Invisible Collar

The Invisible Collar represents a sophisticated approach to back control where grip concealment creates submission opportunities while appearing defensive. This position emerged from high-level competition as practitioners developed methods to disguise choking setups within seemingly passive control positions. The invisible collar uses strategic gi material placement to create immediate finishing pressure that opponents often fail to recognize until the technique is already locked in.

Unlike traditional collar grips that telegraph submission intent, the invisible collar maintains what appears to be a positional control structure while actually establishing deep choking mechanics. This deception allows practitioners to bypass many standard defensive reactions because opponents allocate their defensive resources to other perceived threats. The position requires precise finger positioning, excellent timing for grip establishment, and the ability to transition seamlessly between controlling and attacking modes without alerting the opponent to changing intentions.

The invisible collar serves multiple strategic functions within back attack systems. It acts as both a submission position and a controlling platform that limits opponent mobility while setting up alternative attacks. When executed properly, the position creates submission dilemmas where defending one threat opens opportunities for others. This makes it particularly effective in competition settings where opponents are experienced in defending conventional back attacks but may not recognize the invisible collar configuration until it’s too late to mount effective defense.

Key Principles

• Conceal submission setup by making grip appear passive and positional

• Establish collar penetration gradually while opponent focuses on other threats

• Maintain dual threat capability between collar chokes and alternative submissions

• Use opponent’s defensive movements to incrementally improve grip depth

• Coordinate upper body attacks with lower body control to prevent escape

• Create submission chains where defending one attack opens another

• Preserve back control structure throughout all submission attempts

Top vs Bottom

	Bottom	Top
Position Type	Defensive	Offensive/Controlling
Risk Level	High	Low to Medium
Energy Cost	High	Medium
Time	Short	Medium to Long

Key Difference: Deceptive grip hides submission threat

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

• Recognize invisible collar setup early through proactive grip checking

• Protect neck immediately when collar grip depth increases

• Coordinate hand fighting with hip escape movements simultaneously

• Maintain chin tucked to limit choking angles while working escape

• Prioritize removing hooks over pure hand fighting to reduce overall control

• Create frames and space to prevent opponent from tightening finishing position

• Escape to guard or neutral position rather than attempting to reverse to top

Primary Techniques

• Hand Fighting to Remove Collar Grip → Back Control

  • Success Rate: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 35%, Advanced 45%

• Hip Escape to Guard Recovery → Half Guard

  • Success Rate: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 30%, Advanced 40%

• Elbow Escape to Remove Hooks → Turtle

  • Success Rate: Beginner 22%, Intermediate 32%, Advanced 42%

• Rolling Escape → Open Guard

  • Success Rate: Beginner 15%, Intermediate 25%, Advanced 35%

• Standing Escape → Standing Position

  • Success Rate: Beginner 12%, Intermediate 20%, Advanced 30%

• Granby Roll Escape → Closed Guard

  • Success Rate: Beginner 18%, Intermediate 28%, Advanced 38%

Common Mistakes

• ❌ Failing to recognize invisible collar setup until choke is already tight

  • Consequence: Defender forced into emergency defense with very limited escape options and high submission probability
  • ✅ Correction: Develop habit of constantly checking opponent’s hand positions during back control, treating any collar contact as potential threat requiring immediate attention

• ❌ Using single hand to fight collar grip while opponent has both hands available

  • Consequence: Ineffective hand fighting that allows opponent to maintain and deepen grip while defender wastes energy
  • ✅ Correction: Commit both hands to removing collar grip using two-on-one control, accepting temporary vulnerability to other attacks in exchange for neutralizing primary threat

• ❌ Extending chin upward or away while attempting escape

  • Consequence: Creates additional space for choking mechanics and increases angle of attack for opponent’s finishing pressure
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain aggressive chin tuck throughout all escape attempts, using neck muscles to compress the space and limit choking effectiveness

• ❌ Panicking and using explosive movements without systematic approach

  • Consequence: Burns energy rapidly while creating opportunities for opponent to transition to alternative submissions or tighten existing control
  • ✅ Correction: Follow systematic escape sequence addressing grip removal, hook removal, and position recovery in logical order rather than random explosive attempts

• ❌ Ignoring hook control while focusing entirely on collar grip

  • Consequence: Opponent maintains positional dominance and can simply wait for defender to tire before applying finishing pressure
  • ✅ Correction: Coordinate simultaneous attacks on both grip and hooks, using hip movement and hand fighting together to create compound problems for opponent

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

• Conceal submission intention by making grip appear positional rather than attacking

• Establish collar grip depth gradually while opponent is distracted by other threats

• Maintain seatbelt structure throughout to preserve back control while setting up submissions

• Use opponent’s defensive movements to tighten grip rather than forcing the choke

• Keep body weight distributed to prevent opponent from rolling or turning into guard

• Coordinate hook control with upper body positioning to prevent escape while finishing

• Transition smoothly between invisible collar and other back attack options to create dilemmas

Primary Techniques

• Cross Collar Choke Finish → Won by Submission

  • Success Rate: Beginner 60%, Intermediate 75%, Advanced 88%

• Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission

  • Success Rate: Beginner 55%, Intermediate 70%, Advanced 85%

• Armbar from Back with Legs → Armbar Control

  • Success Rate: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%

• Transition to Crucifix → Crucifix

  • Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%

• Bow and Arrow Choke → Won by Submission

  • Success Rate: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%

• Clock Choke → Won by Submission

  • Success Rate: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 60%

• Back Control Maintenance → Back Control

  • Success Rate: Beginner 70%, Intermediate 80%, Advanced 90%

• Body Triangle Lock → Body Triangle

  • Success Rate: Beginner 50%, Intermediate 65%, Advanced 78%

Common Mistakes

• ❌ Telegraphing submission intention by gripping collar too aggressively or obviously from the start

  • Consequence: Opponent immediately recognizes threat and establishes strong neck defense before choke can be properly applied, eliminating element of surprise
  • ✅ Correction: Establish collar grip gradually and casually while opponent is focused on defending hooks or other threats, making the grip appear positional rather than attacking until full depth is achieved

• ❌ Failing to maintain proper seatbelt structure while focusing exclusively on collar grip establishment

  • Consequence: Opponent escapes back control by swimming arms through or removing hooks while practitioner is distracted by grip work, losing dominant position entirely
  • ✅ Correction: Keep non-collar arm active in seatbelt position with elbow tight to body, maintaining comprehensive back control structure even while establishing invisible collar grip

• ❌ Insufficient collar grip depth with fingers not penetrating deep enough inside gi material

  • Consequence: Choke lacks finishing pressure and opponent can easily defend or remove the grip with basic hand fighting techniques, wasting setup effort
  • ✅ Correction: Drive all four fingers as deep as anatomically possible into collar with knuckles firmly against opponent’s neck, using gradual incremental adjustments to achieve maximum penetration depth

• ❌ Losing hook control while attempting to finish the choke with excessive upper body focus

  • Consequence: Opponent escapes to guard or scrambles to better position while practitioner is focused solely on submission, losing both submission and positional dominance
  • ✅ Correction: Coordinate lower body and upper body attacks simultaneously, ensuring hooks remain active and controlling throughout the entire finishing sequence without relaxation

• ❌ Applying choking pressure too early before grip is fully established and locked in

  • Consequence: Opponent becomes aware of submission threat prematurely and effectively defends before the position is properly secured, eliminating surprise advantage
  • ✅ Correction: Wait patiently until invisible collar grip is completely set with proper depth and hand position before beginning to apply any finishing pressure or rotational force

Related Positions

• Back Control - Primary position from which invisible collar is established

• Seat Belt Control Back - Fundamental grip structure before collar transition

• Body Triangle - Enhanced lower body control often combined with invisible collar

• Crucifix - Common transition target when opponent turns into collar

• Mounted Triangle - Alternative attack when transitioning from back control

• High Mount - Position reached when opponent escapes back but remains controlled

• Turtle - Defensive position opponent may adopt during escape attempts

• Standing Back Control - Variation where invisible collar can be applied while standing