High Elbow Guillotine from the Front Headlock
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Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock·Rich Castro
Nogi BJJ technique Xtreme Couture coach Robert Follis EM5II
Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock
Speciesリバースギロチン(Ribāsu Girochin)
TransliterationTranslation: Reverse Guillotine (katakana loanword)
Overview
The reverse guillotine from front headlock is applied by wrapping the arm around the opponent's neck from the front but with the choking forearm positioned on the opposite side compared to the standard guillotine — typically with the blade of the wrist pressing against the back or side of the neck rather than the throat. [1],[2] From the front headlock, the attacker rotates the grip to attack the far-side carotid artery, creating a different angle of compression. [1] The technique can finish as a blood choke or a crank depending on the precise forearm placement and the direction of the squeeze. [1],[2]
History & Origin
The reverse guillotine emerged in competitive no-gi grappling as practitioners explored non-standard grip configurations from the front headlock position. [1],[2] When the standard guillotine grip was defended by tucking the chin, attackers discovered that reversing the wrap direction could access different choking angles. [1] The technique gained visibility through its use in ADCC and professional MMA by grapplers with unorthodox front headlock games. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
A useful secondary attack from front headlock when the opponent defends the standard guillotine grip; less common but effective when the choking arm threads to the far side [1]
Lineage
Emerged in the 2010s no-gi scene as athletes explored all possible head-and-arm configurations from front headlock control [1]
Competition Record
Seen occasionally at ADCC trials and no-gi worlds; more common as a transition than a primary finish [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within seconds
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), glenohumeral joint of the trapped arm (if arm-in), nuchal region
Force Vector — Lateral squeeze creates inward pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously
Choking Mechanism — Vascular strangle — occludes carotid arteries and jugular veins, distinct from airway (tracheal) chokes
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
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Reverse-wrap chokes use an inverted grip pattern from front headlock for a different angle of attack
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 reverse guillotine from front headlock wraps the choking arm around the neck from the opposite direction of a standard guillotine — attacking from the far side rather than the near side, which creates different compression angles (Danaher, Front Headlock System: Go Further Faster, 2019)
✓The 'reverse' refers to the wrapping direction: in a standard guillotine, the near arm wraps; in the reverse, the far arm crosses over and wraps from the opposite side
✓From front headlock: instead of wrapping with the arm that's already on the near side, reach the far arm across and wrap the neck from the opposite direction — this crosses the forearm against a different part of the neck
✓Two finishing variants: elbow-pin (drive the elbow to the mat to pin the neck against the ground) and overhook-assist (overhook the near arm to add shoulder compression)
✓The reverse direction creates a surprise attack: opponents who defend the standard guillotine by positioning their chin toward the choking arm are exposed on the reverse side
✓The reverse guillotine is mechanically distinct: the forearm contacts a different portion of the neck compared to the standard, potentially finding the carotid when the standard angle misses
✓The reverse guillotine from front headlock is part of a complete headlock system: standard guillotine, reverse guillotine, fulcrum, anaconda, D'Arce — each attacks a different neck angle
Common Mistakes
!Wrapping from the standard direction and calling it reverse — the reverse specifically wraps from the far side; verify the wrapping direction
!Not securing the front headlock before the reverse wrap — the head must be trapped; the cross-over reach is longer than the standard wrap and requires more time
!Over-reaching during the wrap — the far arm must cross to wrap the neck; if the reach is too far, the attacker overbalances
!Not choosing a finishing method — elbow pin or overhook assist; have a plan before committing
!Attempting the reverse guillotine without understanding the standard — learn the standard first; the reverse is a complement, not a replacement
!Losing head control during the cross-over — maintain chest-to-head pressure while the far arm reaches across
!Not drilling the cross-over reach — the reverse wrap requires a longer reach than the standard; develop the specific motor pattern
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
Japanese BJJ community; derived from ギロチンチョーク
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese BJJ community; derived from ギロチンチョーク
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3CitationJapanese BJJ community; derived from ギロチンチョーク
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ community; derived from ギロチンチョーク
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
Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock Elbow-Pin Finish
VarietyThe reverse guillotine from front headlock with elbow-pin finish uses the opposite arm orientation compared to a standard guillotine, with the finishing pressure applied by pinning the elbow against the opponent's body. [1] The attacker wraps the neck in reverse — threading from the opposite direction — then drives the elbow of the choking arm downward against the opponent's chest or shoulder, using the elbow as a fixed point against which the neck is compressed. [1,2] The elbow pin creates a sharp fulcrum that intensifies neck pressure on a localised area. [2] This variant is effective when standard guillotine angles are unavailable due to the opponent's head position or arm placement. [2,3]
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Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock Overhook Assist
VarietyThe reverse guillotine from front headlock with overhook assist adds an overhook (whizzer) grip on the opponent's arm to supplement the strangling pressure and prevent escape. [1] After establishing the reverse guillotine wrap around the neck, the attacker hooks the opponent's near arm with an overhook, trapping it against the body. [1,2] The overhook serves dual purposes: it prevents the opponent from posting or framing to relieve choking pressure, and the arm-trapping action drives the opponent's own shoulder into the neck as additional compression material. [2] This combination of reverse neck wrap plus overhook control creates a highly secure finishing position. [2,3]
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I place my hands when setting up the reverse guillotine from front headlock?
Rich Castro recommends placing one hand on the chin and the other hand on the back of the armpit or sliding it down to the back of the elbow, depending on your positioning. This hand placement prevents excessive exposure compared to connecting your hands too early.
Where should my shoulder be positioned to control my opponent in the front headlock?
Your shoulder should go directly on the back of the neck, not on the shoulder blades or too far over the back, as Rich Castro emphasizes. Positioning the shoulder too far back allows your opponent to drive up and escape; you need to pin the head, not the back.
How should my head and arm angle be positioned when applying the choke?
Keep your arm parallel to the floor and lean your head significantly over while grabbing and pulling the elbow. Rich Castro stresses that if your head stays upright, the opponent can defend the choke more easily, but once you get your head over, the choke becomes very difficult for them to escape.
How does the Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock work?
The reverse guillotine from front headlock is applied by wrapping the arm around the opponent's neck from the front but with the choking forearm positioned on the opposite side compared to the standard guillotine — typically with the blade of the wrist pressing against the back or side of the neck rather than the throat. From the front headlock, the attacker rotates the grip to attack the far-side carotid artery, creating a different angle of compression.
Where does the Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock come from?
The reverse guillotine emerged in competitive no-gi grappling as practitioners explored non-standard grip configurations from the front headlock position. When the standard guillotine grip was defended by tucking the chin, attackers discovered that reversing the wrap direction could access different choking angles.
Is the Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock 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 Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock?
Danger rating 8/10. Reverse-wrap chokes use an inverted grip pattern from front headlock for a different angle of attack
How do I set up the Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock?
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 Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock?
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 Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock in competition?
Seen occasionally at ADCC trials and no-gi worlds; more common as a transition than a primary finish
What are common mistakes when doing the Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock?
Top errors to watch for: Wrapping from the standard direction and calling it reverse — the reverse specifically wraps from the far side; verif… / Not securing the front headlock before the reverse wrap — the head must be trapped; the cross-over reach is longer th… / Over-reaching during the wrap — the far arm must cross to wrap the neck; if the reach is too far, the attacker overba… / Not choosing a finishing method — elbow pin or overhook assist; have a plan before committing.
What are other names for the Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock?
The Reverse Guillotine From Front Headlock is also known as Ribāsu Girochin, Front Headlock Reverse Guillotine, Inverted Front Choke.