Rear Naked Choke Overview
The rear naked choke is a fundamental finishing technique in grappling, MMA, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, applied when an opponent secures rear mount position. It remains difficult to execute without at least one hook established from rear mount, making positional control essential to the technique's success.
Prevention Through Grip Fighting
Grip fighting from rear mount involves clamping down on the attacker's arms to prevent them from linking hands across the neck. By controlling arm mobility and disrupting hand connection, the defender can simultaneously make the choke more difficult and facilitate escape techniques. This principle of grip fighting applies regardless of position, including when facing an opponent mounted on one's back.
Postural Defense: Chin and Shoulders
Maintaining an elevated chin and raised shoulders throughout the rear mount position significantly impairs choke completion by reducing the attacker's structural advantage. This defensive posture should be maintained until the defender's back is completely separated from the attacker's sternum and the position is escaped entirely.
Hand Interception Escape
When the attacker attempts to link hands across the throat, the defender intercepts the incoming wrist with the cross-hand while maintaining chin down and shoulders up. The defender then clamps both hands on the attacker's other forearm, drives toward the underhook side, and works systematically to ground the head and shoulders before establishing half guard or full guard as the attacker transitions to top position.
Overhook and Underhook Analysis
The choke typically involves an overhook (top hand crossing the shoulder) and an underhook (bottom hand passing under the shoulder), with the overhook position presenting greater danger. The defender should identify which hand is positioned over and actively block the incoming overhook side, as remaining on the attacker's bicep (described as 'head on the pillow') allows rapid submission completion.
Underhook Escape Sequence
The defender moves their head off the attacker's bicep by escaping toward the underhook side while maintaining chin down and shoulders up. Once the spine separates from the middle of the attacker's chest, the defender can arch backward to eliminate choke pressure, then use both hands to push the attacker's leg while working toward half guard, sweeps, or additional guard variations.
Locked Choke Wrist Control Escape
When fully locked, the defender grabs the attacker's wrist (on the hand positioned behind the head) with one hand while inserting the other hand sideways behind their own head. The defender pulls the attacker's choking hand off the neck and jams it under the armpit, then transitions to double-handed wrist control. From this position, the defender can threaten an armlock or circle out by controlling the attacker's head with both hands.
Limitations and Practical Applications
These escapes are most effective against opponents with intermediate choke technique rather than experts in rear naked choke finishing. The techniques remain valuable in sudden situations such as scrambles, unexpected back control in MMA following strikes, or opportunistic back takes by less-skilled attackers. Success relies heavily on early recognition and postural control rather than escaping a fully-secured, expertly-applied submission.
How to Escape the Rear Naked Choke
Key Takeaways
- •Rear Naked Choke Overview
- •Prevention Through Grip Fighting
- •Postural Defense: Chin and Shoulders
- •Hand Interception Escape
How to escape the rear naked choke. From the Submission Defense module of the Free Grapplearts BJJ Master App! iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bjj-master-app-by-grapplearts/id1308072068?mt=8 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grappleartcontainer More choke, armlock and leglock attacks, setups and defences in the Grapplearts BJJ Master App. More info here: https://www.grapplearts.com/grapplearts-bjj-master-app/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR2e0IsqhrQ
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does this video teach about choke escape?
This video covers rear naked choke overview, prevention through grip fighting, postural defense: chin and shoulders. It provides detailed instruction from Stephan Kesting.
How long does it take to learn choke escape?
The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 8-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.
What are the key details for finishing choke escape?
When fully locked, the defender grabs the attacker's wrist (on the hand positioned behind the head) with one hand while inserting the other hand sideways behind their own head. The defender pulls the attacker's choking hand off the neck and jams it under the armpit, then transitions to double-handed wrist control. From this position, the defender can threaten an armlock or circle out by controlling the attacker's head with both hands.
