Lapel attacks from closed guard
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Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard·Energia Martial Arts
Lapel attacks from closed guard Time for another gi video! This time we look at a form of lapel guard/lapel attacks from…
Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard
Species突込絞（ガードから）(Tsukkomi-jime — From Guard)
TraditionalTranslation: Thrust Strangle — From Guard
Overview
The thrust lapel choke from guard is executed by the bottom player who grips the opponent's collar and drives the fist directly into the throat or the side of the neck, using a pistol-grip or thumb-in configuration to create focal point pressure. [1],[2] From closed guard, the attacker breaks posture downward and punches the gripping hand forward into the neck while the opposite hand controls the opponent's posture via collar, sleeve, or head control. [1] The thrust creates direct tracheal or carotid compression depending on the angle of the fist. [1],[2]
History & Origin
Thrust-style lapel chokes appear in classical judo as tsukkomi-jime (突込絞め), where the attacker drives the knuckles into the neck using the collar as a force multiplier. [1],[2] The guard application was developed within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as practitioners explored aggressive collar attacks from the bottom position. [1] Unlike the cross collar choke which uses bilateral compression, the thrust choke concentrates force at a single point, making it effective even with a single deep collar grip. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
The thrust lapel choke from guard uses the bottom player's grip to push the collar into the opponent's throat while controlling with the legs. [1]
Lineage
Guard-bottom thrust chokes were developed in BJJ from judo shimewaza. [1]
Competition Record
Thrust lapel chokes from guard are attempted in gi BJJ competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Anterior compression of the trachea and airway — direct pressure on the throat restricts breathing and triggers tap
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (flexion under pressure), hyoid bone region, laryngeal cartilage
Force Vector — Posterior-to-anterior force drives the forearm or wrist blade into the throat
Choking Mechanism — Tracheal compression — restricts air flow rather than blood flow, causing sensation of suffocation
Position & Entry
From closed guard (gi) — Secure deep cross-collar grip, feed second hand to the opposite collar, close elbows and squeeze
From closed guard (no-gi) — Break posture, wrap neck with arm, secure the choking configuration using head and arm control
From open guard — Use spider or collar-sleeve grips to break posture, transition to the choking position
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Thrust choke from guard uses closed guard to control distance while driving the fist into the throat
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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 thrust lapel choke from guard drives the bunched lapel into the opponent's neck from the bottom position — using the guard to control distance and angle for the thrust (Gracie & Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)
✓From closed guard: grip the opponent's lapel deep with one hand and pull them into your guard — as they resist and posture, thrust the lapel-gripping fist into the side of their neck
✓The guard provides the necessary control: the legs prevent the opponent from pulling away while the thrust drives the lapel into the artery
✓The counter-intuitive nature is an advantage: most opponents expect pulling chokes from guard — the direct thrust catches them off-guard
✓The free hand assists by controlling the opponent's head or opposite collar — this prevents them from turning away from the thrust direction
✓The thrust from guard works well against posturing opponents: their upward movement creates space that the fist fills — driving into the exposed neck
✓This technique combines with other guard attacks: if the opponent defends the thrust by flattening, they become vulnerable to cross-collar chokes and sweeps
Common Mistakes
!Thrusting without pulling the opponent into guard first — they must be within range; thrusting at a posturing opponent who is too far away misses the neck
!Not controlling the head — the opponent's primary defence is turning their head away; the free hand must prevent this
!Using the thrust from open guard — closed guard is preferred; the leg control keeps the opponent in range for the thrust
!Thrusting at the front of the throat — direct the thrust to the lateral neck; the carotid is the target, not the windpipe
!Attempting with tired arms — the guard thrust requires explosive force; if fatigued, transition to technique-based strangles instead
!Not using the hips — hip extension adds power to the thrust; a flat-back thrust lacks sufficient force
!Holding the thrust stationary — if the initial thrust doesn't finish, grind and adjust the angle while maintaining pressure; a static hold allows adaptation
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
Kodokan Judo — Tsukkomi-jime
1BookKodokan Judo — Tsukkomi-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Tsukkomi-jime
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)
5CitationKodokan Judo — Tsukkomi-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Tsukkomi-jime
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip or squeeze strength, positional control
Favours
strong upper body for sustained compression
Key muscles
forearms, biceps, pectorals, core stabilisers
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I reach my opponent's head for the choke from closed guard?
If your opponent maintains good posture, their head is too far away to reach directly, even if you use your abs to sit up. According to Energia Martial Arts, this is why you must first establish control by trapping and positioning the lapel behind their arm before attempting the submission.
How do I prevent my opponent from stacking me while setting up the lapel choke?
Place your foot on their hip to prevent them from rushing forward and stacking you, which allows you to maintain distance and control. This base positioning is essential before executing the choke, per Energia Martial Arts.
What should I do with my body when I have the lapel grip to finish the choke?
Sit up and crunch your body forward—this traps your opponent's arm so they cannot pull it out, while their own shoulder helps block and choke them on the opposite side, as demonstrated by Energia Martial Arts.
What's a good follow-up if my opponent defends the lapel choke?
Pop their elbow to the inside and sit up to create back exposure, then switch to taking the back and securing hooks, which is often more effective than continuing to hunt for an armbar, according to Energia Martial Arts.
How does the Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard work?
The thrust lapel choke from guard is executed by the bottom player who grips the opponent's collar and drives the fist directly into the throat or the side of the neck, using a pistol-grip or thumb-in configuration to create focal point pressure. From closed guard, the attacker breaks posture downward and punches the gripping hand forward into the neck while the opposite hand controls the opponent's posture via collar, sleeve, or head control.
Where does the Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard come from?
Thrust-style lapel chokes appear in classical judo as tsukkomi-jime (突込絞め), where the attacker drives the knuckles into the neck using the collar as a force multiplier. The guard application was developed within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as practitioners explored aggressive collar attacks from the bottom position.
Is the Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard 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 Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard?
Danger rating 7/10. Thrust choke from guard uses closed guard to control distance while driving the fist into the throat
How do I set up the Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard?
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 Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard?
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 Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard in competition?
Thrust lapel chokes from guard are attempted in gi BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Thrusting without pulling the opponent into guard first — they must be within range; thrusting at a posturing opponen… / Not controlling the head — the opponent's primary defence is turning their head away; the free hand must prevent this / Using the thrust from open guard — closed guard is preferred; the leg control keeps the opponent in range for the thrust / Thrusting at the front of the throat — direct the thrust to the lateral neck; the carotid is the target, not the wind….
What are other names for the Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard?
The Thrust Lapel Choke From Guard is also known as Tsukkomi-jime — From Guard, Guard Thrust Choke, Tsukkomi-jime from Guard.