Guillotine Control Bottom represents a critical attacking position where the bottom practitioner has secured a guillotine choke grip while maintaining guard or attempting to close guard. This position transforms defensive bottom play into an immediate offensive threat, creating a powerful submission opportunity from what would otherwise be a neutral or disadvantageous position. The position is characterized by the bottom player controlling the opponent’s head and neck with a front headlock grip, typically with the choking arm wrapped around the opponent’s neck and the hands clasped together, while using the legs to control distance and prevent the opponent from escaping or advancing position.
The strategic value of Guillotine Control Bottom lies in its ability to threaten immediate submission while simultaneously creating opportunities for sweeps and guard retention. The position forces the opponent into a defensive posture, preventing them from executing their preferred passing game or establishing dominant control. Successful execution requires precise understanding of choking mechanics, proper hand placement, and the ability to coordinate upper body control with lower body positioning. The bottom player must balance the urgency of finishing the submission with the patience required to maintain control and prevent escape.
From a positional hierarchy perspective, Guillotine Control Bottom represents a high-risk, high-reward position that can quickly transition to either submission victory or positional disadvantage if the opponent successfully defends. The position demands technical precision in grip management, hip positioning, and understanding of multiple finishing variations including arm-in guillotine, high elbow guillotine, and ten-finger variations. Modern guillotine systems emphasize the importance of guard retention and the ability to transition between different guillotine variations based on opponent reactions.
Position Definition
- Bottom player has one arm wrapped around opponent’s neck in front headlock position with hand clasped to create guillotine grip, applying pressure to the trachea or carotid arteries through arm and wrist position
- Bottom player’s hips are positioned underneath or slightly behind the opponent’s center of gravity, with legs typically in guard position (closed, half, or butterfly) to control distance and prevent opponent from driving forward or extracting head
- Opponent’s head and neck are controlled and pulled downward toward bottom player’s chest, with opponent’s posture broken forward and shoulders compressed toward hips, limiting ability to create space or establish base
- Bottom player’s non-choking arm is either reinforcing the choke by gripping the choking wrist or forearm, or controlling opponent’s body through underhook, overhook, or grip on gi/body to prevent escape and maintain positional control
Prerequisites
- Successful guillotine grip establishment during opponent’s shot, guard pass attempt, or scramble
- Opponent’s head positioned on one side of bottom player’s body (typically between chest and hip)
- Bottom player on back or sitting with ability to engage legs for guard retention
- Sufficient space created to thread choking arm around opponent’s neck
- Opponent committed forward into position where head extraction is difficult
- Bottom player maintains some form of guard connection with legs to prevent opponent from simply backing away
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain constant upward lifting pressure with choking arm while simultaneously pulling opponent’s head down toward chest to compress neck and close choking angle
- Coordinate hip movement and guard retention to prevent opponent from driving weight forward and flattening bottom player or passing guard while defending choke
- Keep elbows tight to body and avoid allowing opponent to create space between choking arm and their neck by posturing up or rotating shoulders
- Use legs actively to control opponent’s posture and distance, preventing them from either backing out completely or advancing to dominant positions like side control or mount
- Adjust choking mechanics based on opponent’s defense, transitioning between different guillotine variations (arm-in, high elbow, ten-finger) as opponent reacts and creates openings
- Maintain constant threat of submission finish while remaining prepared to transition to sweep attempts or alternative submissions if opponent successfully defends primary attack
- Protect against counter-passes by maintaining active guard structure and being ready to transition to different guard variations or re-establish position if opponent begins advancing
Available Escapes
Guillotine Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 70%
High Elbow Guillotine → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 65%
Arm in Guillotine → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 75%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Hip Bump Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Guillotine Setup → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Transition to Omoplata → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 45%
Switch to Triangle → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Anaconda Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 60%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent drives weight forward and attempts to flatten bottom player to relieve choke pressure:
- Execute Hip Bump Sweep → Mount (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Switch to Triangle → Triangle Control (Probability: 40%)
If opponent postures up and attempts to create space by extending arms or lifting torso:
- Execute High Elbow Guillotine → Won by Submission (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Guillotine Setup → Closed Guard (Probability: 50%)
If opponent turns head and shoulders away from choking arm to escape:
- Execute Anaconda Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Darce Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 55%)
If opponent successfully creates significant space and begins extracting head:
- Execute Guillotine Setup → Closed Guard (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Guard Recovery → Half Guard (Probability: 60%)
If opponent keeps head down and attempts to drive forward while defending neck:
- Execute Arm in Guillotine → Won by Submission (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Transition to Mount → Mount (Probability: 45%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Direct Guillotine Finish Path
Guillotine Control Bottom → Guillotine Choke → Won by Submission
High-Percentage Arm-In Path
Guillotine Control Bottom → Recognize arm trap → Arm in Guillotine → Won by Submission
Sweep to Mounted Guillotine Path
Guillotine Control Bottom → Hip Bump Sweep → Mount (maintain guillotine) → Guillotine Choke → Won by Submission
Triangle Transition Path
Guillotine Control Bottom → Opponent defends with arm across → Switch to Triangle → Triangle Choke → Won by Submission
Anaconda Counter Path
Guillotine Control Bottom → Opponent turns away → Anaconda Choke → Won by Submission
High Elbow Variation Path
Guillotine Control Bottom → Opponent postures up → High Elbow Guillotine → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 25% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 55% | 45% | 40% |
| Advanced | 70% | 65% | 65% |
Average Time in Position: 20-45 seconds before resolution (finish or position change)
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The guillotine from bottom represents a fundamental dilemma in grappling: the simultaneous need to attack the neck while defending against positional advancement. The mechanical efficiency of the guillotine choke depends entirely on the relationship between choking arm depth, wrist blade positioning across the trachea or carotid arteries, and the angle created by pulling the head down while lifting upward. Most practitioners fail to understand that the guillotine is not simply a matter of squeezing harder, but rather about creating the proper geometric angle between the forearm, wrist, and opponent’s neck. The coordination between upper body control through the choke and lower body control through guard retention represents the core technical challenge of this position. Advanced practitioners recognize that the guillotine from bottom functions as both a submission threat and a positional control mechanism, forcing opponents into defensive postures that create opportunities for sweeps and transitions. The position demands constant adjustment based on opponent reactions, transitioning fluidly between different guillotine variations as defensive adjustments create new attacking angles.
Gordon Ryan
From competition experience, the guillotine from bottom is one of the highest percentage submissions when executed with proper timing and mechanics, but it’s also one of the most commonly defended at elite levels. The key to success is recognizing that you’re fighting two battles simultaneously: finishing the choke and preventing the pass. In my matches, I’ve found that the arm-in guillotine variation is significantly more effective from bottom than the traditional version because it eliminates the opponent’s primary defense of pulling their arm across. The critical moment is the initial grip establishment - if you can’t get deep around the neck immediately, the success rate drops dramatically. Modern competitors have become very good at defending guillotines by driving their weight forward and flattening you, so maintaining active guard retention with the legs is absolutely essential. The position works best when you’re prepared to chain it with sweep attempts, particularly the hip bump sweep when they drive forward. In high-level competition, the guillotine from bottom is often more valuable as a control position that sets up sweeps than as a primary submission, though the submission threat must remain constant to keep the opponent defensive.
Eddie Bravo
The guillotine from bottom is a perfect example of the 10th Planet philosophy of combining submission threats with dynamic guard retention. What makes this position so powerful in no-gi is that it completely disrupts the opponent’s passing game while creating immediate finishing opportunities. We’ve developed specific variations like the Marce choke and specific grip adjustments that work exceptionally well from bottom position, particularly when combined with rubber guard concepts for leg control. The traditional approach of just squeezing and hoping for the tap is outdated - modern guillotine systems require understanding multiple finishing mechanics and the ability to transition between them based on how the opponent defends. One of the most underutilized aspects of guillotine control from bottom is using it as a sweeping position. When they drive forward to defend the choke, that’s your opportunity to bump them over or transition to alternative attacks. The position also sets up beautifully for the Mission Control position from rubber guard when you need to prevent the pass while maintaining the submission threat. The key innovation in our system is recognizing that the guillotine from bottom should never be an isolated technique - it’s part of a larger control system that includes sweeps, transitions to other submissions like the triangle or omoplata, and guard retention strategies that keep you in attacking positions even when the initial choke doesn’t finish.