Foundation: Two-Handed Finishing Principle

While 90% of the north-south strangle's effectiveness comes from proper first-arm mechanics, competition finishing requires locking both hands for maximum stability. Locked hands and feet are demonstrably stronger than unlocked positions, making the hand lock essential for reliable submission completion.

Initial Positioning and Knee Placement

The instructor establishes chest-to-chest contact before threading the strangle arm. The outside of the knee must touch the mat with minimal hip rotation—just enough to position the ribcage to block the opponent's face and prevent defensive head turning. This subtle adjustment maintains stability while creating structural advantage.

Center Line Approach and Hand Exposure

As the strangle arm establishes position, the grappler must walk across the center line while moving down the opponent's body rather than up toward the head. This downward angle naturally exposes the initial hand to the second hand, enabling the lock without requiring repositioning.

Executing the Hand Lock

Once both hands are accessible, the grappler clasps them firmly at chest level. The locked hands then drive the grappler's body away from the opponent while simultaneously moving down toward the opponent's head. This creates the mechanical advantage necessary for the final transition.

Transitioning to Belly-Down Position

From the locked-hand position, the grappler shifts toward the center line while following with the elbow. This movement transitions the grappler to a belly-down orientation directly above the opponent, setting up the final compression phase.

Shoulder-to-Hand Connection and Pressure Application

The finishing compression requires bringing the same-side shoulder down to meet the same-side hand—not lifting the hands toward the chest as in a guillotine choke. This 'paper cutter' motion, where the shoulder descends vertically, creates the esophageal pressure that completes the strangle.

Elbow Position and Mechanical Efficiency

Maximum closing power requires positioning the elbow underneath the body as far as possible. Extended arms severely compromise strangle effectiveness by preventing full shoulder descent. The deeper the elbow placement, the lower the shoulder can travel and the more complete the choke becomes.

Final Center Line Walk and Submission

Once the right shoulder connects with the right hand, the grappler walks toward the center line while maintaining constant pressure. This final adjustment secures the north-south strangle and forces the submission.

North/South Strangle - Finishing With 2 Hands by John Danaher

BJJ Fanatics

North-South Choke

2 min read·8 key moments·PT4M23S video

Key Takeaways

•Foundation: Two-Handed Finishing Principle
•Initial Positioning and Knee Placement
•Center Line Approach and Hand Exposure
•Executing the Hand Lock

FINISHING the North/South Strangle with 2 HANDS https://bjjfanatics.com John Danaher demonstrates how to finish a North/South Strangle with 2 Hands in this video. John Danaher is widely regarded as the greatest Jiu Jitsu Coach of all time. This is an excerpt from AGELESS JIU JITSU TOP GAME NO GI available from BJJFanatics.com. To learn more great Jiu Jitsu Techniques, visit https://www.bjjfanatics.com BJJ Fanatics was started by a pair of black belts (Bernardo Faria & Michael Zenga) who feel that nothing is more important than improving your BJJ skills as much as possible in the least amount of time. Their aim was to create a shop for BJJ Students who don’t look at BJJ as a sport – but as a lifestyle. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAqme-CE-yLm01BV5nUjPPA Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/733553463659020/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjj.fanatics/?hl=en 15% OFF On All Of Our BJJ Instructional Videos - Just Use The Coupon Code: FANATICSYOUTUBE Website: https://bjjfanatics.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about north-south choke?

This video covers foundation: two-handed finishing principle, initial positioning and knee placement, center line approach and hand exposure. It provides detailed instruction from BJJ Fanatics.

How long does it take to learn north-south choke?

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.