D’arce Control Bottom represents a critical defensive position where the practitioner is trapped in their opponent’s D’arce choke grip. This is a high-risk defensive situation requiring immediate and precise defensive actions to prevent the submission from being completed. The bottom player faces significant danger as the opponent has established the distinctive arm-in choke configuration, threading their arm under the near arm and over the far shoulder while securing a grip.
From this compromised position, the defender must focus on creating space, defending the neck, and systematically dismantling the opponent’s control points. Success depends on understanding the mechanics of the D’arce choke, maintaining composure under pressure, and executing precise defensive sequences. The position commonly arises from turtle, failed takedown attempts, or front headlock scenarios where the top player has successfully secured the choke grip.
While extremely dangerous, D’arce Control Bottom is not an inescapable position. Skilled practitioners can recognize the setup early, defend critical control points, and create escape opportunities through proper technique and tactical awareness. The key is preventing the opponent from tightening the choke, maintaining neck alignment, and systematically working to recover to safer positions like turtle, half guard, or even reversing to dominant positions.
Position Definition
- Opponent has threaded their arm under defender’s near-side arm and over the far shoulder with hands clasped together in D’arce grip configuration near defender’s neck creating immediate submission threat
- Defender’s near-side arm is trapped against their own body typically pinned across their torso or neck by opponent’s encircling arm creating the arm-in choke structure that enables effective strangulation
- Defender’s head and neck are under significant pressure with opponent’s chest or shoulder driving into the back and side of head restricting movement and creating direct choking pressure on carotid arteries
- Defender is typically on their side or in turtle position with opponent controlling from top position using their body weight to compress the choke mechanism and restrict all escape routes
- Opponent’s grips are locked together in gable grip S-grip or figure-four on the far side of defender’s neck with the locked hands positioned to maximize choking leverage when pressure is applied
Prerequisites
- Opponent has successfully secured D’arce grip configuration with arm threaded under near arm
- Defender’s near-side arm is trapped in the choke structure
- Opponent has established control from turtle, front headlock, or scramble position
- Defender recognizes the danger and initiates defensive protocol immediately
Key Defensive Principles
- Immediate recognition and defensive response - every second counts before choke tightens
- Protect the neck by keeping chin tucked and creating space between opponent’s forearm and carotid arteries
- Address the trapped arm first - free the near-side arm to eliminate the arm-in configuration that makes the choke effective
- Create frames and space using free hand against opponent’s hip, shoulder, or head to prevent them from flattening you and tightening the choke
- Move toward the choke not away - stepping over opponent’s head or turning into them can relieve pressure and create escape opportunities
Available Escapes
Arm Extraction → Turtle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Rolling to Guard → Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Step Over Escape → Open Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Back Door Escape → Turtle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Counter Roll → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 20%
- Advanced: 35%
Granby Roll → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 40%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent has shallow grip and choke is not yet tight:
- Execute Arm Extraction → Turtle (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Step Over Escape → Open Guard (Probability: 45%)
If opponent is driving forward to flatten you and tighten choke:
- Execute Rolling to Guard → Half Guard (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Back Door Escape → Turtle (Probability: 40%)
If choke is locked deep and opponent has strong positional control:
- Execute Granby Roll → Closed Guard (Probability: 40%)
- Execute Counter Roll → Side Control (Probability: 30%)
If opponent switches to anaconda configuration or loosens D’arce grip:
- Execute Arm Extraction → Turtle (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Rolling to Guard → Half Guard (Probability: 40%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Immediate defensive escape
D'arce Control Bottom → Arm Extraction → Turtle → Open Guard
Counter-offensive reversal
D'arce Control Bottom → Counter Roll → Side Control → Mount
Granby escape sequence
D'arce Control Bottom → Granby Roll → Closed Guard → Triangle Setup
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 20% | 25% | 5% |
| Intermediate | 35% | 40% | 10% |
| Advanced | 50% | 55% | 15% |
Average Time in Position: 10-30 seconds before escape or submission
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The D’arce control from bottom represents a biomechanical nightmare scenario where your opponent has created a mechanical advantage through the arm-in choke configuration. The fundamental problem is that your own arm becomes a structural component of the choking mechanism - it acts as a wedge that redirects the opponent’s forearm pressure directly into your carotid arteries. The systematic defense requires immediate recognition that this is not a position where gradual improvement is acceptable; you must act decisively within seconds. The proper defensive sequence begins with protecting the neck through chin position and skeletal alignment, then systematically dismantling the control structure by addressing the trapped arm. The biomechanical principle is that by extracting your trapped arm, you eliminate the wedge effect and transform what was a blood choke into merely an uncomfortable squeeze. Advanced practitioners understand that movement direction is counterintuitive - you must move toward the choke initially to create the angles needed for extraction. The escape mechanics rely on using your free arm to create frames against the opponent’s head or shoulder while your hips generate the rotational force needed to extract the trapped limb.
Gordon Ryan
From competition experience, D’arce Control Bottom is one of those positions where you absolutely cannot afford to wait and see what happens - the window for effective escape is extremely narrow, maybe 3-5 seconds max before a skilled opponent locks it down completely. I’ve been caught in this position by elite grapplers and the key thing I learned is that your first movement matters more than anything else. If you try to pull away or create distance, you’re basically tightening the noose yourself. What works at the highest level is immediately turning into the choke while working your trapped arm free - this seems backwards but it’s the only reliable escape I’ve found against world-class D’arce attacks. The competition reality is that if someone like Garry Tonon or Craig Jones gets this locked on you, your escape percentage drops to maybe 20% even if you’re doing everything right. That’s why I focus heavily on defending the initial setup in turtle or front headlock positions - never let that near-side arm get trapped in the first place. When drilling this position, I always emphasize that you need to be practicing the escape from fully locked positions regularly because that’s what competition pressure feels like - there’s no gradual buildup, they just lock it and squeeze.
Eddie Bravo
D’arce Control from bottom is where a lot of 10th Planet guys have developed some creative escapes because we encounter this position frequently in no-gi scrambles and turtle battles. The standard escape sequences work, but I’ve found that the Granby roll variation can be especially effective because it uses momentum and rotation to break the opponent’s base while simultaneously creating space for arm extraction. The key innovation we’ve added is using the Granby not just as an escape but as a potential reversal opportunity - if you time it right when the opponent is driving forward, you can actually roll them over and end up in their guard or even take their back. Another 10th Planet principle that applies here is staying dangerous even from bad positions. While you’re working your escapes, if you can get any kind of leg entanglement or hook on their near leg, suddenly they have to worry about you attacking their base instead of just finishing the choke. We also train a lot of flow drills where you’re moving between D’arce defense, anaconda defense, and guillotine defense because in no-gi these positions blend together rapidly and you need to be able to adapt your defensive strategy on the fly based on which variation they’re hitting. The mental game is crucial - you cannot panic because that burns energy and tightens everything up, making the choke more effective.