How to Finish North South Choke (And Common Mistakes to Avoid)
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North-South Choke·Chewjitsu
Jeffrey requested some tips on making his North South Choke in BJJ work. Primarily he wanted to figure out to do the No…
North-South Choke
Family上四方絞(Kami-shiho-jime)
TraditionalTranslation: Upper Four-Corner Strangle
Overview
The north-south choke is a strangulation applied from the north-south position (kami-shiho-gatame orientation), where the attacker lies chest-to-chest on top of the opponent but facing the opposite direction. [2] The attacker wraps an arm around the opponent's neck, drives the shoulder downward in a 'paper cutter' motion against the wrist, and uses body weight and arm pressure to compress the neck — the exact mechanism (carotid blood choke vs. esophageal airway compression) is taught differently across schools (Marcelo Garcia teaches it as a blood choke; John Danaher emphasises esophageal pressure). [1],[4] The technique requires precise weight distribution — the attacker must drop the hip on the choking side to create the necessary angle and pressure. The north-south choke is effective in both gi and no-gi grappling and is particularly useful as a transition from side control or as a counter when an opponent turns into the attacker. [1] It is classified as a high-percentage submission at black belt level but requires significant body feel and timing to execute correctly.
History & Origin
The north-south choke derives from judo's kami-shiho-gatame (upper four-corner hold) position, which in classical judo is primarily a pin rather than a choke. [2] The choking application from this position was developed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with Marcelo Garcia being its most famous practitioner — Garcia finished numerous ADCC and World Championship matches with the north-south choke, making it his signature submission alongside the rear naked choke. [4] The technique has become a staple in MMA, used by fighters transitioning from top control. [1]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Images
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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 controlling position (gi) — Secure the necessary collar or lapel grips, configure hands for the choke, and apply opposing rotational pressure
From guard (gi) — Break posture and secure deep collar grips, feed the choke and angle to finish
From back control (gi) — Establish collar grip access, feed the second hand and apply the cross-collar squeeze
Videos
North/South Strangle - Finishing With 2 Hands by John Danaher
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North-South Choke·BJJ Fanatics
FINISHING the North/South Strangle with 2 HANDS https://bjjfanatics.com John Danaher demonstrates how to finish a North…
How To Submit With North South Choke | Works For No-Gi or Gi Every Time |
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North-South Choke·BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu Channel
On This lesson today i am showing you guys The North South Choke that i learn from My Professor MARCELO MARCELO, These D…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The north-south choke is a strangle attack where the attacker positions perpendicular to the opponent with the head and upper body across the opponent's torso. All three instructors emphasize that proper neck positioning precedes finishing pressure. John Danaher (BJJ Fanatics) stresses that approximately 90% of the choke comes from the initial strangle arm placement; he instructs practitioners to turn the hip down slightly, touch the outside knee to the mat, walk toward the center line while locking hands, then drive the shoulder downward—not upward—onto the esophagus using body weight rather than arm strength. Chewjitsu recommends entry from reverse kesa katami position, highlighting the critical step of locking the opponent's chin in place by shifting weight sideways to prevent head rotation; he warns against positioning too high on the body and emphasizes that the entire body engages in the finish, including leg drive from planted toes. BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu Channel prioritizes arm management, cautioning against squeezing before achieving proper neck control and demonstrating how to clear the opponent's defensive arm using hip pressure and body positioning. He recommends testing the choke with one arm before adding the second hand. All instructors agree the technique works in both gi and no-gi contexts, though applications vary slightly. Common errors across their teachings include premature squeezing, insufficient body positioning, and failure to manage the opponent's arms.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- BJJ Fanatics — North/South Strangle - Finishing With 2 Hands by John Danaher: Detailed mechanics of hand-locking, hip positioning, center-line walking, shoulder pressure mechanics, and the critical principle that locked hands and feet are stronger than unlocked ones. Emphasizes that 90% comes from the initial strangle arm.
- Chewjitsu — How to Finish North South Choke (And Common Mistakes to Avoid): Provided setup from reverse kesa katami position, explained chin-locking technique to prevent head rotation, emphasized getting low with hips, and identified three common mistakes: not locking the chin, positioning too high on the body, and failing to clear the arm. Highlighted whole-body engagement in finishing pressure.
- BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu Channel — How To Submit With North South Choke | Works For No-Gi or Gi Every Time |: Prioritized arm management and defensive counters, taught hip pressure to clean defensive arms, explained body alignment parallel to opponent, and advocated testing with one-hand finish before adding second hand. Emphasized never squeezing without proper neck control.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
North-south choke uses chest-on-face pressure combined with arm compression of the 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 north-south choke applies a head-and-arm compression from the north-south position — the attacker's armpit presses one side of the neck while the forearm compresses the other, creating bilateral arterial occlusion (Danaher, Pin Escapes and Turtle Turns: BJJ Fundamentals, 2019)
✓From north-south: the attacker lies chest-to-chest with the opponent (head-to-head), wraps one arm around the neck, and sprawls the hips down — the armpit descends onto the neck while the arm compresses the other side
✓The north-south choke is a 'weight choke': much of the compression comes from the attacker's body weight dropping onto the neck through the armpit — strong hips and heavy sprawling pressure are essential
✓The choking arm wraps around the neck and the hand grips the hip or belt — this anchors the arm and prevents the opponent from creating space
✓The north-south choke is particularly effective against larger opponents: the weight-based compression mechanism works regardless of the attacker's arm length
✓The choke is subtle: opponents often don't recognise the severity until it's locked — the gradual weight-based compression doesn't trigger the same alarm as a quick squeeze
✓Marcelo Garcia and Monson both used the north-south choke extensively — Garcia's systematic application from top positions demonstrated its viability at the highest levels
Common Mistakes
!Not dropping the hips low enough — the compression comes from hip sprawling; if the hips remain elevated, the armpit doesn't contact the neck with sufficient pressure
!Wrapping the arm too loosely — the choking arm must be tight around the neck with the elbow close to the body; a loose arm creates gaps
!Not gripping the hip or belt with the choking hand — the hand anchor prevents the opponent from pushing the arm away; floating the hand loses the anchor
!Positioning too far to one side — the chest must be centred on the opponent's chest for the armpit to align with the neck
!Rushing the choke — the north-south choke is a slow, grinding submission; it takes time for the weight-based compression to cause unconsciousness; patience is essential
!Not transitioning from side control smoothly — the north-south position is reached from side control; the transition must maintain top pressure throughout
!Lifting the head during the choke — the head should be low and the chin should drive into the opponent's body; lifting the head reduces the weight-on-neck effect
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
Kosen Judo / Japanese BJJ — from Kami-shiho-gatame position
1BookKosen Judo / Japanese BJJ — from Kami-shiho-gatame position
Japanese terminology sourced from Kosen Judo / Japanese BJJ — from Kami-shiho-gatame position
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationKosen Judo / Japanese BJJ — from Kami-shiho-gatame position
Japanese terminology sourced from Kosen Judo / Japanese BJJ — from Kami-shiho-gatame position
Community
Athletics
Requires
shoulder and chest pressure, hip sprawl endurance
Favours
heavier upper body, broad shoulders
Key muscles
deltoids, pectorals, core, hip extensors
Sub-techniques
Notes
Popularized by Marcelo Garcia, who used it as his signature technique. The choke compresses the carotid from the north-south position using the shoulder and bicep. (Garcia, Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why shouldn't I squeeze immediately when setting up the North-South choke?
You need to first wrap the head with one arm and secure it against your ribs before squeezing. According to BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu, you should not squeeze until you've locked the opponent's head in place and established proper positioning—squeezing too early prevents you from getting the correct configuration.
What's the correct body position for finishing the North-South choke?
John Danaher emphasizes bringing your shoulder down like a paper cutter rather than lifting your hands to your chest. Keep your elbow all the way back underneath you so your shoulder can come down to your hand, then walk toward the center line to complete the strangle.
How do I prevent my opponent from turning their head and escaping?
According to Chewjitsu, locking your opponent's chin in place is very important—if they can turn and face you with their head, you won't create the necessary pressure on the carotid artery. Shift your weight side to side to maintain control of their head position.
Should I finish the North-South choke with one or two hands?
John Danaher teaches that you should lock your hands when finishing in competition, as locked hands are much more effective than single-arm techniques.
How does the North-South Choke work?
The north-south choke is a strangulation applied from the north-south position (kami-shiho-gatame orientation), where the attacker lies chest-to-chest on top of the opponent but facing the opposite direction. The attacker wraps an arm around the opponent's neck, drives the shoulder downward in a 'paper cutter' motion against the wrist, and uses body weight and arm pressure to compress the neck — the exact mechanism (carotid blood choke vs.
Where does the North-South Choke come from?
The north-south choke derives from judo's kami-shiho-gatame (upper four-corner hold) position, which in classical judo is primarily a pin rather than a choke. The choking application from this position was developed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with Marcelo Garcia being its most famous practitioner — Garcia finished numerous ADCC and World Championship matches with the north-south choke, making it his signature submission alongside the rear naked choke.
Is the North-South 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 North-South Choke?
Danger rating 8/10. North-south choke uses chest-on-face pressure combined with arm compression of the carotid
How do I set up the North-South Choke?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the North-South 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 North-South Choke?
Common variants: Standard north-south choke (shoulder drives into the neck from north-south position); Paper-cutter variation (uses the forearm blade across the throat from the north-s…); Transition finish (applied during the walk-around from side control to north…).
How effective is the North-South Choke in competition?
Marcelo Garcia used the north-south choke in ADCC and IBJJF competition. Kim Couture and Demian Maia also applied the technique in UFC competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the North-South Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Not dropping the hips low enough — the compression comes from hip sprawling; if the hips remain elevated, the armpit … / Wrapping the arm too loosely — the choking arm must be tight around the neck with the elbow close to the body; a loos… / Not gripping the hip or belt with the choking hand — the hand anchor prevents the opponent from pushing the arm away;… / Positioning too far to one side — the chest must be centred on the opponent's chest for the armpit to align with the ….
What are other names for the North-South Choke?
The North-South Choke is also known as Kami-shiho-jime, Kami-shiho-jime variant, NS Choke, Kimura Choke.