BJJ Graph

Buggy Choke

Dec 09, 20258 min read

The Buggy Choke position represents a sophisticated turtle attack system that bridges the gap between positional control and immediate submission threats. This specialized grip configuration emerged from gi competition where practitioners needed more aggressive turtle attacks beyond traditional back takes. The position’s defining characteristic is the threaded arm under the opponent’s armpit reaching to the far collar, creating simultaneous choking pressure and postural breakdown.

From the bottom perspective, defending the Buggy Choke requires understanding that traditional turtle defensive postures actually facilitate the attack. The position creates a structural dilemma where maintaining turtle posture accelerates the choke, yet escaping movements expose pathways to back control, crucifix, and other dominant positions. Bottom players must recognize the critical early warning signs during the threading phase and implement immediate defensive protocols before the second grip is secured.

From the top perspective, the Buggy Choke position serves as a central hub in modern turtle attack systems, connecting to multiple high-percentage submissions and transitions. Top players value this position because it forces movement from defensive turtle specialists who typically stall in that position. The grip configuration naturally leads to finishing the choke, taking the back when opponents sit to guard, attacking the crucifix when they post defensively, or rolling to truck variations when they attempt granby escapes. Understanding both perspectives is essential for developing comprehensive turtle game strategies that work across gi and no-gi competition formats.

Key Principles

  • Thread choking arm deep under armpit with palm-up orientation before opponent can defend neck access

  • Secure second grip immediately after threading to eliminate defensive windows and complete control structure

  • Apply perpendicular pressure with chest downward and hips heavy to flatten opponent and restrict movement

  • Read opponent’s defensive reactions to determine whether to finish choke or transition to superior positions

  • Maintain tight connection between head and opponent’s far shoulder to prevent rotation and space creation

  • Use progressive pressure application rather than explosive yanking to maximize technical efficiency and control

  • Recognize the position as transitional attack hub rather than static holding position

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeDefensiveOffensive/Controlling
Risk LevelHighLow to Medium
Energy CostHighMedium
TimeShortShort to Medium

Key Difference: Threading arm trades stability for submission

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Recognize threading attempt immediately through proprioception and implement grip prevention before second grip secures

  • Maintain aggressive posture recovery by driving head and shoulders up to prevent flattening and collar access

  • Keep near elbow tight to ribs to block threading arm’s depth and prevent palm-up collar grip establishment

  • Create rotational movement toward the threading arm to face opponent and eliminate choking angle geometry

  • Abandon passive turtle maintenance strategy and actively pursue guard recovery or standing escape immediately

  • Strip grips aggressively during early phases before body pressure makes grip fighting ineffective

  • Accept tactical retreat to half guard or other defensive positions rather than allowing choke to develop in turtle

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Remaining static in turtle hoping opponent will transition away rather than finish the choke

    • Consequence: Opponent has unlimited time to perfect grips and apply progressive choking pressure until submission is inevitable
    • ✅ Correction: Move immediately and aggressively toward guard recovery or standing escape, accepting that turtle is no longer viable defensive position

  • ❌ Focusing grip fighting efforts on the second grip while ignoring the primary threading arm already deep under armpit

    • Consequence: Threading arm maintains depth with palm-up collar access, making second grip stripping irrelevant to stopping the choke
    • ✅ Correction: Prioritize removing or blocking the threading arm’s depth first, as this is the primary choking mechanism that enables the entire position

  • ❌ Attempting to roll away from the choking arm toward open space

    • Consequence: Rolling motion actually tightens the collar grip and accelerates the choke while potentially transitioning to truck or back control
    • ✅ Correction: Roll toward the choking arm to face opponent and eliminate choking angle, or sit to guard proactively rather than rolling away

  • ❌ Keeping near elbow wide and away from ribs during threading attempt

    • Consequence: Creates highway for opponent’s arm to thread deep under armpit with optimal palm-up orientation for collar access
    • ✅ Correction: Clamp near elbow tight to ribs immediately when turtle top control is established, blocking threading pathways before they develop

  • ❌ Lowering head and turtle posture to avoid collar grips

    • Consequence: Flattened posture actually facilitates choking mechanics and eliminates mobility needed for escape movements
    • ✅ Correction: Drive head and shoulders up aggressively to maintain high turtle posture that creates distance from collar and preserves escape options

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Thread choking arm deep under armpit with palm-up orientation before opponent can establish effective defensive frames

  • Secure second grip immediately after threading to eliminate defensive window and complete control structure

  • Apply body pressure through chest and hips to flatten opponent and restrict movement before attempting choking pressure

  • Read opponent’s defensive reactions to determine optimal path between finishing choke and transitioning to superior positions

  • Maintain head position tight to opponent’s far shoulder as active control point preventing rotation and space creation

  • Use progressive pressure application rather than explosive movements to maximize control duration and technical efficiency

  • Treat position as transitional attack hub connecting multiple high-percentage outcomes based on opponent’s defensive choices

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Threading arm too shallow under armpit without reaching deep collar access

    • Consequence: Opponent easily defends neck with frames, strips grip without pressure, or sits to guard maintaining defensive structure
    • ✅ Correction: Drive threading arm deep until hand reaches far collar with palm-up orientation, ensuring maximum depth before attempting second grip

  • ❌ Applying explosive choking pressure immediately before control structure is consolidated

    • Consequence: Opponent reacts with explosive defensive urgency often escaping before position develops, technique becomes strength-based rather than positional
    • ✅ Correction: Establish both grips and body pressure first with chest weight and hip control, then apply progressive choking pressure once movement is restricted

  • ❌ Keeping hips too high or weight distributed away from opponent’s body

    • Consequence: Opponent easily sits to guard, executes granby rolls away, or stands up because insufficient weight prevents their escape movements
    • ✅ Correction: Drive hips down onto opponent’s near hip while maintaining chest heavy on back, creating perpendicular pressure that flattens and controls

  • ❌ Failing to secure second grip quickly after threading choking arm

    • Consequence: Opponent uses time window to strip initial grip, turn into position, or escape to guard before choke structure is complete
    • ✅ Correction: Immediately secure far collar with opposite hand or connect hands (no-gi) as soon as threading completes, eliminating defensive window

  • ❌ Allowing head to drift away from opponent’s far shoulder area

    • Consequence: Opponent creates rotational space to turn into choke, strip grips with improved leverage, or roll away from pressure
    • ✅ Correction: Keep head tight to opponent’s far shoulder as active control point that prevents rotation and maintains optimal choking angle

  • ❌ Committing fully to choking finish when opponent extends arm for crucifix

    • Consequence: Missing high-percentage crucifix transition that offers superior control and submission opportunities than continuing choke attempt
    • ✅ Correction: Monitor opponent’s far arm constantly and immediately transition to crucifix attack when extension occurs, prioritizing position over submission

  • ❌ Using pure arm strength for choking pressure without engaging body mechanics

    • Consequence: Choke becomes exhausting arm-strength contest, opponent defends more effectively, position becomes unsustainable over time
    • ✅ Correction: Use full body mechanics with chest pressure downward, hip weight controlling position, arms completing structure through leverage not strength

  • Turtle - Primary starting position where buggy choke attacks initiate from turtle top control

  • Back Control - Common transition destination when opponent sits to guard defending the choke

  • Crucifix - Alternative attack when opponent extends far arm to defend choking pressure

  • Truck - Transition target when opponent attempts granby roll escapes from buggy choke control

  • D’arce Control - Switch option available when opponent turns into the buggy choke attack angle

  • Anaconda Control - Related front headlock submission from similar turtle control configurations

  • Front Headlock - Related turtle attack position with overlapping control and submission objectives

  • Side Control - Fallback position when grips are stripped or significant defensive space is created

  • Guillotine Control - Alternative turtle submission when buggy choke angle is not available

  • North-South - Related top control position with similar pressure and submission principles