Academy of Combat: BJJ Shin Choke
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Shin Over Neck Choke·Academy of Combat
Setting up a shin lapel choke while moving from front control to side control. Demonstrated by BJJ black belt Dr Geoff …
Shin Over Neck Choke
SubFamily脛頸絞(Sune-kubi-jime)
TraditionalTranslation: Shin-Neck Strangle
Overview
Shin-over-neck chokes use the shin or calf placed across the opponent's throat from guard positions to create choking pressure using leg strength. [1],[2] The gogoplata is the most famous technique: from rubber guard or mission control, the attacker places the shin across the throat and pulls the opponent's head down onto the shin. [3],[4] These chokes require exceptional hip flexibility but generate enormous force due to leg musculature. [5]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The shin-over-neck choke uses the bony shin across the throat from behind or from top position to create a pressure choke. [1]
Lineage
Shin chokes were developed in submission grappling and MMA as improvised finishing techniques from unusual positions. [1]
Competition Record
Shin chokes appear occasionally in MMA and advanced submission grappling competition. [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 closed guard (gi) — Secure deep cross-collar grip, feed second hand to the opposite collar, close elbows and squeeze
From closed guard (no-gi) — Break posture, wrap neck with arm, secure the choking configuration using head and arm control
From open guard — Use spider or collar-sleeve grips to break posture, transition to the 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
Shin-on-neck chokes use the sharp edge of the shin bone against the trachea or carotid
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 shin-over-neck choke places the shinbone directly across the opponent's neck from guard — using leg weight and hip extension to drive the shin into the throat and carotid arteries (Danaher, Guard Retention and Submissions, 2020)
✓From high guard or rubber guard: swing one leg over the opponent's shoulder and place the shin across the neck — the bony edge of the tibia presses into the vascular structures
✓Unlike the gogoplata (which pulls the head into the shin), the shin-over-neck choke drives the shin down into the neck using hip elevation and leg weight
✓The technique works as a direct attack and a transition threat: the shin across the neck compromises the opponent's posture and creates openings for armbars, triangles, and omoplatas
✓The shin-over-neck position is mechanically powerful: the leg is much stronger than the arm, and the shin provides a rigid, bony choking surface
✓From rubber guard: transition from mission control to placing the shin — the opponent's broken posture makes the shin placement easier
✓The choke can finish with a push-pull mechanism: pull the head toward you with the hands while pushing the shin into the neck with the hip
Common Mistakes
!Placing the flat of the calf instead of the shin edge — the sharp edge of the shinbone creates the necessary focal pressure; the soft calf muscle disperses force
!Not controlling the opponent's posture — if they posture up, the shin falls away from the neck; maintain head control throughout
!Attempting without hip flexibility — the leg must reach over the shoulder and across the neck; limited flexibility makes the position unachievable
!Not using the hands to reinforce — the hands should control the head, the shin-side foot, or the opponent's arm to maintain the position
!Keeping the hips flat — hip elevation drives the shin into the neck; flat hips reduce pressure
!Allowing the opponent to turn their head — the opponent will try to face the shin and push it off; control the head direction
!Over-extending and losing guard position — the shin placement requires opening the guard; maintain enough leg control to prevent a complete guard pass
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 / Shooto — shin-across-neck control
1BookClassical Jujutsu / Shooto — shin-across-neck control
Japanese terminology sourced from Classical Jujutsu / Shooto — shin-across-neck control
2OtherShooto (Japanese MMA)
Japanese MMA pioneer organization — technique terminology
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationClassical Jujutsu / Shooto — shin-across-neck control
Japanese terminology sourced from Classical Jujutsu / Shooto — shin-across-neck control
Community
Athletics
Requires
exceptional hip flexibility, long legs
Favours
extreme lower body flexibility (rubber guard practitioners)
Key muscles
hip flexors, hamstrings, adductors
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you position your legs for the shin over neck choke?
Turn your leg in and place your feet to the side. Then bring your right knee up into the neck while hooking back on the opponent's arm.
What's the hand positioning for this choke?
Pass the gi with your left hand and cross to the right, hook back on the opponent's arm, and grab your own lapel with your left hand to secure the choke.
How does the Shin Over Neck Choke work?
Shin-over-neck chokes use the shin or calf placed across the opponent's throat from guard positions to create choking pressure using leg strength. The gogoplata is the most famous technique: from rubber guard or mission control, the attacker places the shin across the throat and pulls the opponent's head down onto the shin.
Where does the Shin Over Neck Choke come from?
Shin-across-throat techniques have roots in both Japanese grappling (using the shin as a choking surface) and modern BJJ innovation. The gogoplata was popularized by Nino Schembri and later by Eddie Bravo's rubber guard system.
Is the Shin Over Neck 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 Shin Over Neck Choke?
Danger rating 8/10. Shin-on-neck chokes use the sharp edge of the shin bone against the trachea or carotid
How do I set up the Shin Over Neck Choke?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Shin Over Neck 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 Shin Over Neck Choke?
Common variants: Standard gogoplata (shin placed across the throat from rubber guard or high g…); Mounted gogoplata (applied from mount position, shin across the throat); Reverse gogoplata (applied from behind or inverted position).
How effective is the Shin Over Neck Choke in competition?
Shin chokes appear occasionally in MMA and advanced submission grappling competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Shin Over Neck Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Placing the flat of the calf instead of the shin edge — the sharp edge of the shinbone creates the necessary focal pr… / Not controlling the opponent's posture — if they posture up, the shin falls away from the neck; maintain head control… / Attempting without hip flexibility — the leg must reach over the shoulder and across the neck; limited flexibility ma… / Not using the hands to reinforce — the hands should control the head, the shin-side foot, or the opponent's arm to ma….
What are other names for the Shin Over Neck Choke?
The Shin Over Neck Choke is also known as Sune-kubi-jime, Shin Choke, Gogoplata Family, Instep Choke.