BJJ chokes

A choke squeezes the neck until the other person taps. Most chokes press the sides of the neck. This is called a blood choke.

A blood choke works in a few seconds. That is why you tap as soon as the squeeze is on.

Chokes from the back

• Rear Naked ChokeOne arm around the neck, the other hand behind the head. The most common finish in BJJ.
• Bow and Arrow ChokeGiOne hand on the collar, one on the leg, and you stretch out. Gi only.

Chokes from the front

These come when the other person's head is low, often from the front headlock: their head is under your arm.

• GuillotineYour arm wraps the neck from the front. It catches people who dive in head down.
• D'Arce ChokeYour arm goes under their near armpit and around the neck. Head and arm are trapped together.
• Anaconda ChokeYour arm goes under the neck first, then up through the far armpit. You roll to finish.

Leg chokes

• TriangleFrom guard, your legs lock around their neck and one arm.
• Mounted TriangleThe triangle locked from mount, often when they block the armbar.

Chokes from top pins

• Arm TriangleFrom mount or side control. Their arm is pushed across their own neck.
• North-South ChokeFrom north-south. Your arm goes under their head and your weight does the work.

Gi chokes

These need the jacket. In no-gi there is no collar or sleeve to hold, so these chokes do not work there.

• Cross Collar ChokeGiBoth hands deep in the collar, crossed, from mount or guard. Gi only.
• Ezekiel ChokeGiFrom mount: one hand holds your own sleeve, the other forearm crosses the neck. Gi only.
• Clock ChokeGiA collar choke on someone in turtle. You walk around their head like a clock hand. Gi only.
• Baseball Bat ChokeGiTwo hands on the collar like a bat, then you turn toward their head. Gi only.
• Loop ChokeGiOne collar grip loops around a head that comes in low. Gi only.
• Paper Cutter ChokeGiFrom side control, a collar grip and a forearm that drops across the throat. Gi only.

Choke reference table