Ezekiel Choke

What it is

The ezekiel choke is a sleeve choke from mount: one arm goes behind their head, that hand grips inside your other sleeve, and the free forearm drives across the throat. It needs almost no space, which is why it is a favourite against people who turtle up under mount. It also works from inside someone's closed guard, which surprises a lot of beginners.

When to use it

• From mount, when they turtle up with their elbows tight and give you nothing else.
• From mount, when you already have an arm under their head.
• From inside closed guard, when their guard is high and their hands are busy.

How to do it

1. From mount, slide one arm under their head so the crook of your elbow is behind their neck.
2. Put that hand deep inside the sleeve of your other arm, four fingers in.
3. Bring the free hand across their throat, knuckles or the blade of the forearm under the chin.
4. Drop your head to the mat on the side of the free hand to stop the bridge.
5. Pull your elbows together and drive the forearm across the throat until they tap.

Key details

• Grip deep in the sleeve. A shallow sleeve grip slips as soon as you squeeze.
• The choking hand goes under the chin, on the throat, not across the jaw.
• Pull with the arm behind the head while you push with the forearm. One without the other is only pain.
• Stay heavy on the chest with your head low so they cannot buck you off.
• Tap early when you are the one caught. A choke works in seconds, and holding on only puts you to sleep.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: reaching for the sleeve with your head high. They bridge and you lose mount.
• Mistake: choking on the jaw. They wait it out and you tire.
• Mistake: leaving your free elbow wide. They push it away and the choke is gone.

What they will try

• They tuck their chin and pull your top elbow down before the forearm gets under the chin.
• They bridge the moment your weight comes forward to reach for the sleeve.

Gi and no-gi

Without a sleeve, grab your own bicep or wrist instead of the sleeve. It is harder to finish, so most no-gi players use the arm triangle from mount instead.