Anaconda Choke from Tortuga - BJJ Basics for MMA
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Anaconda Choke From Turtle·Peter Mettler Martial Arts
Anaconda Choke from Tortuga - Classic BJJ Basics & Catch Wrestling essentials. Learn the crucial details to get the tech…
Anaconda Choke From Turtle
Speciesアナコンダチョーク(Anakonda Chōku)
TransliterationTranslation: Anaconda Choke (katakana loanword)
Overview
The anaconda choke from turtle targets an opponent in the turtle position by the attacker threading the choking arm around the neck and under the far-side arm from a front-facing or side-facing angle, then locking the figure-four and executing a gator roll. [1],[2] The turtle position exposes the head for the neck-wrap and arms for the arm thread, and the gator roll dismantles the opponent's base by rolling them onto their back or side. [1] The attacker ends in a controlling position with the choke locked, using chest pressure and the roll's momentum to complete the submission. [1],[2]
History & Origin
Attacking the turtle with the anaconda choke became a competitive staple as turtling became a common defensive response to guard passes and scrambles. [1],[2] The turtle position's inherent vulnerability to front headlock attacks made it a natural target for anaconda entries, and the gator roll proved particularly effective at breaking down the turtle base. [1] This turtle-to-anaconda chain is now a standard part of the competitive grappler's turtle attack curriculum. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
The anaconda from turtle exploits the turtle's vulnerability — the head-down, arms-planted posture opens the neck-arm gap needed for threading. The turtle paradoxically protects the back but exposes the neck. [1]
Lineage
The turtle anaconda bridges wrestling turtle attacks (cradles, Nelsons) with BJJ arm-triangle submissions. A fundamental technique in modern submission grappling's turtle-attacking system. [1]
Competition Record
Increasingly common in competition as turtle defence has become more prevalent. Competitors use the anaconda as one of several turtle attacks alongside crucifix, clock choke, and back take. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Compression of the neck structures — restricts blood flow or airway depending on technique application
Joints Involved — Cervical spine, surrounding musculature, and vascular structures of the neck
Force Vector — Directed compression against the neck from the choking limb or body position
Finishing Mechanic — Sustained pressure causes either vascular occlusion (unconsciousness) or tracheal restriction (breathing difficulty)
Position & Entry
From back control with seatbelt — Establish hooks or body triangle, slide choking arm under the chin, connect hands and squeeze
From turtle top (back take) — Break down the turtle, insert hooks, secure seatbelt grip, slide to back control and apply the choke
From standing back clinch — Secure rear body lock, drag opponent to the mat while inserting hooks, transition to choking position
Videos
Marcelo Garcia - Anaconda Choke With 3 Variations
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Anaconda Choke From Turtle·MGInActionVideos
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2 videos
What Instructors Say
The anaconda choke from turtle position is executed by first establishing control of the opponent's head and arm while they are in the turtle position, preventing them from grabbing the attacker's legs. Peter Mettler Martial Arts emphasizes initial hand placement: forking fingers down the neck while controlling the triceps-to-shoulder junction with the other hand, then dropping the shoulder onto the opponent's chest and grabbing the chin. Both instructors stress the critical transition of moving the inside hand to the outside position quickly before the opponent can defend. MGInActionVideos (Marcelo Garcia) and Mettler agree on the importance of getting the arm as deep as possible across the opponent's neck, with the non-choking arm controlling the opponent's arm to prevent escape. The roll itself—performed like an anaconda constricting—is central to both teachings: the attacker rolls the opponent toward the side where their arm is positioned, using hip and body pressure against the opponent's head. Mettler emphasizes elbows-in positioning and scapular retraction for maximum squeeze efficiency. Garcia details managing the opponent's posture by controlling which direction they can balance, and provides a fallback to a modified knife choke if the standard grip cannot be achieved. Both instructors stress maintaining arm compression and preventing the opponent from opening their elbows during the roll and finish phases.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Peter Mettler Martial Arts — Anaconda Choke from Tortuga - BJJ Basics for MMA: Detailed hand positioning (forked fingers on neck, triceps control), shoulder drop mechanics, chin grip, the anaconda-style roll technique, elbow positioning, scapular retraction for squeeze, and the critical fast transition of the inside hand to outside position.
- MGInActionVideos — Marcelo Garcia - Anaconda Choke With 3 Variations: Deep arm positioning across the neck, managing opponent posture and balance direction, arm control to prevent elbow opening, hip and body pressure application, fallback to knife choke variation, gable grip alternatives when standard grip fails, leg positioning to increase pressure, and defensive counters to opponent escape attempts.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
9
Extreme9/10
Anaconda/gator-roll chokes use a rolling motion to tighten the arm-in head-and-arm strangle
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
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 anaconda choke from turtle attacks the turtled opponent by threading the arm over their neck and under the far arm — the turtle's defensive posture paradoxically creates the ideal geometry for the anaconda entry (Danaher, Front Headlock System: Go Further Faster, 2019)
✓The turtle creates anaconda opportunity: the head-down, arms-planted position opens the neck-arm gap that the anaconda threading requires — what protects against back takes exposes the neck
✓From the side of the turtle: reach over the neck with the choking arm, thread under the far arm, and connect the hands — the loop encircles the neck and trapped arm
✓Two finishing methods from turtle: gator roll (roll the opponent out of turtle) or hip walk (walk around the turtled opponent to tighten)
✓The anaconda from turtle is strategically important: the turtle is a common defensive position in BJJ and wrestling — having a submission attack from this position punishes the turtle defence
✓The turtle anaconda creates a tactical dilemma: the opponent must choose between maintaining turtle (which gives the anaconda) or opening up (which gives the back take)
✓The anaconda from turtle is one of the primary turtle attacks alongside the crucifix, clock choke, and back take — a complete turtle-attacking game includes all of these
Common Mistakes
!Approaching from directly behind — the anaconda requires a side approach; from behind, the neck-arm gap is inaccessible
!Threading over the near arm instead of the far arm — the far arm creates the correct arm-triangle geometry; near-arm threading is mechanically weak
!Not connecting the hands before attempting to finish — the loop must be closed; attempting to finish with an open grip fails
!Attempting from a kneeling position too far away — get close to the opponent with chest contact before threading
!Not having a finishing plan — decide on gator roll or hip walk before committing; indecision allows the opponent to adjust
!Releasing the grip if the first finish attempt fails — maintain the grip and try the other finish; the anaconda grip is valuable and shouldn't be abandoned
!Ignoring the opponent's attempts to stand — if they begin to stand from turtle, transition to a front headlock anaconda rather than losing the 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
Tri-force BJJ Academy (triforce-bjj.com); Tri-force Shiki BJJ (tfshiki-bjj.com); Aoki Shinya (note.com/a_ok_i)
Japan's largest BJJ academy chain — Japanese technique terminology
Japanese BJJ technique naming conventions article (2019)
Top Japanese MMA fighter — BJJ technique terminology
4OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
5CitationTri-force BJJ Academy (triforce-bjj.com); Tri-force Shiki BJJ (tfshiki-bjj.com); Aoki Shinya (note.com/a_ok_i)
Japanese terminology sourced from Tri-force BJJ Academy (triforce-bjj.com); Tri-force Shiki BJJ (tfshiki-bjj.com); Aoki Shinya (note.com/a_ok_i)
Community
Athletics
Requires
long arms for head-and-arm wrap, core strength for gator roll
Favours
longer limbs, athletic build
Key muscles
biceps, deltoids, core rotators, hip flexors
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I use to apply pressure on the opponent's neck and arm?
Peter Mettler emphasizes using your forearm and the edge of your hand on the opponent's neck and biceps rather than just your fingertips, as this provides better control on sweaty skin.
How do I transition the anaconda choke once I have the grip?
Roll your opponent over so their neck sits on your bicep, then move your inside hand to the outside quickly before they can grab or create space with their trapped arm.
What's the key to finishing the choke effectively?
Marcelo Garcia emphasizes going as deep as possible with your top hand and controlling the opponent's elbow with your outside hand; once you feel the squeeze building, reach for your own arm to complete the grip.
What should I prevent my opponent from doing during the choke?
Don't let your opponent roll over you or open their arms to create space; keep your position strong and maintain control over their trapped arm.
How does the Anaconda Choke From Turtle work?
The anaconda choke from turtle targets an opponent in the turtle position by the attacker threading the choking arm around the neck and under the far-side arm from a front-facing or side-facing angle, then locking the figure-four and executing a gator roll. The turtle position exposes the head for the neck-wrap and arms for the arm thread, and the gator roll dismantles the opponent's base by rolling them onto their back or side.
Where does the Anaconda Choke From Turtle come from?
Attacking the turtle with the anaconda choke became a competitive staple as turtling became a common defensive response to guard passes and scrambles. The turtle position's inherent vulnerability to front headlock attacks made it a natural target for anaconda entries, and the gator roll proved particularly effective at breaking down the turtle base.
Is the Anaconda 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 Anaconda Choke From Turtle?
Danger rating 9/10. Anaconda/gator-roll chokes use a rolling motion to tighten the arm-in head-and-arm strangle
How do I set up the Anaconda Choke From Turtle?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Anaconda Choke From Turtle?
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 Anaconda Choke From Turtle?
Common variants: Standard anaconda (arm threaded under the neck and over the far arm, finishe…); No-roll anaconda (finished in place without the gator roll by sprawling and…); Anaconda from guard (applied from bottom position when the opponent's head is low).
How effective is the Anaconda Choke From Turtle in competition?
Increasingly common in competition as turtle defence has become more prevalent. Competitors use the anaconda as one of several turtle attacks alongside crucifix, clock choke, and back take.
What are common mistakes when doing the Anaconda Choke From Turtle?
Top errors to watch for: Approaching from directly behind — the anaconda requires a side approach; from behind, the neck-arm gap is inaccessible / Threading over the near arm instead of the far arm — the far arm creates the correct arm-triangle geometry; near-arm … / Not connecting the hands before attempting to finish — the loop must be closed; attempting to finish with an open gri… / Attempting from a kneeling position too far away — get close to the opponent with chest contact before threading.
What are other names for the Anaconda Choke From Turtle?
The Anaconda Choke From Turtle is also known as Anakonda Chōku, Turtle Anaconda, Anaconda from Turtle Top.