Muay Thai developed the collar tie into its most sophisticated form — the plum clinch — where head control is the foundation of the entire clinch fighting system. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
The collar tie is one of the most commonly used clinch positions in MMA. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Controlling the opponent's head and posture using double collar tie or plum position
Joints Involved — Opponent's cervical spine (controlled via collar tie), attacker's elbows (clamped for control), hips (pulling base)
Force Vector — Downward — pulling the opponent's head below their centre of gravity breaks their posture and balance
Control Mechanic — Elbow frames create a cage around the opponent's head — inside position dominance is the key to clinch control
Position & Entry
From striking range — Close distance with a jab or level change, cup the hand behind the opponent's head (nape of the neck), pull their posture down
From hand fighting — During grip exchanges, swim inside and secure the collar tie by cupping the back of the head
Videos
5 Ways to Defeat a Collar Tie Up
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Collar Tie·kenprimo
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Head/neck control positions create cervical strain; Muay Thai plum is primary striking platform
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
WBC/Boxing — Holding is technically a foul — referee breaks clinch, excessive holding results in point deduction {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
K-1/GLORY — One attack from clinch allowed, then referee breaks {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— WAKO — Clinch generally broken by referee — limited or no...
WAKO Competition RulesPDFLegal
— Unified MMA — Legal — clinching is integral to MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— grip fighting
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— IBJJF — Legal — standing grip fighting and clinch work pe...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IFMA — Legal — the clinch is a core element of Muay Thai,...
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDF— UWW — Legal — clinch is fundamental to wrestling, the pri...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFTraining Notes
✓The collar tie (hand behind the opponent's neck/head) is the most versatile clinch grip in combat sports — it controls posture, creates angles, and sets up strikes, takedowns, and throws (Couture, Wrestling for Fighting, 2006)
✓Cup the back of the opponent's neck with your palm — fingers behind the neck, not gripping the hair or grabbing the chin
✓Pull the opponent's head downward and to the side to break their posture — this off-balancing sets up snaps, drags, and shots
✓The collar tie is the gateway grip: from here you transition to underhook, front headlock, Thai plum, or arm drag
✓In MMA, the collar tie is used for dirty boxing — control the head, land short punches and elbows
✓Use your forearm on the opponent's collarbone as a frame while the hand cups the neck — this provides structural strength
✓Drill collar tie attacks in chains: snap down, if they posture up drag the arm, if they resist pull into a knee
Common Mistakes
!Grabbing the back of the head instead of cupping the neck — the neck cup gives better directional control
!Pulling straight down without an angle — always pull diagonally to create rotational off-balance
!Using the collar tie passively without attacking — snap, drag, or strike within 2-3 seconds
!Reaching for the collar tie with a straight arm — the arm should be bent with the elbow close to the body
!Clasping behind the neck with both hands when you only have one (confusing collar tie with Thai plum) — the collar tie is a one-hand grip
!Forgetting the other hand — the non-collar-tie hand must be active (posting, gripping sleeve, or striking)
!Standing upright without applying downward pressure — the collar tie should make the opponent feel heavy
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Pummeling — fight for inside position by swimming arms under opponent's gripsFrame and Push — create distance using forearm frames against the chest or neckHand Fight — strip grips by peeling fingers or pushing the wrist awayLevel Change — change levels to break the collar tie angle and attack the legs
Setup Chain
1Close Distance — bridge the gap using footwork, strikes, or a level change
2Cup the Neck — place the hand behind the opponent's head with fingers interlocked at the base
3Pull Down — use downward pressure to break the opponent's posture
4Off-Balance — snap or drag the opponent to create offensive opportunities
Sources & References
Primary Source
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad & James Cartmell, 2002)
1BookFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [4] Wrestling for Fighting (Couture, 2007)
2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [4] Wrestling for Fighting (Couture, 2007)
5CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
Community
Athletics
Requires
neck and bicep strength for head control, endurance for sustained clinch
Favours
longer forearms for deeper collar tie, strong neck
Key muscles
biceps, forearms, neck muscles, core
Sub-techniques
Double Collar Tie-Thai Plum
SubFamilyThe Double Collar Tie (Thai Plum) subfamily covers the clinch position where both hands grip behind the opponent's neck, creating maximum head control with bilateral grip. [1] The Thai plum is the signature position of Muay Thai clinch fighting — both hands interlocked behind the neck with elbows tight against the opponent's collarbones, allowing the attacker to pull the head down for devastating knee strikes. [1,2] The double collar tie creates a powerful frame that controls the opponent's posture, movement, and ability to generate offence, making it one of the most dominant standing clinch positions in combat sports. [2,3]
3 genera·3 techniquesExplore
Irish Collar Tie
SubFamilyThe Irish Collar Tie is a clinch position where one hand controls the back of the opponent's neck (collar tie) while the other hand controls their wrist on the same side — creating a diagonal control configuration used in wrestling and MMA for snap-downs, level changes, and arm drag setups. [1] The 'Irish' variation specifically refers to the wrist control addition to the standard collar tie. [1,2]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Single Collar Tie
SubFamilyThe Single Collar Tie subfamily covers clinch positions where one hand grips behind the opponent's neck while the other hand is free to work — gripping the arm, controlling the wrist, or preparing for strikes or takedowns. [1] The single collar tie is the most common initial clinch position in both wrestling and MMA because it is easily established from striking range and provides meaningful head control with one hand while keeping the other available for offence. [1,2] The free hand's versatility makes the single collar tie an extremely adaptable position from which numerous techniques can be initiated. [2,3]
2 genera·2 techniquesExplore
Notes
The collar tie appears in 32 passages across 4 books. The most fundamental standing clinch control in wrestling and MMA — one hand grips behind the opponent's neck. Sets up snap-downs, arm drags, and level changes for takedowns. (4 books; The Ultimate MMA Training Guide)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I escape a collar tie without getting followed up with strikes?
Don't just release the grip and step away, as your opponent may immediately follow with punches or elbows. Instead, maintain control of their arm by converting it into a two-on-one grip, which keeps you safe while you set up a takedown or strike (Stay Safe Martial Arts).
What's the basic breakaway technique for a collar tie?
Turn your head and duck slightly while pushing at your opponent's elbow, then push your arm across to create separation. This simple grip break requires maintaining eye contact and awareness so you know if they try to tie up again (Stay Safe Martial Arts).
Why shouldn't I just lift up when ducking under a collar tie?
If you try to throw the collar tie up or lift while ducking, your opponent can keep it tight and maintain control. Instead, come underneath it and duck it properly, then get your angle and penetrate to escape (kenprimo).
How do I set up a takedown after defending a collar tie?
After securing control—either through a breakaway, two-on-one grip, or by ducking under—drop your level and penetrate forward. You can also use footwork and circling to create an angle rather than relying solely on upper body strength (kenprimo, Stay Safe Martial Arts).
How does the Collar Tie work?
The Collar Tie family covers clinch positions where the attacker places one or both hands behind the opponent's neck, gripping the back of the neck or base of the skull to control the head and posture. The collar tie provides direct head control — the attacker can pull the opponent's head down to break posture, push it to the side to create angles, or snap it forward to initiate takedown entries.
Where does the Collar Tie come from?
The collar tie has been a fundamental clinch grip in wrestling for centuries, with the hand-behind-the-neck position appearing in the earliest wrestling instruction. Muay Thai developed the collar tie into its most sophisticated form — the plum clinch — where head control is the foundation of the entire clinch fighting system.
Is the Collar Tie legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal — clinching is integral to MMA; IJF: legal — Legal — kumi-kata (grip fighting) is fundamental to judo; IBJJF: legal — Legal — standing grip fighting and clinch work permitted; IFMA: legal — Legal — the clinch is a core element of Muay Thai, clinch dominance is highly…; WBC/Boxing: restricted — Holding is technically a foul — referee breaks clinch, excessive holding resu…; K: restricted — 1/GLORY — One attack from clinch allowed, then referee breaks; WAKO: restricted — Clinch generally broken by referee — limited or no clinch fighting in most fo…; UWW: legal — Legal — clinch is fundamental to wrestling, the primary position in Greco-Roman
How dangerous is the Collar Tie?
Danger rating 5/10. High — head/neck control positions create cervical strain; Muay Thai plum is primary striking platform
How do I set up the Collar Tie?
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Cup the Neck → Pull Down → Off-Balance.
How do I defend against the Collar Tie?
Standard counters include: Pummeling — fight for inside position by swimming arms under opponent's grips / Frame and Push — create distance using forearm frames against the chest or neck / Hand Fight — strip grips by peeling fingers or pushing the wrist away / Level Change — change levels to break the collar tie angle and attack the legs.
What are the variants of the Collar Tie?
Common variants: Single collar tie (one hand on the nape controlling the head); Double collar tie (plum) (both hands behind the head for maximum control); Collar tie with wrist control (one hand on the nape, other controlling the wrist).
How effective is the Collar Tie in competition?
The collar tie is one of the most commonly used clinch positions in MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Collar Tie?
Top errors to watch for: Grabbing the back of the head instead of cupping the neck — the neck cup gives better directional control / Pulling straight down without an angle — always pull diagonally to create rotational off-balance / Using the collar tie passively without attacking — snap, drag, or strike within 2-3 seconds / Reaching for the collar tie with a straight arm — the arm should be bent with the elbow close to the body.
What are other names for the Collar Tie?
The Collar Tie is also known as Karā Tai, Neck Tie, Thai Clinch, Muay Thai Plum, Collar Control.