UFC BJJ Star Davis Asare Teaches World Class Darce
0
D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard·JonThomasBJJ
Make Hydration Easier With Kumite! Get 20% off your order with code: JONTHOMASBJJ https://kumite.energy/?utm_source=jont…
D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard
Speciesダースチョーク・ハーフガードトップから
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The D'Arce choke applied from the top half-guard position, where the attacker threads the arm under the bottom player's neck while they attempt to underhook or recover guard. This entry capitalises on the bottom player's exposed neck when they turn to their side to initiate a sweep or underhook. It is one of the highest-percentage D'Arce entries in competition.
D'Arce From Half Guard TopBrabo From Half GuardHalf Guard D'Arce
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Named after Joe D'Arce; closely related to the Brabo choke from Brazil. [1]
Competition Record
The D'Arce choke is commonly finished in MMA and no-gi competition. [1]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Threading the choking arm under the opponent's near-side armpit and around the neck from the front headlock, creating bilateral compression using the attacker's arms and the opponent's own trapped shoulder
Joints Involved — Choking arm (threads under the armpit and around the neck), secondary arm (clasps with the choking arm to complete the figure-four), chest (drives into the opponent to tighten the compression)
Force Vector — Bilateral compression — the D'Arce squeezes the neck between the choking arm on one side and the opponent's own trapped shoulder on the other
Submission Mechanic — The D'Arce works by trapping the opponent's arm against their own neck, then using the figure-four arm configuration to squeeze — the opponent's shoulder becomes part of the choking mechanism
Position & Entry
From D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard — Establish control in this specific position, thread the choking arm under the near-side armpit, wrap around the neck, clasp with the secondary arm, and squeeze
Videos
Half Guard Submission- The Darce
0
D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard·Great Grappling
In this video I explain how to apply the Darce choke. This is a very common choke with a large variety of setups. During…
How to Do the D'Arce Choke (aka the No Gi Brabo Choke)
0
D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard·Stephan Kesting
How to Do the D'Arce (aka No Gi Brabo) choke in BJJ, no gi submission grappling, and MMA by Denis Kang and Stephan Kesti…
1 / 2
3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The D'Arce choke from top half-guard is a front-headlock-based arm-triangle submission that capitalizes on the opponent's underhook attempt. According to Stephan Kesting and Great Grappling, the technique is triggered when the bottom player seeks an underhook in half-guard, prompting the top player to thread their arm under the opponent's head and neck. The setup requires feeding the hand deep underneath the opponent's arm and manipulating the neck to break down posture and access the back of the neck. Davis Asare, featured by JonThomasBJJ, emphasizes that the finishing mechanics depend on hand placement—the top hand should walk as high as possible toward the far shoulder rather than remaining low. All three instructors stress the importance of achieving a chest-to-chest position for optimal finishing, with Asare noting that opponents will attempt to escape by facing belly-down or belly-up to prevent this alignment. Great Grappling and Kesting both detail the figure-four grip variation, with Kesting presenting an alternative forearm-to-forearm grip for shorter-armed practitioners or larger opponents. Asare uniquely highlights using the top player's knee, thigh, or hip to drive the opponent's elbow past the centerline, and emphasizes rotating the elbow inward (rather than squeezing blindly) as the primary finishing mechanism. Great Grappling adds that lifting the setup-side elbow toward the ceiling provides superior leverage compared to pure compression. All instructors agree the position is fluid, requiring continuous positional adjustment to maintain chest-to-chest orientation as opponents counter-rotate.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- JonThomasBJJ — UFC BJJ Star Davis Asare Teaches World Class Darce: Davis Asare provides detailed finishing mechanics including hand placement on the far shoulder, the concept of driving the opponent's elbow past centerline using knee/thigh/hip pressure, elbow rotation as the primary finish mechanism, and positional cycling to maintain chest-to-chest position as the opponent attempts to escape by rotating belly-down or belly-up.
- Stephan Kesting — How to Do the D'Arce Choke (aka the No Gi Brabo Choke): Kesting demonstrates the foundational entry from half-guard, the standard figure-four grip finish, and introduces a practical variation using a forearm-to-forearm grip (rather than hand-to-bicep) for practitioners with shorter arms or against larger opponents, which converts the technique into more of a neck crank with the chest as counterweight.
- Great Grappling — Half Guard Submission- The Darce: Great Grappling emphasizes the importance of feeding the setup hand deep, manipulating the neck to break posture and access the back of the neck, securing the grip with the bony part of the wrist on the outside of the neck, and critically, lifting the setup-side elbow toward the ceiling as the primary finishing mechanism rather than pure compression.
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
The D'Arce choke compresses the carotid arteries and can cause unconsciousness in 6-10 seconds; the trapped arm adds additional compression
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 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 arm must thread UNDER the armpit, not over
✓The squeeze comes from chest pressure plus arm compression
✓Apply slowly in training
✓The opponent's trapped arm is part of the choke — it must be against their neck
Common Mistakes
!Not threading deep enough
!Squeezing with arms only (use chest pressure)
!Not controlling the opponent's hip to prevent escape
!Applying from too far away
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish front headlock/half guard top
2Thread choking arm under armpit
3Wrap around neck
4Clasp hands
5Apply chest pressure and squeeze
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Joe D'Arce technique lineage [2] Competition analysis
2BookMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Joe D'Arce technique lineage [2] Competition analysis
5CitationMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Community
Athletics
Requires
arm length (threading under the armpit), squeeze strength, chest pressure
Favours
long arms
Key muscles
biceps, forearms, chest
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I rely on strength to finish the D'Arce choke, or is there a better way?
Stephan Kesting emphasizes that while you can finish by squeezing hard if you're very strong, using biomechanics is more effective: drive forward while pushing your arm up into the neck and driving down with the other hand to create a tight choke.
What's the difference between the D'Arce choke and the neck crank variation?
According to Stephan Kesting, when you place your arm on the forearm instead of the bicep and drop your chest for pressure, it becomes more of a neck crank than a choke, with your wrist acting as the fulcrum and your chest providing counterweight pressure on the neck.
How deep should I feed my hand under my opponent when setting up the D'Arce?
Great Grappling instructor explains that how deep you get your setup hand underneath is critical—it dictates whether or not you'll finish the choke, so getting maximum depth is important before cinching the grip.
What part of my wrist should I use to apply pressure on the neck?
Great Grappling emphasizes using the bony part of your wrist on the outside of the neck, avoiding the flat, bendy, or back parts of the wrist that bend, as this creates more effective pressure.
How do I finish the D'Arce when my opponent has an underhook?
Great Grappling demonstrates lifting your inside elbow toward the ceiling after sitting on your opponent's hip and securing the grip—this finish works even when your opponent has a solid underhook.
How does the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard work?
The D'Arce choke applied from the top half-guard position, where the attacker threads the arm under the bottom player's neck while they attempt to underhook or recover guard. This entry capitalises on the bottom player's exposed neck when they turn to their side to initiate a sweep or underhook.
Where does the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard come from?
The D'Arce choke was named after Joe D'Arce who popularised the technique in the early 2000s. It is closely related to the Brabo choke.
Is the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-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: 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 D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard?
Danger rating 8/10. High — the D'Arce choke compresses the carotid arteries and can cause unconsciousness in 6-10 seconds; the trapped arm adds additional compression
How do I set up the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard?
The standard setup chain: Establish front headlock/half guard top → Thread choking arm under armpit → Wrap around neck → Clasp hands → Apply chest pressure and squeeze.
How do I defend against the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard?
Standard counters include: Posture up before the arm is threaded / Lock the hands together to prevent arm isolation / Turn into the choke to relieve angle.
What are the variants of the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard?
Common variants: Short D'Arce (partial arm thread for shorter arms); Long D'Arce (deep arm thread for maximum compression); Gable grip finish; RNC-style figure-four finish.
How effective is the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard in competition?
The D'Arce choke is commonly finished in MMA and no-gi competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Not threading deep enough / Squeezing with arms only (use chest pressure) / Not controlling the opponent's hip to prevent escape / Applying from too far away.
What are other names for the D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard?
The D’Arce Choke From Top Half-Guard is also known as D'Arce From Half Guard Top, Brabo From Half Guard, Half Guard D'Arce.