Collar ties represent a fundamental clinching position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling where one or both practitioners establish control of the opponent’s head and neck area. This position creates an immediate tactical advantage by controlling posture, disrupting balance, and setting up a variety of offensive attacks. The collar tie is characterized by one hand gripping behind the opponent’s neck (at the collar in gi or directly on the neck/upper back in no-gi) while maintaining an upright stance.
The strategic value of collar ties lies in their versatility - they serve as both a defensive frame to maintain distance and an offensive tool to break posture and create angles for takedowns, throws, or transitions to more dominant clinch positions. Unlike purely defensive positions, collar ties allow both practitioners to compete for control simultaneously, creating a dynamic exchange where grip fighting, head positioning, and footwork determine who gains the advantage.
Mastering collar ties requires understanding the interplay between upper body control and lower body positioning. While the hands control the head and neck, the feet must constantly adjust angles and maintain a strong base. This position appears frequently in both gi and no-gi contexts, forming the foundation for numerous takedown sequences, front headlock attacks, and transitions to body lock or underhook positions. Competitors who excel at collar tie fighting can dictate the pace of standing exchanges and force opponents into reactive rather than proactive positions.
Position Definition
- At least one practitioner maintains hand control on opponent’s head, neck, or collar area with active pressure downward
- Both practitioners remain in upright athletic stance with weight distributed through bent knees and balls of feet for mobility
- Head positioning battle ongoing with both competitors fighting to keep chin tucked and head above opponent’s head level
- Distance maintained at arm’s length or closer with constant grip fighting and hand position adjustments occurring
- Base and posture remain strong enough to resist immediate takedown attempts while creating offensive opportunities
Prerequisites
- Athletic stance with bent knees, straight back, and head up maintaining good posture
- Understanding of basic grip fighting concepts including hand placement, breaking grips, and establishing control
- Ability to maintain balance while applying and defending against pulling and pushing forces
- Awareness of head position importance and ability to keep chin tucked to protect neck
- Basic footwork skills including circling, angle changes, and stance adjustments under pressure
Key Principles
- Control the head to control the body - head positioning dictates opponent’s posture and balance
- Maintain your own head above opponent’s head level to establish dominant position and prevent counter control
- Use collar tie to break opponent’s posture downward while keeping your own posture strong and upright
- Combine upper body control with footwork and angle changes to create openings for attacks
- Keep opposite hand active for framing, blocking, or establishing additional grips and controls
- Apply constant pressure through collar tie to prevent opponent from establishing strong base or offensive position
- Circle away from opponent’s power side and toward their controlled side to maximize tactical advantage
Available Techniques and Transitions
Snap Down → Front Headlock
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Arm Drag → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Single Leg Entry → Standing Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Double Leg Entry → Standing Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 38%
- Intermediate: 52%
- Advanced: 67%
High Crotch → Standing Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Ankle Pick → Standing Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Collar Drag → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 32%
- Intermediate: 47%
- Advanced: 62%
Snap Down to Front Headlock → Front Headlock
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 42%
- Intermediate: 57%
- Advanced: 72%
Body Lock Pass → Body Lock
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 28%
- Intermediate: 43%
- Advanced: 58%
Front Headlock Series → Front Headlock
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Underhook Sweep → Underhook Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 33%
- Intermediate: 48%
- Advanced: 63%
Arm Drag to Back → Standing Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent postures up strongly and resists downward pressure:
- Execute Single Leg Entry → Standing Position (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Double Leg Entry → Standing Position (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Ankle Pick → Standing Position (Probability: 45%)
If opponent’s head comes down or posture breaks under collar tie pressure:
- Execute Snap Down → Front Headlock (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Front Headlock Series → Front Headlock (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Guillotine Choke → Guillotine Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent circles away from collar tie or attempts to disengage:
- Execute Collar Drag → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Arm Drag → Back Control (Probability: 58%)
- Execute High Crotch → Standing Position (Probability: 52%)
If opponent drives forward aggressively into collar tie:
- Execute Sprawl → Sprawl Defense (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Pull guard → Closed Guard (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Body Lock Pass → Body Lock (Probability: 50%)
If opponent reaches for counter collar tie or inside control:
- Execute Arm Drag to Back → Standing Back Control (Probability: 62%)
- Execute Snap Down to Front Headlock → Front Headlock (Probability: 58%)
- Execute Underhook Sweep → Underhook Control (Probability: 48%)
Optimal Paths from This Position
Snap down to front headlock submission path
Collar Ties → Snap Down → Front Headlock → Anaconda Choke
Snap to darce sequence
Collar Ties → Snap Down to Front Headlock → Darce Choke
Drag to back attack sequence
Collar Ties → Arm Drag to Back → Standing Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Takedown to mount submission
Collar Ties → Single Leg Takedown → Side Control → Transition to Mount → Armbar from Mount
Snap to guillotine attack
Collar Ties → Snap Down → Front Headlock → Guillotine Choke
Body lock to back control path
Collar Ties → Body Lock Pass → Standing Rear Clinch → Rear Naked Choke
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 45% | 35% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 60% | 50% | 25% |
| Advanced | 75% | 65% | 40% |
Average Time in Position: 20-60 seconds in active exchanges before transitioning to takedown attempt, guard pull, or more dominant clinch position
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The collar tie represents one of the most efficient control points in standing grappling because it allows you to control the opponent’s entire body through leverage on their head and neck. The mechanical advantage comes from the fact that the head sits atop the spine, and by controlling it you can manipulate the opponent’s base and posture with minimal energy expenditure. The key technical detail most practitioners miss is the relationship between collar tie pressure and footwork - you must circle toward the side you’re controlling while maintaining downward and lateral pressure to truly break their structure. The collar tie also serves as an excellent defensive tool because it creates distance and frames that prevent the opponent from establishing dominant grips or achieving the optimal angle for their attacks. When executed with proper head positioning and constant pressure, the collar tie becomes a systematic gateway to multiple attacking sequences including snap downs to front headlock positions, arm drags to back exposure, and level changes to leg attacks.
Gordon Ryan
In high-level competition, the collar tie battle determines who controls the standing exchange and dictates the pace of engagement. I use collar ties aggressively to force opponents into reactive positions where they’re constantly defending rather than attacking. The competition reality is that whoever establishes superior head position and collar tie control first usually gets to choose between shooting takedowns or forcing guard pulls on their terms. Against tough opponents, I focus on establishing my collar tie while keeping my head higher than theirs - this creates an immediate hierarchical advantage that’s difficult to overcome. The snap down from collar tie is one of my highest-percentage techniques because once their head breaks down, you have immediate access to front headlock control which opens up multiple submission paths. In no-gi especially, collar ties are even more critical because without gi grips, head control becomes the primary means of manipulating your opponent’s position. I chain collar tie attacks together - if the snap down fails, I immediately switch to arm drag or level change for takedowns, never allowing them to reset to neutral.
Eddie Bravo
Collar ties are one of those fundamental positions that work everywhere from sport BJJ to MMA to street situations. What makes them so effective is they give you offensive options while keeping you safe from counters. In the 10th Planet system, we emphasize using collar ties to set up our guard pulls - you control their posture and head, then sit to your guard game on your terms rather than letting them pass from the start. The collar tie also creates perfect entries for front headlock attacks, and once you have front headlock control, you’re in the danger zone for anacondas, darces, and guillotines. One thing people sleep on is using collar tie pressure to create scrambles - you break their posture down, they try to stand up or defend, and that’s when creative techniques happen. The snap down to front headlock to guillotine sequence is money in both gi and no-gi. From a self-defense perspective, collar ties let you control distance against strikes while setting up takedowns or clinch positions. The innovation comes in combining collar tie control with unorthodox attacks - instead of just standard wrestling attacks, think about transitioning to rubber guard entries or creating angles for unusual takedowns that opponents don’t expect from this position.