Hindulotine Top

Jan 23, 20269 min read

The top Hindulotine position represents an offensive attacking configuration where you have secured a guillotine grip on your opponent while maintaining top position, typically from front headlock, sprawl position, or while attacking a turtled opponent. Unlike the bottom variation, the top Hindulotine allows you to use gravity and your body weight as additional pressure components while controlling your opponent’s movement from above.

From the top perspective, you maintain head control with the guillotine grip while using your legs and hips to prevent your opponent from escaping or achieving better position. This creates a unique pressure dynamic where your opponent is bent forward under your control, unable to achieve the posture necessary to defend effectively. The top position also provides more options for transitioning to other dominant positions like mount, back control, or north-south when your opponent attempts to defend.

The strategic advantage of top Hindulotine lies in your ability to combine submission pressure with positional control. Your opponent faces a dilemma: defending the submission often requires movements that allow you to advance position, while maintaining defensive posture leaves them vulnerable to the choke. This creates multiple pathways to success, whether through direct submission or position advancement.

Success from top Hindulotine requires understanding weight distribution and hip positioning. Rather than simply holding the guillotine grip and hanging on your opponent, you must actively create the angles and pressure that make the submission inevitable. Your legs play a crucial role in preventing your opponent from rolling, standing up, or achieving angles that would relieve neck pressure. Advanced practitioners use subtle weight shifts and hip adjustments to maintain optimal pressure while conserving energy and responding to defensive movements.

Position Definition

  • Your guillotine grip is secured around opponent’s neck with your arm wrapped under their chin and hands locked, creating direct choking pressure while you maintain top position with their head controlled below your center of gravity, allowing gravity to assist your submission pressure
  • Your hips and legs are positioned to control opponent’s ability to stand, roll, or achieve angles that would relieve neck pressure, typically with at least one leg base wide for stability while the other may be used for control or to create angling pressure
  • Opponent’s head is trapped with their posture broken forward, unable to achieve vertical alignment or extract their head from the grip, with their body bent and your weight distributed to maximize choking pressure while preventing escape movements
  • Your body position creates a mechanical advantage where your core strength, hip angle, and body weight combine to generate submission pressure rather than relying solely on arm strength to finish the choke
  • You maintain top control with the ability to transition to other dominant positions if opponent defends the submission, keeping offensive initiative while preventing opponent from achieving neutral or advantageous positions

Prerequisites

  • Successful control of opponent’s head from front headlock, sprawl defense, or while attacking turtle position
  • Ability to establish guillotine grip before opponent can achieve defensive posture, stand up, or extract their head
  • Proper base and balance to maintain top position while applying submission pressure without being swept or rolled
  • Opponent’s posture must be broken forward with head lower than shoulders to facilitate grip establishment and submission mechanics
  • Sufficient upper body strength and grip endurance to maintain choking pressure while controlling opponent’s movement from top

Key Offensive Principles

  • Use body weight and gravity as force multipliers for submission pressure rather than relying solely on arm strength
  • Maintain wide base with legs to prevent being rolled or swept while applying submission pressure
  • Control opponent’s hips and shoulders to prevent them from achieving angles that relieve neck pressure
  • Create rotational torque through hip positioning rather than straight downward pulling on the neck
  • Transition smoothly to mount, back, or north-south when opponent’s defensive movements create opportunities
  • Keep opponent’s posture broken forward continuously to maintain submission threat and positional control
  • Adjust grip height and pressure angle based on opponent’s defensive reactions without loosening control

Available Attacks

Guillotine Choke → Won by Submission

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 80%

Transition to Darce Choke → D’arce Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 75%

Transition to Anaconda Choke → Anaconda Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 70%

Back Take from Top → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 45%
  • Intermediate: 65%
  • Advanced: 80%

Transition to Mount → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 75%

Transition to North-South → North-South

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Front Headlock to Back → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 75%

Arm Triangle from Top → Won by Submission

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Opponent Escapes

Escape Counters

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent attempts to stand up or achieve vertical posture to escape:

If opponent turns away to relieve pressure and exposes their back:

If opponent flattens out completely in defensive turtle position:

If opponent creates defensive frames with arms while defending neck:

Common Offensive Mistakes

1. Hanging on opponent with straight arms instead of using hip angle and body weight to create pressure

  • ❌ Consequence: Submission becomes purely dependent on arm strength which fatigues quickly, allowing opponent to defend until you must release the position
  • ✅ Correction: Position your hips at an angle to opponent’s spine and use your body weight combined with core rotation to generate pressure, reserving arm strength for grip maintenance only

2. Establishing narrow base with feet too close together while attempting submission from top

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can roll you over or sweep you, reversing the position and potentially putting you in bottom position under their control
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain wide base with at least one leg posted far from your body for stability, making it mechanically difficult for opponent to roll or sweep

3. Gripping too low on the neck near opponent’s shoulders instead of high under their chin

  • ❌ Consequence: Choking pressure is ineffective against muscular areas, allowing opponent to withstand pressure and work defensive escapes methodically
  • ✅ Correction: Before committing to the position, ensure your grip is positioned high on the neck with the blade of your forearm directly under opponent’s chin for maximum efficiency

4. Failing to control opponent’s hips, allowing them to circle and change angles relative to your body

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can achieve angles that relieve neck pressure or position themselves to stand up and escape entirely
  • ✅ Correction: Use your legs to control opponent’s hip movement and maintain your attacking angle, preventing circular escape movements

5. Remaining static in one position rather than making micro-adjustments to pressure and angle

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent adapts to the static pressure and finds defensive positions that neutralize the submission threat
  • ✅ Correction: Continuously make small adjustments to hip angle, weight distribution, and grip position to prevent opponent from settling into comfortable defensive posture

Training Drills for Attacks

Sprawl to Hindulotine Entry

Partner shoots for single or double leg takedown. Practice sprawling and immediately establishing guillotine grip before transitioning to top Hindulotine position. Focus on grip establishment timing and smooth transition from sprawl to control position. Drill both sides for 5 minutes per side.

Duration: 10 minutes

Top Position Pressure and Weight Distribution

Start in established top Hindulotine with partner giving 50% resistance. Experiment with different weight distributions, hip angles, and leg positions to understand which configurations create maximum pressure while maintaining stability. Partner provides feedback on pressure and balance.

Duration: 10 minutes

Transition Flow from Top Hindulotine

Partner gives specific defensive reactions: standing up, rolling away, flattening to turtle, creating frames. Practice flowing smoothly to appropriate transitions: following to standing, back take, mount, darce, or anaconda. Emphasize reading reactions and smooth positional flow rather than explosive movements.

Duration: 15 minutes

Turtle Attack to Hindulotine

Partner starts in turtle position. Practice establishing front headlock control and transitioning to Hindulotine position. Partner progressively increases resistance from 30% to 70%. Focus on maintaining control throughout transition and establishing strong finishing position. 3-minute rounds.

Duration: 15 minutes

Optimal Submission Paths

Takedown defense to submission

Standing Position → Sprawl Defense → Front Headlock → Hindulotine Top → Guillotine Choke → Won by Submission

Turtle attack sequence

Turtle → Front Headlock → Hindulotine Top → Guillotine Choke → Won by Submission

Front headlock to back take

Front Headlock → Hindulotine Top → Opponent Turns Away → Back Control

Scramble to dominant position

Scramble Position → Front Headlock → Hindulotine Top → Transition to Mount → Mount

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner50%40%35%
Intermediate70%60%55%
Advanced85%80%75%

Average Time in Position: 15-40 seconds

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