Nami, Kata & Gyaku Part II: From Guard
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Nami Juji Jime·Higashi Canada·Added by Admin
Tori: Sensei Jose Eudes Monteiro Uke: Kelvin Cheong Technique: Nami, Kata and Gyaku Juji Jime from Guard Follow us: …
Nami Juji Jime
Genus並十字絞(Nami Juji Jime)
TraditionalTranslation: normal cross strangle
Overview
Nami Juji Jime is the normal cross strangle in judo — both hands grip the opponent's lapels with the palms facing down, and the forearms cross to create a scissors-like choking pressure on both sides of the neck. [1] It is the most basic of the three cross strangles in the Kodokan curriculum (the others being Kata Juji Jime and Gyaku Juji Jime). [1] Typically applied from mount or guard position. [1]
Nami-Juji-JimeJPNormal Cross ChokeBoxingNamijujijimeStandard Cross Collar ChokeBoxing
History & Origin
Classified in the Kodokan Judo syllabus. [1]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Kodokan judo lineage: Jigoro Kano (1860–1938) systematized this technique as part of the Kodokan judo curriculum. Transmitted through the Kodokan instructor system to judo federations worldwide. Adopted into BJJ through Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → the Gracie family lineage. [1]
Competition Record
Recognized Kodokan judo technique. Used in IJF World Championships and Olympic judo competition. Frequency varies by weight class and era. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Both hands grip opponent's lapels palms-down, forearms cross to create scissors-like pressure on both carotid arteries
Joints Involved — Both wrists (lapel grip), forearms (crossing pressure), shoulders (driving force)
Force Vector — Inward compression from both sides of the neck — bilateral carotid compression
Target — Both carotid arteries — blood choke causes unconsciousness in 5-10 seconds
Position & Entry
From mount — Grip both lapels deep, cross forearms, pull elbows toward the mat
From closed guard — Same grip, pull opponent's head down while crossing forearms
From knee on belly — Establish grips, cross and squeeze
Variants
Tight grip Nami — fingers deep in the collar for maximum leverage
Loose grip Nami — quick setup with shallower grips
Transition to Kata Juji — switch one hand to palm-up if normal grip fails
Videos
Nami, Kata and Gyaku Juji Jime Part I: From Mount
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Nami Juji Jime·Higashi Canada
Tori: Sensei Jose Eudes Monteiro Uke: Kelvin Cheong Technique: Nami, Kata and Gyaku Juji Jime from Mount Follow us:…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
Nami Juji Jime is a cross-collar choke performed with both palms facing downward, characterized by precise hand placement and anatomical awareness of bone structure. Both Kata & Gyaku Part II and Higashi Canada emphasize that the technique requires the practitioner to insert the thumb deep into the opponent's collar ("dip") on both sides, then relax downward pressure rather than pulling upward, which would create escape space. A critical detail both instructors stress is the use of the radius and ulna bones: the forearm's structure must be positioned correctly against the opponent's neck, often requiring hand rotation to optimize bone contact. Kata & Gyaku Part II introduces multiple positional variations—nami (palms down), kata (one palm turned), and gyaku (both palms up)—each requiring specific hand rotations and depth adjustments to close space and prevent escape. Higashi Canada provides foundational instruction from mount position, detailing the importance of blocking the armpit and maintaining elbow closure throughout the technique. Both instructors agree that space closure is paramount: any gap allows the opponent to drop their chin or shift position to survive the choke. The synthesis of their teaching suggests nami juji jime is fundamentally about anatomically efficient pressure application through bone structure rather than muscular strength.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Kata & Gyaku Part II — Nami: Detailed the nami, kata, and gyaku hand position variations with emphasis on hand rotation mechanics, space-closing adjustments ("dip, dip, dip"), and how to maintain pressure when the opponent has back space. Introduced multiple grip options and the importance of turning hands to engage bone structure efficiently.
- Higashi Canada — Nami, Kata and Gyaku Juji Jime Part I: From Mount: Provided foundational instruction from mount position, explicitly named and defined the technique components (nami = palms down, ju-ji = cross, jime = choke), explained radius and ulna bone mechanics, and stressed downward pressure via mat contact rather than upward pulling to prevent space creation.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Blood choke causes unconsciousness in seconds.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
IJF Judo— Kodokan classified technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025PDFUnified MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFTraining Notes
✓Grip DEEP in the collar — shallow grips have no leverage
✓Cross the forearms at the WRIST level — crossing at the elbows is too wide
✓Pull elbows DOWN and together — this creates the scissors pressure
✓The choke works by compressing the carotid arteries, not the windpipe
✓TAP EARLY when training — blood chokes cause unconsciousness quickly
Common Mistakes
!Shallow grip — can't generate enough leverage
!Crossing too wide — forearms at elbows instead of wrists
!Pushing instead of pulling — the scissors effect needs inward pull
!Trying to crush the windpipe instead of compressing arteries
!Not recognizing the tap quickly enough in training
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1From mount → grip one lapel deep → grip second lapel → cross and squeeze
2From guard → pull opponent's head down → establish grips → Nami Juji Jime
3Kami Shiho Gatame → slide hands to collar → transition to cross strangle
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
1BookKano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
[1] Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
[1] Kano, J. Kodokan Judo. Kodansha International.
Community
Athletics
Requires
strong grip for deep collar control, upper body strength for the squeeze
Key muscles
forearms (grip), biceps (pulling), pectorals (crossing force)
Notes
Nami juji jime (normal cross strangle) uses both hands gripping the opposite lapels with palms facing downward. The most commonly taught cross collar choke — it is effective from mount, guard, and side control. (Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to keep my head close to my opponent's head when applying nami juji jime?
Keeping your head close eliminates space where your opponent can escape or breathe. If you give space, your opponent may be able to get their chin up or move away, so maintaining pressure by staying connected is crucial to the effectiveness of the choke.
What's the correct hand position for nami juji jime, and why does bone placement matter?
For nami juji jime, place both thumbs in with a dipping motion, using your ulna (bone on the pinky side of your forearm) to apply pressure rather than just your hands. Turn your hands so the radial bone works properly, and keep your elbows relaxed without opening them, as this maintains the pressure needed for the choke.
Should I pull up or push down when setting up nami juji jime from mount?
You should push down using the mat for pressure, never pull up. Pulling up opens space at the neck where your opponent can drop their chin and breathe, defeating the choke.
How do I set up nami juji jime from mount position?
From mount, go up high to block the opponent's armpit and apply pressure. Insert your first thumb deep with a dip, use your ulna bone to apply force, then pass your second hand under your arm to open the opponent's chin, and relax your body weight down to close all escape spaces.
How does the Nami Juji Jime work?
Nami Juji Jime is the normal cross strangle in judo — both hands grip the opponent's lapels with the palms facing down, and the forearms cross to create a scissors-like choking pressure on both sides of the neck. It is the most basic of the three cross strangles in the Kodokan curriculum (the others being Kata Juji Jime and Gyaku Juji Jime).
Where does the Nami Juji Jime come from?
Classified in the Kodokan Judo syllabus.
Is the Nami Juji Jime legal in competition?
IJF Judo: Legal: legal — Kodokan classified technique; IBJJF: Legal {src:IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024|/sources/IBJJF: legal — Rules-v6.0-June-2024.pdf}; Unified MMA: Legal {src:Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025|/sources/Unified: legal — MMA-Rules-August-2025.pdf}; FIAS Sambo: Legal {src:FIAS International Sambo Competition Rules|/sources/FIAS: legal — Sambo-Rules.pdf}
How dangerous is the Nami Juji Jime?
Danger rating 7/10. High — blood choke causes unconsciousness in seconds.
How do I set up the Nami Juji Jime?
The standard setup chain: From mount → grip one lapel deep → grip second lapel → cross and squeeze → From guard → pull opponent's head down → establish grips → Nami Juji Jime → Kami Shiho Gatame → slide hands to collar → transition to cross strangle.
How do I defend against the Nami Juji Jime?
Standard counters include: Fight the grips — strip the hands from the collar before they deepen / Posture up — create distance between the choking forearms and your neck / Tuck chin — protect the neck and make the choke harder to set / Turn to the side — change the angle to relieve pressure.
What are the variants of the Nami Juji Jime?
Common variants: Tight grip Nami (fingers deep in the collar for maximum leverage); Loose grip Nami (quick setup with shallower grips); Transition to Kata Juji (switch one hand to palm-up if normal grip fails).
How effective is the Nami Juji Jime in competition?
Recognized Kodokan judo technique. Used in IJF World Championships and Olympic judo competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Nami Juji Jime?
Top errors to watch for: Shallow grip — can't generate enough leverage / Crossing too wide — forearms at elbows instead of wrists / Pushing instead of pulling — the scissors effect needs inward pull / Trying to crush the windpipe instead of compressing arteries.
What are other names for the Nami Juji Jime?
The Nami Juji Jime is also known as Nami Juji Jime, Nami-Juji-Jime, Normal Cross Choke, Namijujijime, Standard Cross Collar Choke.