The No Gi Baseball Bat Choke Complete Guide
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Baseball Choke·Knight Jiu-Jitsu
The No Gi Baseball Bat Choke is a powerful and deceptive choke with a variety of uses and combinations. This video shows…
Baseball Choke
SubFamilyベースボール・チョーク(Bēsubōru Chōku)
TransliterationTranslation: Baseball choke — named for the split grip on the collar resembling how a batter grips a baseball bat (one hand palm-up, one palm-down)
Overview
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]
Baseball Bat ChokeSplit-Grip ChokeBeisebol (Portuguese)Bat Choke
History & Origin
The Baseball Choke emerged in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition in the 2000s as a natural evolution of collar choke mechanics — practitioners discovered that opposing grip rotations on the collar created a uniquely powerful wringing action. [2] The technique gained widespread recognition after Magid Hage won his black belt match at the 2013 IBJJF World Championships using a Baseball Choke, demonstrating that the technique works at the absolute highest level of competition. [3] Hage became so associated with the technique that he subsequently released instructional material dedicated entirely to the Baseball Choke system. [3] The 'bottom-position trap' variant — setting grips from half guard and allowing the pass — became a significant tactical development in competition BJJ, as it transformed a typically defensive situation (being passed) into an offensive trap. [2],[3] Saulo Ribeiro included the technique in Jiu-Jitsu University (2008) as a side control attack, establishing it in the BJJ instructional canon. [1]
Effectiveness
The Baseball Choke is one of the highest-percentage collar chokes in competitive BJJ when initiated from the bottom-position trap or knee-on-belly. [2],[3] Its primary advantage is deception: opponents frequently do not recognise the threat until the choke is already locked, because the grip setup from bottom position appears passive or even advantageous for the top player. [2] The fast onset (3-5 seconds to unconsciousness once rotated) means that even a brief moment of inattention from the opponent is sufficient to finish the choke. [3] Magid Hage's World Championship victory demonstrated that the technique is effective against the best grapplers in the world. [3] The bottom-position trap variant has added a new tactical dimension to guard passing situations: passers must now check for the split grip before committing to the pass, which slows their passing game. [2]
Lineage
Competition Record
Magid Hage — 2013 IBJJF World Championship black belt victory via Baseball Choke || Multiple IBJJF Pan American and European Open finishes via Baseball Choke || The bottom-position trap variant has become a standard tactical weapon in competition BJJ at purple belt and above || The technique's deceptive nature has led to multiple unconscious opponents in competition who did not tap in time.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral carotid compression via opposing rotational collar grips — the palm-up and palm-down hands create opposing torque vectors that wring the collar fabric around the neck, compressing both carotid arteries
Joints Involved — Both wrists (opposing rotation — one supinated, one pronated), both forearms (create scissoring cross-pressure through the collar fabric), shoulders (rotation to amplify the wringing), hips (turning the body away from the opponent tightens the choke geometrically)
Force Vector — The two opposing grips create a wringing/twisting force — imagine wringing out a wet towel. The palm-up grip pulls in one rotational direction while the palm-down grip pulls in the opposite direction, with the opponent's neck caught between them.
Leverage Principle — The collar fabric acts as a force multiplier: the friction of the gi material around the neck means that even small rotational inputs from the hands produce large compressive forces on the carotid arteries. The choke tightens when the attacker turns away from the opponent OR when the opponent moves (e.g., completing a guard pass), meaning the opponent's own movement assists the choke — a rare mechanical advantage in grappling.
Position & Entry
From knee-on-belly — Establish knee-on-belly, reach across to grip the far collar palm-up with the bottom hand, grip the near collar palm-down with the top hand — when the opponent turns away to escape the knee pressure, spin behind them to tighten the choke
From bottom half guard (the trap) — Set the split grips on the collar from bottom half guard, ALLOW the opponent to pass to side control, then as they settle their weight, turn away from them to tighten the choke — the opponent's passing movement actually tightens the grip
From side control top — From standard side control, reach one hand to the far collar (palm-up) and the other to the near collar (palm-down), then spin to north-south to tighten
From guard pass defence — As the opponent is passing your guard, set the baseball grips before they complete the pass, then finish as they settle into their new position
Variants
Knee-on-belly Baseball — the most commonly taught version, initiated from knee-on-belly
Bottom Baseball (the trap) — set from bottom position, finished after the opponent passes guard, the most deceptive variant
North-South Baseball — transitioning to north-south to tighten the grips
Baseball from mount — reaching down to set grips from mounted position, then rolling to finish
Reverse Baseball — reversing which hand is palm-up and which is palm-down, attacking from the opposite direction
No-rotation Baseball — finishing the choke without spinning, using pure grip pressure and shoulder drive
Videos
Baseball Choke Using Lapel with Options by Professor Jason Yousef at www.MidCitiesJiuJitsu.com
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Baseball Choke·Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu DFW
@BernardoFariaBJJFanatics says "I Have NEVER Seen Anyone Breaking Arms Bars Using The Lapel, and It Works Very Well! Th…
NoGi BaseBall Choke - No Gi Base Ball Bat Choke BJJ Grappling Submission Basics for MMA
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Baseball Choke·Peter Mettler Martial Arts
No Gi needed - BaseBall Choke NoGi variation. All you need is a neck and your hands. Check it out, try it out, looking f…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The baseball choke is a fundamental submission that derives its name from the gripping mechanics resembling a baseball bat swing. In the gi version, practitioners grip the collar with thumb on one side and fingers on the other, then cross the arms to apply pressure; however, instructors emphasize significant variation in no-gi execution. Knight Jiu-Jitsu's Eli details multiple grip options—gable grip, preacher grip, three-finger grip, and S-grip—noting that the S-grip (interlaced fingers in parallel palm configuration) provides optimal wrist flexibility and is his preferred method. Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu DFW's Professor Jason Yousef emphasizes the lapel-based approach, stressing that the grip must be deep into the shoulder area with pinky and pointer finger touching at all times, and that finishing involves pulling the collar apart from itself to tighten the choke through elbow pinching. Peter Mettler Martial Arts presents the no-gi version as exceptionally simple, requiring only one hand around the head with either a shovel grip (neutral wrist) or Indian grip, combined with elbow-to-elbow connection and a step-out or hip displacement to drive the elbow toward the floor. All three instructors agree on the core mechanics: arm crossing, elbow connection, and neck compression. Key differences emerge in grip terminology and depth of setup instruction; Yousef provides extensive positional context (knee-on-belly combinations, the 'two-for-one special'), while Mettler offers practical defensive details such as using the knee to clear the opponent's blocking arm. The choke frequently succeeds during transitions when opponents focus on position advancement rather than defensive framing.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Knight Jiu-Jitsu — The No Gi Baseball Bat Choke Complete Guide: Detailed multiple grip options (gable, preacher, three-finger, S-grip) with emphasis on S-grip for wrist flexibility; setups from mount position, knee-ride position, guard defense situations, Darce choke combination, and standing collar-tie applications; emphasis on how choke tightens during position transitions when opponent continues advancing.
- Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu DFW — Baseball Choke Using Lapel with Options by Professor Jason Yousef: Gi-based lapel grip methodology emphasizing deep collar grip with pinky-pointer finger connection; knee-on-belly positional combinations including the 'two-for-one special' with defensive options; finish mechanics of pulling collar apart from itself to tighten through elbow pinching; Hollywood roll defense variation.
- Peter Mettler Martial Arts — NoGi BaseBall Choke - No Gi Base Ball Bat Choke BJJ Grappling Submission Basics for MMA: Simplified no-gi execution requiring only one hand around head with shovel or Indian grip; emphasis on elbow-to-floor mechanics rather than rib-cage squeezing; wrist positioning (wrapped vs. neutral); forearm orientation (narrow bone side vs. broad side on neck); knee usage to clear opponent's blocking arm defense.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
9
Extreme9/10
The Baseball Choke is one of the fastest-onset chokes in BJJ — the rotational compression of both carotid arteries simultaneously can cause unconsciousness in 3-5 seconds once fully locked. The deceptive nature of the setup (often set from bottom position) means opponents frequently do not realise the choke is in place until it is too late. Multiple competition matches have ended with opponents going unconscious because they did not feel the choke building until the moment of blackout.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFRestricted
— no-gi competition only — technique requires gi
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— technique requires gi — not applicable in MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The grip is everything: one hand grips the collar with the palm facing UP (fingers inside the collar, knuckles against the opponent's neck), and the other hand grips the collar with the palm facing DOWN — the two hands are side by side on the collar but rotated in opposite directions, exactly like a baseball bat grip (Ribeiro & Howell, 2008). [1] The most important tactical concept is that the choke tightens when you TURN AWAY from the opponent or when THEY MOVE — do not try to squeeze with arm strength. Set the grips, then rotate your body away from the opponent. The turning motion wrings the collar around the neck. [2] Drill the bottom-position trap: from half guard bottom, set the grips and deliberately let your partner pass. As they settle into side control feeling dominant, turn away and watch their reaction as the choke suddenly materialises. This is the highest-percentage competition application. [2],[3] The grips must be SET before you need them — you cannot rush to grip the collar once you're already in a bad position. The grip setup is the proactive element; the finish is reactive (tightened by movement). [2] Train your partner to recognise the baseball grip immediately — experienced grapplers will strip the grips the moment they see the split-grip pattern. Speed of grip establishment is critical. [3]
Common Mistakes
!Both hands gripping the same direction — the choke REQUIRES opposing grip directions (one palm-up, one palm-down); parallel grips create a standard cross-collar choke, not a baseball choke
!Trying to squeeze with arm strength — the baseball choke finishes through rotation (turning away) or opponent movement, not arm squeezing; muscular effort tires the arms without tightening the choke
!Grips too shallow — both hands must have deep collar grips (four fingers inside each collar); shallow grips slip when the rotation is applied
!Spinning the wrong direction — the attacker must turn AWAY from the opponent (toward the opponent's legs) to tighten; turning toward the opponent's head loosens the choke
!Setting grips too slowly — experienced opponents recognise the split-grip pattern instantly; the grips must be established quickly before the opponent can strip them
!Panicking when passing is allowed — in the bottom-position trap, the attacker must remain calm while deliberately allowing the guard pass, trusting that the choke will finish; panicking and trying to retain guard abandons the choke
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Strip the grips early — the moment you recognise the split-grip pattern on your collar, use both hands to strip the grips before they can be consolidatedDo not complete the pass — if you detect baseball grips while passing guard, STOP the pass and address the grips first; completing the pass tightens the chokePosture up — creating distance between your neck and the opponent's hands reduces the wringing effectTurn into the opponent — turning TOWARD the opponent (not away) loosens the choke's rotational mechanicsStack the attacker — if the grips are set from bottom, drive your weight forward into the attacker to limit their ability to rotate
Setup Chain
1From knee-on-belly: Establish KOB → Opponent reacts by turning away → Reach across to set split grips on collar → Opponent continues turning → Spin behind them and tighten → Finish
2From bottom half guard (trap): Being passed → Set split grips before guard is fully passed → Allow the pass → Opponent settles into side control → Turn away from opponent → Choke tightens from their weight and your rotation → Finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro & Howell, 2008)
1Book[1] Ribeiro, S. and Howell, K. (2008). Jiu-Jitsu University. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9815044-3-8. [2] Danaher, J. (2019). Commentary on collar choke mechanics. BJJ Fanatics instructional series. [3] Hage, M. (2014). The Baseball Choke system. Digitsu instructional. IBJJF 2013 World Championship black belt results.pp. Ribeiro 2008 Side Control Submissions section
description: [1] Ribeiro 2008, [2] Danaher 2019, [3] Hage 2014/IBJJF 2013
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3Citation[1] Ribeiro, S. and Howell, K. (2008). Jiu-Jitsu University. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9815044-3-8. [2] Danaher, J. (2019). Commentary on collar choke mechanics. BJJ Fanatics instructional series. [3] Hage, M. (2014). The Baseball Choke system. Digitsu instructional. IBJJF 2013 World Championship black belt results.pp. Ribeiro 2008 Side Control Submissions section
description: [1] Ribeiro 2008, [2] Danaher 2019, [3] Hage 2014/IBJJF 2013
Community
Athletics
Requires strong grip for maintaining the collar grips during rotation
Good body awareness for timing the spin/rotation
Does NOT require exceptional strength — the choke finishes through geometry (rotation) rather than force
Accessible to all body types
Practitioners with longer arms find the cross-collar reach easier
Notes
Baseball bat appears in 158 passages across 48 books — though many are non-martial-arts references. The baseball bat choke grips the collar like a baseball bat (one hand over, one under) and rotates to create a choking pressure. Can be applied from knee-on-belly, side control, or bottom half guard. (BJJ instructionals; Carlson Gracie & Fernandez, BJJ for Experts Only)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the gi baseball choke and the no-gi version?
In gi, the baseball choke uses thumb in one side of the collar and fingers in the other side. In no-gi, you can't grip the collar, so you use hand-to-hand grips instead, such as an S-grip where you interlace your fingers to create pressure on the neck.
How do I position my elbow correctly when finishing the no-gi baseball choke?
Drive your elbow toward the floor rather than holding it on top of the ribcage. Slide off the ribcage and shoulder, keeping the narrow side of your forearm on the neck to maximize pressure with minimal strength.
What grip should I use for the no-gi baseball choke?
Knight Jiu-Jitsu recommends using an S-grip by interlacing all four fingers together to create an S-style configuration, which allows you to connect both hands and pull the choke into the side of the opponent's neck.
How do I defend against an opponent framing against my baseball choke?
If your opponent frames and starts pushing away, use your knee to cut away their primary defense. Pinch your elbows together while keeping the knee positioned to prevent them from using an effective frame escape.
How does the Baseball Choke work?
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. 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.
Where does the Baseball Choke come from?
The Baseball Choke emerged in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition in the 2000s as a natural evolution of collar choke mechanics — practitioners discovered that opposing grip rotations on the collar created a uniquely powerful wringing action. The technique gained widespread recognition after Magid Hage won his black belt match at the 2013 IBJJF World Championships using a Baseball Choke, demonstrating that the technique works at the absolute highest level of competition.
Is the Baseball 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: restricted — N/A (no-gi competition only — technique requires gi); Unified MMA: restricted — N/A (technique requires gi — not applicable in MMA); FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Baseball Choke?
Danger rating 9/10. The Baseball Choke is one of the fastest-onset chokes in BJJ — the rotational compression of both carotid arteries simultaneously can cause unconsciousness in 3-5 seconds once fully locked. The deceptive nature of the setup (often set from bottom position) means opponents frequently do not realise the choke is in place until it is too late. Multiple competition matches have ended with opponents going unconscious because they did not feel the choke building until the moment of blackout.
How do I set up the Baseball Choke?
The standard setup chain: From knee-on-belly: Establish KOB → Opponent reacts by turning away → Reach across to set split grips on collar → Opponent continues turning → Spin behind them and tighten → Finish → From bottom half guard (trap): Being passed → Set split grips before guard is fully passed → Allow the pass → Opponent settles into side control → Turn away from opponent → Choke tightens from their weight and your rotation → Finish.
How do I defend against the Baseball Choke?
Standard counters include: Strip the grips early — the moment you recognise the split-grip pattern on your collar, use both hands to strip the g… / Do not complete the pass — if you detect baseball grips while passing guard, STOP the pass and address the grips firs… / Posture up — creating distance between your neck and the opponent's hands reduces the wringing effect / Turn into the opponent — turning TOWARD the opponent (not away) loosens the choke's rotational mechanics.
What are the variants of the Baseball Choke?
Common variants: Knee-on-belly Baseball (the most commonly taught version, initiated from knee-on-…); Bottom Baseball (the trap) (set from bottom position, finished after the opponent pas…); North-South Baseball (transitioning to north-south to tighten the grips); Baseball from mount (reaching down to set grips from mounted position, then ro…); Reverse Baseball (reversing which hand is palm-up and which is palm-down, a…); No-rotation Baseball (finishing the choke without spinning, using pure grip pre…).
How effective is the Baseball Choke in competition?
Magid Hage — 2013 IBJJF World Championship black belt victory via Baseball Choke || Multiple IBJJF Pan American and European Open finishes via Baseball Choke || The bottom-position trap variant has become a standard tactical weapon in competition BJJ at purple belt and above || The technique's deceptive nature has led to multiple unconscious opponents in competition who did not tap in time.
What are common mistakes when doing the Baseball Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Both hands gripping the same direction — the choke REQUIRES opposing grip directions (one palm-up, one palm-down); pa… / Trying to squeeze with arm strength — the baseball choke finishes through rotation (turning away) or opponent movemen… / Grips too shallow — both hands must have deep collar grips (four fingers inside each collar); shallow grips slip when… / Spinning the wrong direction — the attacker must turn AWAY from the opponent (toward the opponent's legs) to tighten;….
What are other names for the Baseball Choke?
The Baseball Choke is also known as Bēsubōru Chōku, Baseball Bat Choke, Split-Grip Choke, Beisebol (Portuguese), Bat Choke.