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Rear naked choke

Brazilian jiu-jitsu / Popular

Finish the rear naked choke from back control.

What coaches agree on

  • You don't need both hooks and a seatbelt locked in before attacking the choke - chest-to-back connection is enough, especially in the transition while your opponent is still fighting for position instead of defending their neck.
  • Line your elbow up directly under your opponent's chin with no gap, so the pressure collapses the arteries at the sides of the neck instead of crushing the windpipe.
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  • Once your grip is locked in, finish with your whole body - squeeze your knees, extend your legs, or take a deep breath - rather than relying on your arms alone.

Common mistakes

  • Swinging the second hand across the front of your body to grab your own bicep - the 'macarena' - exposes your wrist, letting your opponent grab it, strip the choke, or even reverse it into an armbar.
  • Laying the forearm flat across the neck instead of driving the elbow through for a deep, shoulder-level grip leaves the choke shallow and easy for your opponent to strip off.