BJJ No Gi High Elbow Guillotine Tutorial
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Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-PinยทStuart Tomlinson
Kate Jackson, Pro MMA fighter, coach of Pure Grappling and instructor at Koncept Gym in Cornwall is here filmed by the Wโฆ
Translation: Reverse Guillotine (katakana loanword)
Range & classification
Category
Strike & defenceLocksClose rangeFighting multiple people
Distance
CloseMiddleLong
Body target
Upper bodyMiddle bodyLower body
Overview
The reverse guillotine from sprawl spin-behind with elbow pin applies the reverse neck wrap after the attacker sprawls on a takedown and spins to a perpendicular angle behind the opponent. [1] The spin-behind creates an unusual approach angle where the attacker's arm wraps the neck from an unexpected direction, making the reverse orientation a natural consequence of the positioning. [1],[2] Once the reverse wrap is established, the attacker pins the elbow against the opponent's body or the mat and squeezes, using the elbow as a fixed fulcrum for the compression. [2] This entry sequence is fluid and fast, catching opponents who are still recovering from their failed takedown attempt. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Spin-behind sequences from sprawl to submission were developed in MMA and wrestling-to-grappling transition systems during the 2000s. [1] The reverse guillotine entry from this angle was a natural evolution as grapplers explored all possible choke configurations from dominant sprawl positions. [2],[3]
Country of originยท shown in random order
- BrazilBJJ, Submission Grappling, MMA
- JapanBJJ, Judo, Submission Grappling
- USASubmission Grappling, MMA
- RussiaSambo
Effectiveness
Effective as a scramble-based finish when the opponent shoots and the defender sprawls and spins; the momentum of the spin adds power to the choke [1]
Lineage
Developed by wrestlers transitioning to no-gi grappling who combined sprawl defense with submission finishing [1]
Competition Record
Occasionally seen in MMA and no-gi competition when wrestlers attempt takedowns against guillotine-savvy opponents [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action โ Compression of the neck structures โ restricts blood flow or airway depending on technique application
Joints Involved โ Cervical spine, surrounding musculature, and vascular structures of the neck
Force Vector โ Directed compression against the neck from the choking limb or body position
Finishing Mechanic โ Sustained pressure causes either vascular occlusion (unconsciousness) or tracheal restriction (breathing difficulty)
Position & Entry
From standing (opponent shoots) โ Sprawl on the shot, secure chin-strap grip around the neck, lock the guillotine and pull guard or finish standing
From closed guard โ Opponent dives head down, wrap arm around the neck, clasp hands and arch the back while squeezing
From front headlock (snap-down) โ Snap the opponent's head down, secure the chin-strap, sit to guard or sprawl to finish
Variants
Arm-in guillotine โ traps the opponent's arm inside the choke for additional shoulder pressure
High-elbow guillotine (Marcelotine) โ elevates the elbow above the head for stronger carotid compression
Standing guillotine โ finished from the feet without pulling guard
Power guillotine โ chin-strap grip with a rear-naked-choke-style finish for maximum force
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
โ FIAS Sport Sambo โ All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
โ IBJJF โ Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi โ chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDFโ shime-waza
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFโ ADCC โ Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDFโ Unified MMA โ Legal โ choke submissions are among the mos...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFโ FIAS Combat Sambo โ Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
โThe reverse guillotine from sprawl with spin-behind and elbow-pin finish combines a defensive sprawl with a spin to the opponent's back, then wraps the neck in a reverse guillotine and pins the elbow to the mat for the finish (Danaher, Front Headlock System: Go Further Faster, 2019)
โThe sequence: sprawl on a takedown โ spin behind the opponent โ wrap the neck from the reverse direction โ drive the elbow to the mat โ finish the choke with mat compression
โThe spin-behind creates the reverse-wrap angle: by moving behind the opponent, the arm naturally approaches the neck from the far side โ the 'reverse' direction
โThe elbow-pin finish from behind: press the elbow of the choking arm to the mat while the opponent is prone โ the neck is trapped between the forearm and the ground
โThis is a multi-step chain: sprawl (defence) โ spin (reposition) โ reverse wrap (attack) โ elbow pin (finish) โ each step flows naturally from the previous
โThe sprawl-to-spin is a wrestling fundamental: the reverse guillotine adds a submission to a sequence that traditionally leads to back takes or top control
โThe elbow pin from behind the opponent is particularly effective: the prone position and weight advantage make the mat-compression finish nearly inescapable
Common Mistakes
!Skipping the spin and attempting the reverse wrap from in front โ the reverse angle requires being behind or to the side; from directly in front, use a standard guillotine
!Not completing the sprawl before spinning โ the sprawl must drive the opponent's shot down first; premature spinning allows the takedown to complete
!Spinning too far and losing the neck wrap โ the spin should position you to the side or behind, not past the opponent; over-spinning loses contact
!Not pinning the elbow to the mat โ the finish requires mat compression; keeping the elbow elevated reduces effectiveness
!Losing the wrap during the spin โ maintain the neck wrap throughout the spin; the arm must stay around the neck during the positional change
!Attempting the full sequence without drilling each step โ the chain has 4 steps; practise each individually before combining
!Not driving body weight through the elbow โ lean into the pin; the body weight is the compression force
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Control the Arm โ isolate and grip the target arm
2Position the Hips โ align hips perpendicular to the arm for maximum leverage
3Pinch Knees โ squeeze knees together to prevent arm extraction
4Extend for the Finish โ bridge hips up while pulling the wrist down to hyperextend the elbow
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese BJJ community; derived from ใฎใญใใณใใงใผใฏ
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese BJJ community; derived from ใฎใญใใณใใงใผใฏ
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (ๅคๆฅ่ช) โ used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3CitationJapanese BJJ community; derived from ใฎใญใใณใใงใผใฏ
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ community; derived from ใฎใญใใณใใงใผใฏ
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a deep grip on the high elbow guillotine?
Stuart Tomlinson emphasizes posting on the head to clear room, then rolling the arm through and achieving a palm-to-palm grip as deep as possible, with the arm around the head positioned like a front naked choke where the opponent's chin is inside.
What's the key to finishing the high elbow guillotine once I have the position?
Pull your legs back while compressing your elbows and chest in together, and Stuart Tomlinson recommends bringing your leg up for extra drive if needed, then posting on the other leg and squeezing to finish.
Should I focus on controlling the head or using leg pressure to finish?
Stuart Tomlinson prefers expanding the chest in and tightening rather than pulling outward, emphasizing that getting the underhook, passing the shoulder, and bringing the elbow into the body to hold it all tight is the primary control mechanism.
How does the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin work?
The reverse guillotine from sprawl spin-behind with elbow pin applies the reverse neck wrap after the attacker sprawls on a takedown and spins to a perpendicular angle behind the opponent. The spin-behind creates an unusual approach angle where the attacker's arm wraps the neck from an unexpected direction, making the reverse orientation a natural consequence of the positioning.
Where does the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin come from?
Spin-behind sequences from sprawl to submission were developed in MMA and wrestling-to-grappling transition systems during the 2000s. The reverse guillotine entry from this angle was a natural evolution as grapplers explored all possible choke configurations from dominant sprawl positions.
Is the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal โ Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi โ chokes are the safest submission catโฆ; IJF: legal โ Legal (shime-waza) โ strangulation techniques are one of three permitted submโฆ; ADCC: legal โ Legal; Unified MMA: legal โ Legal โ choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned โ All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal โ Legal
How dangerous is the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin?
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 Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin?
The standard setup chain: Control the Arm โ Position the Hips โ Pinch Knees โ Extend for the Finish.
How do I defend against the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin?
Standard counters include: Clasp Hands โ grip own wrist to prevent arm extension / Stack โ drive forward to compress the attacker and relieve elbow pressure / Hitchhiker Escape โ rotate the thumb toward the mat and roll to extract the arm.
What are the variants of the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin?
Common variants: Arm-in guillotine (traps the opponent's arm inside the choke for additional โฆ); High-elbow guillotine (Marcelotine) (elevates the elbow above the head for stronger carotid coโฆ); Standing guillotine (finished from the feet without pulling guard); Power guillotine (chin-strap grip with a rear-naked-choke-style finish for โฆ).
How effective is the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin in competition?
Occasionally seen in MMA and no-gi competition when wrestlers attempt takedowns against guillotine-savvy opponents
What are common mistakes when doing the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin?
Top errors to watch for: Skipping the spin and attempting the reverse wrap from in front โ the reverse angle requires being behind or to the sโฆ / Not completing the sprawl before spinning โ the sprawl must drive the opponent's shot down first; premature spinning โฆ / Spinning too far and losing the neck wrap โ the spin should position you to the side or behind, not past the opponentโฆ / Not pinning the elbow to the mat โ the finish requires mat compression; keeping the elbow elevated reduces effectiveness.
What are other names for the Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin?
The Reverse Guillotine From Sprawl Spin-Behind Elbow-Pin is also known as Ribฤsu Girochin, Elbow-Pin Reverse Guillotine, Sprawl Reverse Guillotine Elbow Finish.