Gift Wrap Triangle
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Gift Wrap Lapel Choke·Applied Pressure MMA·Added by Admin
Gift Wrap Lapel Choke
Genusギフトラップラペルチョーク(Gifuto Rappu Raperu Chōku)
TransliterationTranslation: Gift Wrap Lapel Choke (katakana loanword)
Overview
The gift wrap lapel choke uses a controlling position where the attacker wraps the opponent's own arm across their head or body and pins it there, then feeds the lapel around the neck to create a strangle. [1],[2] The 'gift wrap' refers to trapping the opponent's arm by threading it across themselves — this eliminates one defensive hand and exposes the neck for the lapel feed. [1] The attacker then routes the collar around the neck and tightens from back control or side control. [1],[3]
History & Origin
The gift wrap control position has roots in wrestling and catch wrestling as an arm-trapping pin. [1] BJJ practitioners adapted it by adding lapel feeds to convert the controlling position into a choking submission. [1],[2] The gift wrap lapel choke became popular in competition during the 2010s as a way to overcome opponents with strong rear choke defenses. [1],[3]
Effectiveness
The gift wrap choke uses the opponent's own arm wrapped across their neck combined with a lapel grip to create a strangle. [1]
Lineage
The gift wrap position was developed in BJJ and MMA for controlling and submitting opponents from top positions. [1]
Competition Record
Gift wrap chokes and transitions are used in BJJ competition as an advanced control-to-submission chain. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within seconds
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), glenohumeral joint of the trapped arm (if arm-in), nuchal region
Force Vector — Lateral squeeze creates inward pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously
Choking Mechanism — Vascular strangle — occludes carotid arteries and jugular veins, distinct from airway (tracheal) chokes
Position & Entry
From back control with seatbelt — Establish hooks or body triangle, slide choking arm under the chin, connect hands and squeeze
From turtle top (back take) — Break down the turtle, insert hooks, secure seatbelt grip, slide to back control and apply the choke
From standing back clinch — Secure rear body lock, drag opponent to the mat while inserting hooks, transition to choking position
Variants
Standard grip variation — primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure
Gi variation — uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional friction and control
No-gi variation — adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling without the gi
Transition finish — applied during a positional change to catch the opponent off-guard
Videos
Gift Wrap Submissions
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Gift Wrap Lapel Choke·Seiryoku Zenyo
Mark Gilston, 4th degree judo black belt, and BJJ black belt shows strategies and submissions using an arm wrap techniqu…
Face wrap / gift wrap Submissions
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Gift Wrap Lapel Choke·BJJ After Forty
I filled this video with a ton of moves! But stay till the end for a simple armlock anyone can do (and almost no one kno…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The gift wrap lapel choke, also known as the cobra clutch in wrestling terminology, is a rear-control submission where the attacker's arm wraps around the opponent's crossed arm and neck. According to Seiryoku Zenyo, the position arises when an opponent's arm crosses their head during side control transitions, creating a natural control point where the wrist becomes immobilized due to arm flexion. The choke itself is executed by sliding the hand's edge along the sternomastoid muscle, pushing it laterally before rotating the palm downward into the neck—a motion emphasized by all three instructors as critical to effectiveness. Applied Pressure MMA highlights body tension over hand strength, recommending practitioners keep the opponent's arm centered against their chest and use hip pressure to control arm rotation, particularly against thumb-up defense. Seiryoku Zenyo provides multiple choke variations when the direct neck entry fails: the gi lapel feed (grabbing the near gi flap and crossing it), the bow and arrow choke (using knee and far collar), and the kimura finish. BJJ After Forty demonstrates the face wrap variant from mount position, where the arm trap transitions into triangle leg lock combinations with spinal leverage. All instructors agree that controlling the wrist is essential to preventing escape, and that body mechanics (hip positioning, chest pressure, shoulder alignment) supersede grip strength in finishing the submission.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Applied Pressure MMA — Gift Wrap Triangle: Detailed body mechanics for controlling the opponent's arm rotation using chest pressure and hip positioning; explained the 'thumb-up' defense concept and how keeping the arm center-chest prevents hand turning; demonstrated variations into triangle and armbar transitions.
- Seiryoku Zenyo — Gift Wrap Submissions: Comprehensive taxonomy of gift wrap attacks including the fundamental choke (sternomastoid edge-of-hand technique), gi lapel feed variation, bow and arrow choke, and kimura finish; clarified how the position arises from front or back control and emphasized wrist immobilization through arm flexion.
- BJJ After Forty — Face wrap / gift wrap Submissions: Demonstrated face wrap (twisted arm control) from mount position with transitions into triangle leg lock combinations; highlighted how to trap the opponent's hand and create spinal leverage; showed alternative thumb-pull entries when the standard grip fails.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Gift wrap controls one arm while using the opponent's own lapel to create a strangle
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFRestricted
— no-gi competition only — technique requires gi
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— technique requires gi — not applicable in MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The gift wrap lapel choke wraps the opponent's own arm across their neck and uses a lapel grip to secure the choking structure — the opponent's arm becomes part of the strangling mechanism (Danaher, Back Attacks, 2019)
✓The 'gift wrap' position: from back control or mount, the attacker feeds the opponent's arm across their face and traps it with the lapel — the arm presses against one side of the neck while the lapel compresses the other
✓This creates a self-imposed strangle: the opponent's own forearm digs into one carotid while the attacker's grip and lapel compress the other
✓Entry: from back control, overhook the opponent's arm and feed it across their face, then feed the gi lapel over the arm and grip it behind the head
✓The gift wrap position is extremely controlling: the opponent has one arm trapped across their own face, severely limiting their defensive options
✓The lapel adds friction and control that bare-skin grips cannot provide — the fabric wraps and locks in place
✓The gift wrap is versatile: it can finish as a choke, transition to an armbar, or be used to take the back from other positions
Common Mistakes
!Not trapping the arm securely — the opponent's arm must be locked across their face before the lapel is fed; a loose arm escapes
!Feeding the lapel too loosely — the lapel must be tight against the neck; slack in the lapel reduces compression
!Not controlling the opponent's posture — from back control, maintain chest-to-back contact throughout
!Attempting without gi — the gift wrap lapel choke requires the gi; it does not work in no-gi
!Releasing the arm trap while adjusting the lapel — maintain the arm control with one hand while the other feeds the lapel
!Not using the gift wrap for transitions — if the choke fails, the gift wrap position allows transitions to armbars and back takes
!Applying to both sides of the neck without the arm — the technique requires the arm across one side and the lapel on the other; without the arm, it's a different choke
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinkingTwo-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locksTurn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressurePosture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle
Setup Chain
1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied
2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat
3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)
4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3CitationJapanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip or squeeze strength, positional control
Favours
strong upper body for sustained compression
Key muscles
forearms, biceps, pectorals, core stabilisers
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I slide my hand through to set up the gift wrap choke?
Come in with a straight hand (not a fist) under the elbow, push the muscle out of the way, then turn it in. According to Seiryoku Zenyo, if it's too tight to slide through, grab the near flap of your opponent's gi instead and bring it across, then have your other hand grab it to control the arm and finish.
Should I use my arms or my body to control the arm in gift wrap positions?
Applied Pressure MMA emphasizes using your body instead of your arms—keep the arm hugged tight to your chest, pushing and pulling rather than relying on hand control, as this makes it much harder for your opponent to turn their arm and escape.
What if my opponent keeps their hand trapped inside during the face wrap setup?
According to BJJ After Forty, if they keep their hand inside, that's fine—it will just get trapped. You can proceed to slip your knee between their elbows, transition to S-mount, and finish the choke; whether their hand stays in or comes out, you maintain control.
Can I finish the gift wrap into a triangle lock?
Yes. BJJ After Forty shows that from the face wrap position you can transition into a triangle lock by dropping and rolling onto your shoulder, grabbing your shin, and hooking your foot to create leverage against the opponent's back while trapping their arm—creating a submission that's very difficult to escape.
How does the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke work?
The gift wrap lapel choke uses a controlling position where the attacker wraps the opponent's own arm across their head or body and pins it there, then feeds the lapel around the neck to create a strangle. The 'gift wrap' refers to trapping the opponent's arm by threading it across themselves — this eliminates one defensive hand and exposes the neck for the lapel feed.
Where does the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke come from?
The gift wrap control position has roots in wrestling and catch wrestling as an arm-trapping pin. BJJ practitioners adapted it by adding lapel feeds to convert the controlling position into a choking submission.
Is the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: restricted — N/A (no-gi competition only — technique requires gi); Unified MMA: restricted — N/A (technique requires gi — not applicable in MMA); FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke?
Danger rating 8/10. Gift wrap controls one arm while using the opponent's own lapel to create a strangle
How do I set up the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke?
Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.
What are the variants of the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke?
Common variants: Standard grip variation (primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure); Gi variation (uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional fric…); No-gi variation (adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling wit…); Transition finish (applied during a positional change to catch the opponent …).
How effective is the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke in competition?
Gift wrap chokes and transitions are used in BJJ competition as an advanced control-to-submission chain.
What are common mistakes when doing the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Not trapping the arm securely — the opponent's arm must be locked across their face before the lapel is fed; a loose … / Feeding the lapel too loosely — the lapel must be tight against the neck; slack in the lapel reduces compression / Not controlling the opponent's posture — from back control, maintain chest-to-back contact throughout / Attempting without gi — the gift wrap lapel choke requires the gi; it does not work in no-gi.
What are other names for the Gift Wrap Lapel Choke?
The Gift Wrap Lapel Choke is also known as Gifuto Rappu Raperu Chōku, Gift Wrap Choke, Embrulho, Lapel Gift Wrap.