All About the Darce Choke - Pathways & Back-Up Plans
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D’Arce Choke From Turtle·Knight Jiu-Jitsu
Hundreds more class instruction videos at Patreon.com/KnightJiuJitsu The Darce choke is an extremely popular head and a…
D’Arce Choke From Turtle
Speciesダースチョーク・タートルから
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The D'Arce choke applied against an opponent in the turtle position, where the attacker threads the choking arm under the turtled opponent's neck and near-side arm. This entry exploits the opponent's defensive posture by attacking the exposed neck while they protect against back takes. The turtle D'Arce is particularly effective when the opponent reaches back to defend hooks.
D'Arce From TurtleBrabo From TurtleTurtle 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
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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 Turtle — 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
1 video
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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
How do I position myself to get my arm deep enough for the D'Arce choke from turtle?
According to Knight Jiu-Jitsu, center yourself perpendicular to your opponent while keeping pushing their head in and reaching your arm through. This positioning helps you get your arm in deep enough to secure the choke.
What should I do if my opponent defends against my D'Arce attempt?
Knight Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes that knowing how your opponent will respond allows you to have backup techniques ready in the chamber. Your response depends on their specific defense, so having multiple pathways ensures you can still finish even if your initial attempt fails.
Can I do the D'Arce choke with both a gi and no-gi?
Yes, Knight Jiu-Jitsu notes that the D'Arce choke works effectively in both gi and no-gi variations and is a very tight choke in either context.
What other positions can I enter the D'Arce choke from besides turtle?
Knight Jiu-Jitsu demonstrates that the D'Arce choke can be accessed from side control, particularly when your opponent attempts the ghost escape.
How does the D’Arce Choke From Turtle work?
The D'Arce choke applied against an opponent in the turtle position, where the attacker threads the choking arm under the turtled opponent's neck and near-side arm. This entry exploits the opponent's defensive posture by attacking the exposed neck while they protect against back takes.
Where does the D’Arce Choke From Turtle 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 Turtle 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 Turtle?
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 Turtle?
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 Turtle?
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 Turtle?
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 Turtle 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 Turtle?
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 Turtle?
The D’Arce Choke From Turtle is also known as D'Arce From Turtle, Brabo From Turtle, Turtle D'Arce.