Fundamental Choke

The Arm-In Guillotine from Guard traps the opponent's arm alongside their neck inside the guillotine grip, creating a different choking angle that combines blood choke and neck crank elements. [1]

The Arm Trap Triangle controls the opponent's arm first (trapping it across the body), then uses the trapped arm as leverage to lock in a triangle choke from guard. [1]

The Arm Wrap Choke is a closed guard submission where the attacker wraps the opponent's arm across their own neck and secures a deep collar grip on the far side, creating a choking mechanism that uses the opponent's trapped arm as a wedge against one side of the neck while the collar grip compresses the other side. [1] The technique begins with the guard player controlling one of the opponent's arms (typically by gripping the wrist or sleeve), threading the arm under the opponent's elbow, and wrapping it diagonally across the opponent's throat so that the opponent's own forearm presses against one carotid artery. [1] The attacker then reaches across with the wrapping hand to grip the far collar deep (four fingers inside), and pulls the collar tight while simultaneously squeezing the wrapped arm into the neck. [1] The result is a cross-collar choking mechanism where half the pressure comes from the collar grip and half comes from the opponent's own trapped arm — making the choke uniquely difficult to defend because the opponent cannot strip a grip that is their own arm. [1] Saulo Ribeiro presents this as a foundational closed guard attack in Jiu-Jitsu University, emphasising that the Arm Wrap is not just a standalone choke but the entry point for a chain of attacks: if the opponent defends the choke by pulling their arm free, the attacker transitions immediately to a straight armlock on the freed arm. [1] This choke-to-armlock chain (arm wrap choke → straight armlock) is one of the most reliable attack sequences from closed guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as the opponent must choose between defending the choke (exposing the arm) or defending the armlock (exposing the neck). [1,2]

The Baseball Choke is a gi-based collar choke that uses a distinctive split grip — one hand gripping the collar palm-up and the other palm-down in opposite directions — creating a powerful rotational wringing action around the opponent's neck that compresses both carotid arteries simultaneously. [1] The name derives from the grip's resemblance to how a baseball batter holds the bat: one hand above the other with palms facing opposite directions. [1] What makes the Baseball Choke uniquely dangerous in competition is its versatility of entry: unlike most collar chokes that require a specific dominant position, the Baseball Choke can be initiated from knee-on-belly, side control, bottom half guard, and even bottom mount — and in several cases, the grip is set from a disadvantageous position but finishes after the attacker transitions to a dominant one. [1,2] The most common and tactically significant application is the 'bottom-to-top' Baseball Choke: the attacker sets the split grip while on bottom (in half guard or during a guard pass), allows the opponent to complete the pass, and then tightens the choke as the opponent settles into side control — meaning the opponent effectively chokes themselves by advancing their position. [2,3] This counter-intuitive mechanic — where the attacker appears to give up position to finish the choke — makes the Baseball Choke one of the most deceptive submissions in competitive BJJ. [2] Magid Hage famously won his IBJJF World Championship match in 2013 at black belt with the Baseball Choke, cementing the technique's reputation as a legitimate world-class weapon. [3]

The Bread Cutter Choke is a gi-based submission applied from side control where the attacker reaches across the opponent's neck to grip the far collar, then drives the blade edge of the forearm across the throat while dropping body weight to create a cutting compression against the trachea and carotid arteries. [1] The technique derives its name from the slicing motion of the forearm across the neck — the sharp ulnar edge of the forearm acts like a bread knife, pressing into the soft tissue of the throat while the collar grip anchors one side and the body weight provides the downward force. [1,2] Unlike many side control submissions that require threading an arm under the head or transitioning to a different position, the Bread Cutter is applied directly from a standard cross-face side control, making it one of the most accessible side control submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. [1] The choke can function as both a blood choke (compressing the carotid arteries via the collar and forearm) and a windpipe choke (the forearm presses directly against the trachea), depending on the exact angle and depth of the forearm placement. [2] Saulo Ribeiro demonstrates this technique as a high-percentage attack from side control that chains naturally with the kimura, americana, and step-over choke when the opponent defends. [1] The technique gained widespread competition use in the 2010s as practitioners recognised its efficiency: it requires minimal positional adjustment from side control, provides strong pinning pressure while attacking, and finishes with mechanical advantage (the attacker's full body weight assists the choke). [2,3]

Double Attack to Kata-Gatame transitions from the double attack mount position directly into a kata-gatame arm triangle, using the dual threat to force the opponent's arm across their neck. [1]

The Ezequiel Choke from the Back applies the Ezequiel (Sode Guruma Jime) choking mechanism from the back control position rather than the traditional mount. [1] The attacker threads one arm under the opponent's chin using the sleeve of the opposite arm as a choking surface, while the hooks maintain back control. [1] This variant is particularly effective because opponents defending rear naked choke attempts often create openings for the Ezequiel grip. [1] Ribeiro specifically demonstrates this as an alternative when the opponent's collar defence is too tight for standard chokes. [1]

The Guillotine from Clinch is applied directly from the standing clinch by wrapping the arm around the opponent's neck and falling backward into guard. [1] Renzo Gracie and John Danaher emphasise the importance of the squeeze direction and chin position for finishing. [1]

The Hand-Clasp Guillotine is a guillotine choke variant that uses a palm-to-palm grip (both palms pressed together around the opponent's neck, like praying hands) rather than the traditional interlocked fingers, gable grip, or figure-four grip used in standard guillotine variations. [1] The palm-to-palm grip offers specific advantages: it can be established faster than more complex grip configurations (critical during scrambles and takedown defence), it provides a natural squeezing angle that compresses the throat directly rather than through the forearm blade, and it is more secure than interlocked fingers (which can be stripped by grip-fighting). [1] BJ Penn documented the Hand-Clasp Guillotine in The Book of Knowledge (2007) as a quick-application guillotine specifically designed for MMA's scramble-heavy environment, where the traditional guillotine setup (which requires precise forearm positioning and a specific grip sequence) may not be achievable before the opponent escapes or changes position. [1] The technique is most commonly applied when the opponent shoots for a takedown: as the attacker lowers their head for the double-leg or single-leg, the defender wraps one arm around the opponent's neck, clasps both palms together under the chin, and squeezes — the entire setup takes approximately 0.5-1.0 seconds, compared to 1.5-2.0 seconds for a traditional guillotine with figure-four grip. [1] The Hand-Clasp Guillotine can be finished from standing (dropping to guard as the opponent shoots), from guard (closed guard or half guard after pulling the opponent down), or from the sprawl position (maintaining the grip while sprawling on the takedown attempt). [1] The grip is sometimes called the 'emergency guillotine' because it is used when the standard guillotine cannot be established in time — the palm-to-palm clasp provides ENOUGH choking pressure to threaten a tap while the standard grip would take too long to set up. [1]

The Kata-Gatame Arm Triangle Variation adapts the traditional arm triangle for MMA, incorporating strikes to set up the choke and maintaining top pressure throughout. [1]

Kata Gatame to Ezequiel is a combination technique where a kata gatame (arm triangle) attempt transitions to an Ezequiel choke when the opponent defends the head-and-arm choke. [1] The grip transitions smoothly from the arm triangle to the sleeve choke. [1]

The Palm Up Palm Down Choke is a cross-collar choke variation where one hand grips the collar palm-up and the other palm-down, creating a scissoring action across the carotid arteries. [1] This mixed grip creates a different angle of pressure compared to the standard palm-up/palm-up cross choke, often catching opponents who have trained defences against the conventional grip. [1] Ribeiro demonstrates this from both closed guard and mount positions. [1]

The Palm Up Palm Up Choke is the standard cross-collar choke where both hands grip the collar with palms facing upward, creating bilateral pressure on the carotid arteries. [1] This is the most fundamental collar choke in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo, taught as one of the first submissions from mount and guard. [1] Ribeiro emphasises the depth of the grips and the downward pull of the elbows as the keys to finishing this choke. [1]

Pull Out of Armbar to Triangle transitions from a failed armbar attempt directly into a triangle choke, using the opponent's escape movement to set up the leg position for the triangle. [1]

The Step-Over Choke is executed from side control by stepping the far leg over the opponent's head while maintaining a collar grip, creating a choking mechanism that combines collar pressure with leg compression. [1] The leg stepping over the head adds downward pressure that amplifies the collar choke while simultaneously isolating the opponent's head and preventing escape. [1] Ribeiro presents this as a high-percentage side control submission. [1]