Initial Position and Control

Begin in a headlock position with controlled pressure. As the opponent attempts to escape, allow their arm to fall across your leg. Maintain this control while monitoring their defensive positioning and readiness to transition.

Recognizing the Moment to Attack

Watch for the opponent to extend their posture significantly while defending. This overextension signals the optimal time to secure the anaconda choke. The wider their frame opens, the more vulnerable they become to the submission.

Hand Placement and Arm Threading

Thread the top hand as deep as possible around the opponent's shoulder and neck. Simultaneously, secure a forward elbow control with the outside hand on the opponent's arm. This dual control prevents escape while establishing the choke framework.

Transition to Finishing Position

Once both arms are secured, rotate toward the side where the opponent's arm is trapped. Drive the hip and torso against the opponent's head while maintaining grip integrity. This rotation prevents the opponent from pulling their trapped arm free.

Executing the Choke with Hip Pressure

Move the hip and stomach directly against the opponent's head to maximize pressure. Continue squeezing while maintaining the grip structure. Avoid positioning the squeeze directly in front of your hip, as this reduces choking efficiency.

Managing Opponent Resistance and Arm Defense

As the opponent battles the position, keep the trapped arm pinned tightly against your body. If the opponent's arm reaches across your back, use your body position to hide it and prevent leverage. Continuously monitor the opponent's defensive angles.

Preventing Escape and Maintaining Pressure

Never allow the opponent to open their arms or create space. Control their weight distribution by forcing them to commit balance to one side. When they shift, apply choke pressure on the opposite side to maintain dominance.

Positional Adjustments Before Rolling

Get the head under the opponent's body before they can roll out. Thread the arms underneath early to prevent the opponent from escaping over the top. This proactive positioning ensures control throughout the transition.

Variation: Alternative Arm Positioning

If the opponent opens their elbow or reaches high on the back, adjust the arm placement accordingly. Maintain hand connection while shifting to prevent the opponent from stacking or escaping. Flexibility in grip position is essential when facing strong defensive resistance.

Marcelo Garcia - Anaconda Choke With 3 Variations

MGInActionVideos
2 min read·9 key moments·PT8M46S video

Key Takeaways

  • Initial Position and Control
  • Recognizing the Moment to Attack
  • Hand Placement and Arm Threading
  • Transition to Finishing Position

Like Our Videos or Subscribe to Our Channel to See New Demonstrations and Techniques. 3 Part Technique — Marcelo Garcia's style of BJJ is immensely unique in many different aspects of the traditional art form, but no one example sets him apart from the rest more than his controversial stance on the omission of certain attribute-based submissions (i.a. The Arm Triangle) from his competition game. Instead, Marcelo wisely chooses to spend his finite training time as efficiently as possible by discarding all techniques whose successful application relies upon phenotypical advantage, and he only trains moves into his repertoire that work irrespective of size or strength. The sole tenet of BJJ is that the knowledge of bio mechanical leverage can allow for a small, weak person to defeat a larger, stronger person in unarmed combat. Surely, the possession of such physical traits such as long limb length, flexibility, and heavy musculature can multiply one's leverage in a fight considerably, but the point isn't about the size of your lever, it's about where best to place your fulcrum. Nearly all of the movements that Marcelo personally uses in his competition game are techniques that have been consistently proven to work against opponents of any size, with or without the aid of the gi. The Arm Triangle Choke (viz. Anaconda, D'Arce, Katagatame, RAT) is a technique that ceases to work effectively against an adversary who i) has superior strength, ii) has a large girth, and iii) provides technical resistance. Though it is not impossible to finish the choke despite this seemingly insurmountable combination, your chance of success dramatically approaches nil if your opponent correctly defends your attack via these physical advantages. Although the Arm Triangle is far from Marcelo's specialty, he has finally decided to teach his class one particular variation of the choke (The Anaconda) to the best of his ability, in lieu of the aforementioned perspective, for 2 reasons: a) it is important for his students to develop an awareness of the danger inherent from a specialist in this attack, and b) there is no reason not to try the submission if your opponent is blatantly, carelessly, or inadvertently giving it to you. Marcelo demonstrates 3 scenarios in which he would be so inclined to attempt the Arm Triangle Choke: 1) While holding the Front Headlock, if your opponent overextends his arm to reach for a takedown, sink in the choke and roll him onto his side, clocking your belly into the back of his neck until you can catch his legs with yours. 2) If he steps up with his foot to posts against your initial roll, flip him onto his opposite side and once again capture his legs for the final squeeze. 3) If you encounter difficulty enclosing the Triangle around his Head & Arm, apply pressure down onto his elbow with a Gable-gripped forearm and your topside knee. Marcelo Garcia in Action has over 12000 videos of demonstration in both Gi and No Gi grappling. Marcelo Garcia is known as one of the top grapplers in the world with many accomplishments. This is a sample video from http://www.mginaction.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about anaconda choke?

This video covers initial position and control, recognizing the moment to attack, hand placement and arm threading. It provides detailed instruction from MGInActionVideos.

How long does it take to learn anaconda choke?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 9-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.

What are the key details for finishing anaconda choke?

Get the head under the opponent's body before they can roll out. Thread the arms underneath early to prevent the opponent from escaping over the top. This proactive positioning ensures control throughout the transition.