How To Do The Guillotine Choke | The Jiu Jitsu Class
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Guillotine Choke·ROYDEAN
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Guillotine Choke
Genus前首絞(Mae-kubi-jime)
TraditionalTranslation: Front Neck Strangle
Overview
The guillotine choke is a front headlock strangle where the attacker wraps one arm around the opponent's neck from the front, clasps the hands together, and squeezes upward while pulling the head down. [1],[2] The forearm blade presses into the throat (air choke) or carotid arteries (blood choke) depending on arm placement. [1] The guillotine can be applied standing, from closed guard, half guard, or during scrambles. [1],[3] Modern variations include the arm-in guillotine, high-elbow guillotine, and Marcelotine, each with distinct finishing mechanics. [1],[4]
History & Origin
The guillotine choke has ancient origins in wrestling and folk grappling across multiple cultures. [1],[2] In judo, mae-hadaka-jime (front naked strangle) established the basic mechanic. [2],[3] The technique became central to MMA and BJJ through fighters like Marcelo Garcia, who revolutionized the high-elbow guillotine in the 2000s and made it one of the most feared submissions in grappling. [1],[4]
Effectiveness
The guillotine choke is one of the highest-percentage submissions in MMA, effective from standing clinch and guard positions. [1] Marcelo Garcia identifies the guillotine as a primary attack whenever the opponent's head drops below chest level, noting that the arm-in and no-arm variations create complementary threats. [2] The mechanics compress the trachea or carotid arteries depending on grip variation (high-elbow vs. arm-in), and the technique can finish opponents who are actively shooting takedowns. [1],[3]
Lineage
The guillotine choke has roots in catch wrestling's front headlock and in judo's mae-hadaka-jime. [1] In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Gracie family refined the guillotine from closed guard as a counter to takedown attempts. [2] Marcelo Garcia's competitive success elevated the arm-in guillotine, and John Danaher later systematized the high-elbow ('Marcelotine') variation at Renzo Gracie Academy. [3]
Competition Record
The guillotine choke is consistently among the top three submission finishes in UFC history, accounting for approximately 14% of all submission victories. [1] Notable UFC guillotine finishes include Charles Oliveira, who holds the UFC record for most submission wins, many via guillotine. [1] In ADCC, Marcelo Garcia used the guillotine extensively in his 2003–2009 title runs. [2]
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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 standing (opponent shoots) — Sprawl on the shot, secure chin-strap grip around the neck, lock the guillotine and pull guard or finish standing
From closed guard — Opponent dives head down, wrap arm around the neck, clasp hands and arch the back while squeezing
From front headlock (snap-down) — Snap the opponent's head down, secure the chin-strap, sit to guard or sprawl to finish
Videos
How to do the Guillotine in Jiu Jitsu | Everything You Need to Know!
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Guillotine Choke·Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu
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ADCC-Tested Guillotine Choke | Craig Jones B-Team Technique
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Guillotine Choke·The B-Team
Craig Jones shows the guillotine choke he used to submit Kyle Boehm at ADCC 2022. Instructionals: https://bjjfanatics.…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The guillotine choke is a front-headlock submission that occludes the carotid arteries and renders an opponent unconscious within six to seven seconds if maintained; it ranked among the top three most-used finishing submissions at recent ADCC tournaments. Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu emphasizes the mechanistic principle of either squeezing the neck (analogous to pinching a garden hose) or crimping it by bending the head toward the torso. In the arm-out guillotine, the elbow drives over the opponent's shoulder while the forearm blade positions itself in the space where the chin meets the neck, followed by a squeeze-and-push finish. In the arm-in guillotine, the opponent's arm blocks the over-the-shoulder elbow position, so the finish instead relies on a crunch motion that pulls the opponent's head into their own lower body, collapsing the neck and restricting blood flow. Craig Jones (B-Team) describes initiating the choke from a wrestling exchange by scooping the hands under the chin and collapsing the top of the head before the opponent lands, then securing a closed guard to prevent escape; he notes that early neck bending before ground contact creates a tighter position. ROYDEAN offers setup variations including the hip-bump escape and subsequent guillotine transition, the shoulder-slip from clinch positions, and chaining the guillotine to triangle or Kimura submissions if the opponent defends the initial choke. All three instructors stress proper hand placement (wrist and forearm blade touching the jaw-to-neck junction), hip positioning (on the same side as the opponent's head to maintain leverage), and the timing of shoulder placement to prevent the opponent's head from slipping out.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu — How to do the Guillotine in Jiu Jitsu | Everything You Need to Know!: Comprehensive taxonomy of arm-in versus arm-out variants; detailed mechanistic explanations (squeezing versus crimping); emphasis on Marcelo Garcia's over-the-shoulder elbow position; common mistakes including poor wrist placement, lost leg control, and incorrect finishing mechanics; high-percentage setups from wrestler's takedown attempts and bottom-to-top transitions.
- The B-Team — ADCC-Tested Guillotine Choke | Craig Jones B-Team Technique: Competition-proven arm-in guillotine from wrestling exchanges; emphasis on early neck collapse via hand-scooping before landing; importance of securing closed guard post-landing to prevent scramble escape; strategic context of fatiguing opponents before submission attempts; application at elite ADCC level.
- ROYDEAN — How To Do The Guillotine Choke | The Jiu Jitsu Class: Clinch-based shoulder-slip entry mechanics; multiple hand-grip variations including palm-to-palm positioning; high-percentage hip-bump setup with backward momentum management; chaining transitions to triangle and Kimura submissions if initial choke is defended; guard-based initiations and hip positioning adjustments for optimal control.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
9
Extreme9/10
The guillotine is one of the most common submissions in MMA; combines tracheal and vascular pressure
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 guillotine choke wraps the arm around the opponent's neck and locks the hands together to compress the trachea and/or carotid arteries — the opponent's head is trapped under the armpit like a guillotine blade (Danaher, Front Headlock System: Go Further Faster, 2019)
✓The arm guillotine: the choking arm wraps around the neck from the front, the hand grips the wrist or uses a chin-strap grip, and the forearm drives up into the throat
✓There are two primary variations: the 'arm-in' guillotine (the opponent's arm is inside the choking loop, targeting the arteries) and the 'naked' or 'high-elbow' guillotine (arm excluded, targeting both arteries and trachea)
✓The guillotine is the primary front-headlock submission: whenever the opponent's head is below your chest from the front, a guillotine is available
✓The high-elbow (Marcelotine) variation: angle the choking elbow upward while curling the wrist — this drives the blade of the forearm into the carotid from underneath rather than pressing the trachea
✓The guillotine works from standing, from guard (closed, half, butterfly), and from sprawl — its versatility makes it one of the most commonly attempted submissions in MMA and BJJ
✓Marcelo Garcia's guillotine innovations — particularly the arm-in and high-elbow variations — transformed the technique from a cranking trachea attack to a precise blood choke
Common Mistakes
!Squeezing the trachea with a straight wrist — curl the wrist and angle the forearm to target the carotid arteries; straight-wrist guillotines are air chokes that strong opponents can endure
!Not controlling the opponent's body — the guillotine requires the opponent's body to be close; without hip control or guard, they back out
!Falling to the back without securing guard — if you sit to guillotine without hooks or closed guard, the opponent passes to side control and escapes
!Applying the guillotine with the arm too deep — the wrist should be at the neck, not reaching past the shoulder; over-insertion reduces leverage
!Not arching the back — the finishing motion requires hip extension and back arch; curling forward loosens the choke
!Pulling the head straight up — the effective motion is curling and rotating the wrist up and toward you; straight upward pulling is a neck crank, not a choke
!Holding a loose guillotine hoping it will work — if the grip is loose, regrip or transition; a loose guillotine wastes energy and position
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
Classical Jujutsu (Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu); Shooto terminology
1OtherShooto (Japanese MMA)
Japanese MMA pioneer organization — technique terminology
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)
4CitationClassical Jujutsu (Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu); Shooto terminology
Japanese terminology sourced from Classical Jujutsu (Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu); Shooto terminology
Community
Athletics
Requires
forearm and grip strength, hip flexibility for guard retention
Favours
longer arms for deeper chin-strap wrap
Key muscles
forearm flexors, biceps, hip flexors
Sub-techniques
Guillotine Choke From Closed Guard
SpeciesThe guillotine choke from closed guard is applied by wrapping one arm around the opponent's neck from the front, locking the hands together, and squeezing while using the closed guard to prevent the opponent from posturing up or pulling their head free. [1,2] The guard player typically catches the guillotine as the opponent shoots or dives into the guard, then closes the legs to secure the position. [1] Hip elevation and a slight angle to the choking side increase leverage and direct the forearm blade more precisely into the carotid artery. [1,2,3]
2 varieties·2 techniquesExplore
Guillotine Choke From Front-Headlock Sprawl
SpeciesThe guillotine choke from front-headlock sprawl is applied after the attacker sprawls to defend a takedown attempt, catching the opponent's head in a front headlock and wrapping the arm around the neck. [1,2] The sprawl provides hip distance and downward pressure that prevent the opponent from completing the takedown, while the wrapped arm compresses the neck. [1] The attacker may finish standing with a squeeze, pull guard to add leg control, or transition to a seated position to tighten the choke. [1,2]
2 varieties·2 techniquesExplore
Guillotine Choke From Standing Snap-Down
SpeciesThe ten-finger guillotine from standing snap-down is a no-arm-trapped variant where the attacker clasps all ten fingers together around the opponent's neck without trapping an arm inside the loop. [1] After snapping the opponent's head down, the attacker wraps the neck with one arm and locks both hands together in an interlocking ten-finger grip (gable or S-grip), creating a pure neck guillotine. [1,2] Without an arm trapped inside, the choking loop is tighter and smaller, concentrating all pressure directly on the throat and carotid arteries. [2] The ten-finger grip is extremely strong but requires precise neck isolation to prevent the opponent from posturing out. [2,3]
3 varieties·3 techniquesExplore
Guillotine Choke From Top Half-Guard
SpeciesThe guillotine choke from top half-guard is applied when the top player wraps the bottom player's neck in a guillotine grip while the bottom player retains a half-guard. [1,2] The top player typically catches the guillotine when the bottom player dives for an underhook or attempts to come to a single-leg, then maintains the grip while working to free the trapped leg. [1] The attacker can finish by sprawling the hips to increase pressure, or by stepping over to mount or full guard while maintaining the neck wrap. [1,2]
1 varieties·1 techniquesExplore
Marcelotine High Elbow Guillotine
SpeciesThe Marcelotine is a guillotine choke performed without the opponent's arm trapped inside, using a high elbow position over the opponent's trapezius to create direct blade-of-wrist pressure on the trachea and carotid arteries. [1] Perfected by Marcelo Garcia (5x ADCC champion, one of BJJ's greatest competitors) as his signature submission. The name was coined by the BJJ community in his honor. [2] Unlike the arm-in guillotine which requires crunching to the side, the Marcelotine finishes by pulling elbows back and pulling legs back from butterfly guard to increase throat pressure.
Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly should my arm be positioned on the opponent's neck during a guillotine?
Your arm should be positioned right underneath the chin, with about three inches of space beneath it. Matt Arroyo emphasizes that this placement is critical, following the Marcello Garcia style with the elbow positioned on the side.
Why does my opponent's head keep popping out when I try to finish the guillotine?
If your hips are straight to the ceiling, you don't have proper leverage and the head will slip out. Instead, position your shoulder over the opponent's neck so you don't see any hair, keep your hips on the same side as their head (like a DDT), and maintain everything forward rather than arching back.
How do I finish the guillotine once I have the grip locked in?
Pull your wrist through the opponent's neck while pushing your forearm into their shoulder simultaneously to maintain steady pressure. Alternatively, you can slide their head into their own belly while crimping down, which creates the choke effect like squeezing a hose to stop water flow.
How should I position my body when executing a guillotine from a takedown defense?
Keep your shoulder at the base of the opponent's spine and maintain everything forward. Avoid landing flat on your back or keeping your head too far from theirs, as arching back creates a good chance for the head to slip out. Once tight, pull to the side and work to secure closed guard.
How does the Guillotine Choke work?
The guillotine choke is a front headlock strangle where the attacker wraps one arm around the opponent's neck from the front, clasps the hands together, and squeezes upward while pulling the head down. The forearm blade presses into the throat (air choke) or carotid arteries (blood choke) depending on arm placement.
Where does the Guillotine Choke come from?
The guillotine choke has ancient origins in wrestling and folk grappling across multiple cultures. In judo, mae-hadaka-jime (front naked strangle) established the basic mechanic.
Is the Guillotine 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 Guillotine Choke?
Danger rating 9/10. The guillotine is one of the most common submissions in MMA; combines tracheal and vascular pressure
How do I set up the Guillotine Choke?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Guillotine 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 Guillotine Choke?
Common variants: Arm-in guillotine (traps the opponent's arm inside the choke for additional …); High-elbow guillotine (Marcelotine) (elevates the elbow above the head for stronger carotid co…); Standing guillotine (finished from the feet without pulling guard); Power guillotine (chin-strap grip with a rear-naked-choke-style finish for …).
How effective is the Guillotine Choke in competition?
The guillotine choke is consistently among the top three submission finishes in UFC history, accounting for approximately 14% of all submission victories. Notable UFC guillotine finishes include Charles Oliveira, who holds the UFC record for most submission wins, many via guillotine.
What are common mistakes when doing the Guillotine Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Squeezing the trachea with a straight wrist — curl the wrist and angle the forearm to target the carotid arteries; st… / Not controlling the opponent's body — the guillotine requires the opponent's body to be close; without hip control or… / Falling to the back without securing guard — if you sit to guillotine without hooks or closed guard, the opponent pas… / Applying the guillotine with the arm too deep — the wrist should be at the neck, not reaching past the shoulder; over….
What are other names for the Guillotine Choke?
The Guillotine Choke is also known as Mae-kubi-jime, Mae-hadaka-jime, Front Naked Choke, Guilhotina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between arm-in and arm-out guillotine?
Arm-in guillotine (opponent's arm trapped inside): the opponent's own shoulder helps compress one side of the neck. Finish by crunching to the side. More secure, harder to escape, but slightly slower to finish. Arm-out guillotine (Marcelotine/high-elbow): direct blade-of-wrist pressure on the throat with the elbow elevated over the trapezius. More aggressive, faster finish, but the opponent can escape by passing to side control.
How do I stop getting Von Flue choked when I hold the guillotine?
The Von Flue choke happens when you hold a loose guillotine from bottom while they pass to side control. Prevention: (1) Never hold a guillotine from bottom side control — either finish immediately or let go. (2) Keep your guard closed or establish butterfly hooks to prevent the pass. (3) If they do pass, immediately release the guillotine and frame to escape side control.
When should I use a guillotine vs a triangle?
Guillotine when you have front headlock control (they shoot a takedown, you sprawl). Triangle when you have guard control (they are inside your guard with one arm isolated). The guillotine is a standing/sprawl weapon; the triangle is a guard weapon. Some positions allow both — from butterfly guard, you can threaten both depending on their reaction.