Guard: Palm Up Palm Up choke
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Palm Up Palm Up Choke·Bellingham BJJ
The Palm Up, Palm Up variation of the cross collar choke from guard is a powerful technique, and it pairs well with the …
Palm Up Palm Up Choke
SubFamilyパーム・アップ・パーム・アップ・チョーク(Pāmu Appu Pāmu Appu Chōku)
Translation: Palm up palm up choke
Overview
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]
Standard Cross ChokeBoxingDouble Palm-Up Cross ChokeBoxing
History & Origin
Effectiveness
One of the highest-percentage submissions in gi BJJ competition; fundamentally sound and applicable from multiple positions. [1]
Lineage
Kodokan Judo → Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. [1]
Competition Record
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral carotid compression via parallel palm-up collar grips
Joints Involved — Both wrists (supination for palm-up grip), forearms (cross-pressure)
Force Vector — Symmetrical cross-pressure from both wrists against the neck
Leverage Principle — Both forearms create a closing vice action; deeper grips increase the lever arm
Position & Entry
From mount — Establish deep grips one at a time, drive elbows toward the mat
From closed guard — Same grips with postural control from the guard
Variants
Not yet documented
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Classic blood choke with rapid onset
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
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
✓Four fingers deep inside the collar — the deeper the grip, the tighter the choke (Ribeiro & Howell, 2008)
✓Drive elbows to the mat, not outward
✓Keep the head low to prevent the opponent from creating space
Common Mistakes
!Shallow grips
!Pulling outward instead of downward
!Allowing opponent to posture up
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Mount or guard → Deep first palm-up grip → Deep second palm-up grip → Elbows down → 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. Technical Editor: John Danaher.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Ribeiro, S
2Citation[1] Ribeiro, S. and Howell, K. (2008). Jiu-Jitsu University. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9815044-3-8. Technical Editor: John Danaher.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Ribeiro, S
Community
Athletics
Requires grip strength
Accessible to all body types
Notes
The palm up / palm up collar choke (gyaku juji jime in judo) uses both hands gripping with palms upward. Creates a different pressure angle than the standard palm up/palm down variant. (Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if my opponent defends and blocks my initial choke attempt?
Instead of continuing to fight for hand position, switch your hips to the other side. This allows you to attack from a different angle where your opponent's defense is no longer effective.
How is the palm-up palm-up choke different from the palm-up palm-down choke?
In the palm-up palm-up choke, your palm goes under and approaches from the opposite side, with your palm facing up rather than down. This hand position is more powerful because you can generate more force rolling your wrists toward yourself, similar to how you can do more pull-ups with palms-up grip.
What's the key finishing position for this choke?
Roll your wrists toward yourself and sit up, driving your elbows down toward your hips. The crook of your wrist should be positioned on the opponent's neck, and the choke can work even without the sit-up if you hold the position correctly.
How deep do both hands need to be on the neck?
The hand going under (palm-up) needs to go in deep, while the top hand does not need to be as deep—you're mainly looking for the crook of your wrist to catch the neck.
How does the Palm Up Palm Up Choke work?
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. This is the most fundamental collar choke in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo, taught as one of the first submissions from mount and guard.
Where does the Palm Up Palm Up Choke come from?
The Juji Jime (cross choke) is one of the original techniques in Kodokan Judo, adopted and refined in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It remains the most fundamental collar choke taught at white belt level.
Is the Palm Up Palm Up 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 Palm Up Palm Up Choke?
Danger rating 8/10. Classic blood choke with rapid onset
How do I set up the Palm Up Palm Up Choke?
The standard setup chain: Mount or guard → Deep first palm-up grip → Deep second palm-up grip → Elbows down → Finish.
How do I defend against the Palm Up Palm Up Choke?
Standard counters include: Fight the first grip / Posture up from guard / Bridge and roll from mount.
How effective is the Palm Up Palm Up Choke in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Palm Up Palm Up Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Shallow grips / Pulling outward instead of downward / Allowing opponent to posture up.
What are other names for the Palm Up Palm Up Choke?
The Palm Up Palm Up Choke is also known as Pāmu Appu Pāmu Appu Chōku, Standard Cross Choke, Double Palm-Up Cross Choke.