This arm trap makes getting the Rear Naked Choke easy
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One Arm Rear Naked Choke·Mastermind Martial Arts·Added by Admin
There are many ways to trap the arm when on someone’s back, most involve using one’s legs to trap opponents arms, and wh…
One Arm Rear Naked Choke
Genus片腕裸絞め(Kata-ude Hadaka-jime)
TraditionalTranslation: One-Arm Naked Strangle
Overview
The one-arm rear naked choke is a variation where the attacker finishes the strangle using only the choking arm without the standard figure-four reinforcement from the second arm. [1],[2] The choking arm wraps around the opponent's neck under the chin with the bicep and forearm targeting the carotid arteries on the sides of the neck rather than the trachea, and the attacker creates compression on the opposite carotid using a structural anchor — pinning the opponent's shoulder, posting against their own shoulder or hip, or using a rotational scoop with the radius bone. [1] This variation is used when the second arm is occupied controlling the opponent's body or when the figure-four grip cannot be established due to defensive hand-fighting. [1],[3]
History & Origin
The one-arm rear naked choke developed as a practical adaptation when the standard two-arm RNC was defended. [1],[2] In judo, single-arm strangles from behind were recognized as valid hadaka-jime variations. [2],[3] MMA fighters popularized the one-arm finish when opponents successfully blocked the reinforcing hand, proving that positional pressure alone could complete the strangle. [1],[4]
Effectiveness
The one-arm RNC is effective in scrambles and MMA where gloves prevent figure-four grips. Requires more arm strength than the standard version but catches opponents during transitions before full back control is established. [1]
Lineage
Rooted in catch wrestling and judo (hadaka-jime variations). Adapted for MMA by fighters who found figure-four grips difficult with gloves. [1]
Competition Record
Common finish in MMA when fighters secure partial back control. Less frequent in pure grappling where the figure-four RNC is preferred. [1]
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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
Videos
Effective Rear Naked Choke Finish (Hide The Kill Grip)
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One Arm Rear Naked Choke·Chewjitsu
Here are at least 3 effective tips to help you finish your Rear Naked Choke once you've achieved Back Mount in BJJ. I di…
How to do the Rear Naked Choke in Jiu Jitsu | Jiu Jitsu Tutorial | BJJ Lessons
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One Arm Rear Naked Choke·Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu
Join My Online Academy to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu FAST!!! https://www.skool.com/mattarroyojiujitsu/about Looking to MAS…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The one-arm rear naked choke represents a practical variation of the traditional rear naked choke that addresses real-world defensive scenarios where an opponent resists submission attempts. Mastermind Martial Arts emphasizes arm-trapping mechanics using an open seatbelt grip without requiring high flexibility, executing a wrist control that neutralizes one opponent arm by rotating it behind their back and using chest pressure to trap both limbs. Chewjitsu teaches the halfback position application, where one hook replaces two, using a forward-leaning chest drive to hide the choking arm from the opponent's grip awareness until the critical moment of execution; this instructor stresses keeping the hand low behind the head to prevent defensive grabs and employs a "saw" motion with the thumb to establish proper positioning under the chin. Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu provides comprehensive finishing mechanics applicable across positions: proper elbow-under-chin placement, steady 60-70% pressure held for 10-15 seconds rather than maximum effort, and systematic grip-breaking via wrist lock ("may I help you") followed by leg entrapment to create the one-arm-versus-zero-arms advantage before executing the final choke. All three instructors converge on the principle that trapping or controlling the defending arm is essential before committing to the final choke, though they approach this objective through different positional frameworks and hand-placement strategies.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Mastermind Martial Arts — This arm trap makes getting the Rear Naked Choke easy: Demonstrates one-arm rear naked choke via open seatbelt grip with wrist control, emphasizing arm rotation and chest pressure for two-arm trapping without requiring exceptional flexibility; notes personal application over 15+ years with consistent success.
- Chewjitsu — Effective Rear Naked Choke Finish (Hide The Kill Grip): Teaches halfback position setup with single hook, forward chest drive to hide the choking arm, low hand placement behind head to prevent defensive grabs, and proper elbow extension through the chin; introduces three finishing variations including gable grip and underhook roll.
- Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu — How to do the Rear Naked Choke in Jiu Jitsu | Jiu Jitsu Tutorial | BJJ Lessons: Provides detailed mechanics including proper elbow placement, steady sustainable pressure application (60-70%), systematic grip-breaking via wrist lock with subsequent leg entrapment to achieve one-arm submission advantage; covers defensive chin-tucking solutions and mandible choke alternative.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Single-arm variant of RNC, less control but still dangerous
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 RulesPDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The one-arm rear naked choke applies the RNC strangle using only the choking arm — without the traditional figure-four lock, the single arm compresses the neck against the opponent's own shoulder or the attacker's chest (Danaher, Back Attacks: Enter the System, 2018)
✓The one-arm version works when the support arm is occupied: controlling the opponent's body, trapping an arm, or preventing escape — the choking arm must work alone
✓The mechanism: the choking arm wraps the neck and the bicep-forearm compression is reinforced by driving the opponent's head into the attacker's chest — the chest acts as the 'wall'
✓The one-arm RNC is often a transitional submission: it catches opponents during the scramble when the full RNC grip isn't yet established
✓From back control: wrap the choking arm and squeeze while driving the forehead into the back of the opponent's head — this pushes their neck into the choking arm
✓The one-arm choke requires more arm strength than the figure-four version — the lack of the second arm's support means the choking arm must generate all compression
✓This variation is common in MMA where the gloves make gripping difficult: the one-arm choke avoids the grip-connection problem entirely
Common Mistakes
!Attempting without driving the head forward — the chest and head must push the opponent's neck into the choking arm; arm-only squeezing is insufficient
!Not having the choking arm deep enough — the arm must be fully around the neck with the crook at the throat; shallow placement reduces compression
!Releasing back hooks to focus on the choke — maintain positional control; one arm choking while the other controls makes hooks even more critical
!Expecting the same finishing speed as the figure-four RNC — the one-arm version takes longer; be patient and maintain position
!Not using the free arm productively — the free arm should control the opponent's body, trap their arm, or push their head; a dangling free arm wastes potential
!Squeezing intermittently — maintain steady compression; pulsing allows the opponent to breathe between squeezes
!Giving up the one-arm attempt too quickly — with sufficient depth and head pressure, the one-arm RNC is effective; allow time for the arterial restriction to work
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
Extension of Kodokan Judo terminology (裸絞め); Japanese BJJ community
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationExtension of Kodokan Judo terminology (裸絞め); Japanese BJJ community
Japanese terminology sourced from Extension of Kodokan Judo terminology (裸絞め); Japanese BJJ community
Community
Athletics
Requires
upper body squeeze strength, bicep/forearm endurance
Favours
shorter, thicker arms for tighter squeeze
Key muscles
biceps, forearms, pectorals, deltoids
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the key to finishing a one arm rear naked choke when you only have one hook?
Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu emphasizes three main finishing motions: push your elbow down into the opponent's chest, bring your elbows together, and make a muscle while applying steady pressure. Additionally, place your head against theirs to block them from reaching back and grabbing your choking hand.
How do I position my grip hand for maximum squeezing power in the rear naked choke?
Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu recommends getting a good chunk of your bicep with your grip hand—your wrist should be on the bicep with your hand wrapped around it for a strong, tight grip, rather than using just your fingers.
Where exactly should my choking arm's elbow pit be positioned?
Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu states that the elbow pit—the small piece of skin separating your forearm and bicep—should be directly touching the opponent's neck with no space between them.
Can I do a rear naked choke without flexibility by trapping the arms differently?
Mastermind Martial Arts shows that you can establish a seat belt grip and use your chest to pack both arms without needing high flexibility—when you fall to the side, you can harass the head until you get the choke regardless of arm length or flexibility limitations.
How does the One Arm Rear Naked Choke work?
The one-arm rear naked choke is a variation where the attacker finishes the strangle using only the choking arm without the standard figure-four reinforcement from the second arm. The choking arm wraps around the opponent's neck under the chin with the bicep and forearm targeting the carotid arteries on the sides of the neck rather than the trachea, and the attacker creates compression on the opposite carotid using a structural anchor — pinning the opponent's shoulder, posting against their own shoulder or hip, or using a rotational scoop with the radius bone.
Where does the One Arm Rear Naked Choke come from?
The one-arm rear naked choke developed as a practical adaptation when the standard two-arm RNC was defended. In judo, single-arm strangles from behind were recognized as valid hadaka-jime variations.
Is the One Arm Rear Naked 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: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the One Arm Rear Naked Choke?
Danger rating 7/10. Very High — single-arm variant of RNC, less control but still dangerous
How do I set up the One Arm Rear Naked Choke?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the One Arm Rear Naked 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 One Arm Rear Naked Choke?
Common variants: Short choke (palm-to-palm grip) (compact grip for tight spaces when the chin is partially …); Gable grip RNC (interlocked fingers behind the head for maximum squeeze p…); Body triangle RNC (adds body triangle control for stronger hip management du…); One-arm RNC (single arm under the chin when the second arm cannot reac…).
How effective is the One Arm Rear Naked Choke in competition?
Common finish in MMA when fighters secure partial back control. Less frequent in pure grappling where the figure-four RNC is preferred.
What are common mistakes when doing the One Arm Rear Naked Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without driving the head forward — the chest and head must push the opponent's neck into the choking arm; … / Not having the choking arm deep enough — the arm must be fully around the neck with the crook at the throat; shallow … / Releasing back hooks to focus on the choke — maintain positional control; one arm choking while the other controls ma… / Expecting the same finishing speed as the figure-four RNC — the one-arm version takes longer; be patient and maintain….
What are other names for the One Arm Rear Naked Choke?
The One Arm Rear Naked Choke is also known as Kata-ude Hadaka-jime, One-Arm RNC, Single-Arm Rear Naked Choke, One-Hand Choke from Back.