Tutorial: Felipe Costa Demonstrates the Japanese Necktie
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Standard Japanese Necktie·We Defy Foundation·Added by Admin
🔥🥋 Felipe Costa — known around the world as “Laranjinha” (Little Orange) — is an absolute force on the mats! 💪🍊 One…
Standard Japanese Necktie
Genusジャパニーズネクタイ(Japanīzu Nekutai)
TransliterationTranslation: Japanese necktie
Overview
The Japanese necktie is a front headlock choke that combines blood choke compression with neck crank mechanics, executed by threading one arm under the opponent's arm and around their head (similar to a D'Arce grip), stepping over the opponent's leg, and falling to the shoulder while closing the elbows in a scissor-like fashion. [1] Despite its name, the technique is not traditionally Japanese — it was named by 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu representatives after seeing Shinya Aoki perform it in training around 2007. Aoki himself called it the 'World Choke.' [2] The technique was developed simultaneously by multiple practitioners: Jeff Glover called it the 'Lazy D'Arce' and Robert Drysdale called it the 'Box Choke.'
Japanese NecktieWorld ChokeLazy D'ArceBox Choke
History & Origin
Developed simultaneously by multiple practitioners in the early 2000s. Shinya Aoki (Japanese MMA fighter) called it the 'World Choke.' The name 'Japanese Necktie' was coined by 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu around 2007 after seeing Aoki perform it. [1] Jeff Glover called it 'Lazy D'Arce' and Robert Drysdale called it 'Box Choke.' Despite the name, it is not a traditional Japanese martial arts technique — the 'Japanese' refers to Aoki's nationality. [2]
Effectiveness
Highly effective front headlock submission that catches many opponents who are accustomed to defending the D'Arce and anaconda. The dual blood-choke and neck-crank mechanism means it can finish even when the pure choke angle is imperfect. [1]
Lineage
Developed simultaneously by Shinya Aoki (Japan), Jeff Glover (USA), and Robert Drysdale (Brazil/USA) in the early 2000s. Named by 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu ~2007. Part of the broader front headlock submission family alongside D'Arce, anaconda, and Peruvian necktie.
Competition Record
First UFC Japanese necktie finish: Matheus Nicolau vs. Bruno Rodrigues, UFC Fight Night 77, November 7, 2015, Round 3 at 3:27. Shinya Aoki used variations across DREAM, ONE Championship, and other promotions. Keith Krikorian (10th Planet) is a noted modern specialist.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral carotid compression combined with cervical spine torque — functions as both blood choke and neck crank depending on execution angle
Grip Configuration — Modified Vice grip — thumb of bottom arm threads between index and middle fingers of top arm, allowing elbows to pass each other in a scissor-like fashion
Force Vector — Stepping over opponent's leg and falling to the far shoulder creates rotational torque; hip drive tightens the choke; shin against back of opponent's head adds additional compression
Finishing Mechanic — The scissor-action of the closing elbows creates extreme compression around the neck and trapped arm
Position & Entry
From front headlock / sprawl — When opponent shoots and you sprawl, establish the arm thread under their arm and around the head
From failed D'Arce choke — When the D'Arce grip is established but finishing is difficult, step over the leg and convert to Japanese necktie
From top half guard — When controlling the opponent's head from top position, thread the arm and step over
Variants
Standard Japanese necktie — classic arm thread with leg step-over and shoulder drop
Peruvian necktie — related technique using S-grip under chin with leg over opponent's back (hamstring on head), sit-back finish; more crank-heavy
D'Arce choke — same arm threading but different finishing mechanics without the leg step-over
Anaconda choke — related front headlock cousin, rolls to opposite side
Videos
HOW TO do the Japanese Neck Tie (Neck Crank?) in BJJ
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Standard Japanese Necktie·Brandon Mccaghren·Added by Admin
This is one of the COOLEST moves in all of Jiu Jitsu. Bmac has some details to help you understand the mechanics of this…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The Japanese Necktie is a front headlock submission that emphasizes positional control and efficient weight distribution over muscular effort. Both We Defy Foundation (Felipe Costa) and Brandon McCaghren agree on the fundamental mechanics: the attacker establishes a headquarters position with legs interlocked (one leg between opponent's legs, one leg trapping the outside leg) while securing the opponent's head with a tight grip, typically an S-grip or vice grip formed by locking the hands around the head. Costa stresses the importance of head positioning—the attacker's head must face away from the opponent's body to maintain balance and prevent the defender from creating leverage to escape. Both instructors emphasize trapping the opponent's foot to prevent hip movement and escape. The submission culminates in a hip drive: McCaghren describes it as a scooping motion where the hip drives in and rotates upward, while Costa characterizes it as the hips walking forward across the opponent's head, creating a choke through body weight rather than arm strength. McCaghren adds that if the grip is missed or the opponent escapes to their knees, the position can transition into alternative submissions like the Darce choke or vice grip variations. Both instructors agree that maintaining chest contact with the opponent's triceps and keeping weight on the head—rather than dispersed across the body—is critical for submission completion.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- We Defy Foundation — Tutorial: Felipe Costa Demonstrates the Japanese Necktie: Provided detailed breakdown of headquarters positioning, grip mechanics (S-grip with thumb pointing up on the upper head, not the neck), head placement for balance, and the finishing hip walk motion. Emphasized effortless execution and the importance of keeping the foot trapped to prevent the opponent's escape.
- Brandon Mccaghren — HOW TO do the Japanese Neck Tie (Neck Crank?) in BJJ: Detailed the alternative vice grip setup and the finishing motion as a scooping hip drive that rotates upward. Described contingencies when the initial grip is missed, including transitions to Darce choke or remounting, and emphasized the importance of foot control and weight distribution on the opponent's head.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Combines blood choke and neck crank mechanics — the dual-attack nature means even imperfect application can force a tap from pain; risk of cervical spine injury if the cranking component is applied aggressively
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 Japanese necktie was developed simultaneously by multiple practitioners in the early 2000s. Shinya Aoki (BJJ black belt, Judo black belt, A-class Shoot Wrestler) called it the 'World Choke' on his early DVD instructionals. The name 'Japanese Necktie' was coined by 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu representatives (reportedly Sean Bollinger) after seeing Aoki perform it in training around 2007. Jeff Glover called the same technique the 'Lazy D'Arce' and Robert Drysdale called it the 'Box Choke.' The grip is critical — the modified Vice grip allows the elbows to pass each other in a scissor motion, creating compression that is tighter than a standard D'Arce. Stepping over the opponent's leg and falling to the far shoulder is what distinguishes this from the D'Arce choke. The shin pressed against the back of the opponent's head adds significant finishing pressure. Matheus Nicolau submitted Bruno Rodrigues via Japanese necktie at UFC Fight Night 77 (November 7, 2015) — reported as the first Japanese necktie finish in UFC history. Keith Krikorian (10th Planet, ADCC veteran) has a dedicated instructional on the technique.
Common Mistakes
!Not threading the arm deep enough — insufficient depth prevents the scissor action from generating compression
!Not stepping over the leg — this is what distinguishes the Japanese necktie from the D'Arce; without it, finishing is much harder
!Falling to the wrong side — must fall to the far shoulder, not the near side
!Not closing elbows in scissor fashion — the elbows must pass each other to maximize compression
!Not driving hips in — hip pressure tightens the choke significantly
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Posture Up Early — before the grip is secured, posture prevents the arm threadHand-Fight — strip the threading arm before it locks around the headRoll Toward Attacker — relieve rotational pressure by rolling into the choke directionDefend the Front Headlock — the best defense is not giving up the head position in the first placeFrame on the Hip — create space to prevent the leg step-over
Setup Chain
1Establish Front Headlock — control opponent's head from sprawl or top position
2Thread the Arm — same-side arm goes under opponent's arm and around their head
3Secure Modified Vice Grip — thumb threads between index and middle fingers of opposite hand
4Step Over Opponent's Leg — step the near-side leg over opponent's body
5Fall to Far Shoulder — drop laterally while closing elbows in scissor fashion
6Drive Hips In — hip pressure tightens the choke for the finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
BJJ World — Japanese Necktie Technical Analysis
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
BJJ World — Is The Japanese Necktie The Tightest BJJ Choke Ever? (bjj-world.com) || Evolve MMA — How To Do The Japanese Necktie (evolve-mma.com) || Jits Magazine — Submission History: Origins of Head and Arm Choke (jitsmagazine.com)
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
Naming history — [1] Jits Magazine — Submission History documenting simultaneous development by Aoki, Glover, Drysdale
[2] BJJ World — Japanese Necktie technical analysis and history
5CitationJits Magazine — Submission History: Origins of Head and Arm Choke (jitsmagazine.com)
Competition — Matheus Nicolau vs Bruno Rodrigues, UFC Fight Night 77 (2015)
Community
Athletics
Requires
arm length for deep threading, understanding of front headlock mechanics
Favours
longer arms for deeper choke penetration
Key muscles
biceps, forearms, hip flexors, core
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the key difference between just driving your hip and actually finishing the Japanese Necktie?
According to Brandon McCaghren, it's not just about hip pressure and squeezing—the critical difference is turning your body so your head passes his back and your grip turns toward the ceiling. Just driving the hip alone probably only works half the time, but combining hip pressure with proper body positioning and the turn creates the actual submission.
How do I secure the grip on the head when setting up the Japanese Necktie?
Felipe Costa teaches that you need to catch the head and lock your hands together in an S-grip, with your bottom hand's palm pointing up and fingers closed. Make sure your chest goes on top of his triceps once you have the head, and keep slight space by using your arm to clear his stiff arm first.
Why is it important to keep my opponent's foot trapped in this position?
Felipe Costa emphasizes that trapping the foot prevents your opponent from moving their leg and escaping, and any effort they use to push against you only tires them out while you maintain control.
What should I do with my leg when I fall into the finish?
Felipe Costa stresses that as you fall on your shoulder to finish, keep your leg between his legs and lock it. This prevents him from moving his body away and getting up, which is essential to securing the tap.
How does the Standard Japanese Necktie work?
The Japanese necktie is a front headlock choke that combines blood choke compression with neck crank mechanics, executed by threading one arm under the opponent's arm and around their head (similar to a D'Arce grip), stepping over the opponent's leg, and falling to the shoulder while closing the elbows in a scissor-like fashion. Despite its name, the technique is not traditionally Japanese — it was named by 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu representatives after seeing Shinya Aoki perform it in training around 2007.
Where does the Standard Japanese Necktie come from?
Developed simultaneously by multiple practitioners in the early 2000s. Shinya Aoki (Japanese MMA fighter) called it the 'World Choke.
Is the Standard Japanese Necktie 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 Standard Japanese Necktie?
Danger rating 7/10. Combines blood choke and neck crank mechanics — the dual-attack nature means even imperfect application can force a tap from pain; risk of cervical spine injury if the cranking component is applied aggressively
How do I set up the Standard Japanese Necktie?
The standard setup chain: Establish Front Headlock → Thread the Arm → Secure Modified Vice Grip → Step Over Opponent's Leg → Fall to Far Shoulder → Drive Hips In.
How do I defend against the Standard Japanese Necktie?
Standard counters include: Posture Up Early — before the grip is secured, posture prevents the arm thread / Hand-Fight — strip the threading arm before it locks around the head / Roll Toward Attacker — relieve rotational pressure by rolling into the choke direction / Defend the Front Headlock — the best defense is not giving up the head position in the first place.
What are the variants of the Standard Japanese Necktie?
Common variants: Standard Japanese necktie (classic arm thread with leg step-over and shoulder drop); Peruvian necktie (related technique using S-grip under chin with leg over o…); D'Arce choke (same arm threading but different finishing mechanics with…); Anaconda choke (related front headlock cousin, rolls to opposite side).
How effective is the Standard Japanese Necktie in competition?
First UFC Japanese necktie finish: Matheus Nicolau vs. Bruno Rodrigues, UFC Fight Night 77, November 7, 2015, Round 3 at 3:27.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Japanese Necktie?
Top errors to watch for: Not threading the arm deep enough — insufficient depth prevents the scissor action from generating compression / Not stepping over the leg — this is what distinguishes the Japanese necktie from the D'Arce; without it, finishing is… / Falling to the wrong side — must fall to the far shoulder, not the near side / Not closing elbows in scissor fashion — the elbows must pass each other to maximize compression.
What are other names for the Standard Japanese Necktie?
The Standard Japanese Necktie is also known as Japanīzu Nekutai, Japanese Necktie, World Choke, Lazy D'Arce, Box Choke.