SAFETY: Bow and Arrow Choke targets the Carotid arteries. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to unconsciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The Bow and Arrow Choke is a highly effective gi-based blood choke executed from back control that combines collar control with leg configuration to create a powerful finishing position. Named for its distinctive shape where the practitioner’s body resembles a drawn bow, this submission leverages the opponent’s own lapel and pant leg to generate unstoppable pressure on both carotid arteries simultaneously. The technique is particularly valued in gi competition for its reliability once the position is secured, as it requires minimal strength and relies primarily on proper body mechanics and leverage. The bow and arrow creates a unique predicament where the opponent cannot effectively defend both the choking pressure from the collar grip and the stretching tension from the leg control. This submission is especially effective when transitioning from standard back control positions, as opponents often expose the necessary grips while defending against the rear naked choke. The technique represents a fundamental principle in advanced gi grappling: using the opponent’s own garments as force multipliers to create inescapable finishing positions.
From Position: Back Control (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
- Lapel control depth - deep collar grip with four fingers inside creates maximum leverage
- Hip positioning - perpendicular angle to opponent’s spine creates optimal choking geometry
- Leg configuration - straightening the far leg while controlling near leg creates bow tension
- Collar angle - pulling collar toward opposite shoulder targets both carotid arteries
- Body extension - arching back while extending legs multiplies choking pressure exponentially
- Head control - using your chest to control opponent’s head prevents escape angles
- Timing the finish - transitioning to bow and arrow when opponent defends rear naked choke
Prerequisites
- Established back control with at least one hook maintained
- Deep collar grip with four fingers inside opponent’s lapel on choking side
- Control of opponent’s far leg (pants grip or leg hook)
- Hip positioning perpendicular or angled to opponent’s spine
- Opponent’s defensive posture preventing standard rear naked choke
- Sufficient gi material access on opponent’s collar and pants
- Body weight distributed to prevent opponent from rolling or escaping to side
Execution Steps
- Secure deep collar grip: From back control, establish a deep four-finger grip inside the opponent’s collar on your choking-side arm. Your thumb should remain outside the collar while your fingers penetrate as deep as possible toward the opposite side of their neck. This grip should be secured before the opponent realizes your intention to transition from standard back control attacks. The depth of this grip is critical - shallow collar grips will not generate sufficient pressure for the finish. (Timing: Initial setup phase)
- Transition hips to perpendicular angle: Begin rotating your hips away from parallel alignment with the opponent’s spine toward a perpendicular position. This rotation should be smooth and controlled, using your bottom hook (if present) to push off the mat while your top hook pulls their body. Your goal is to create approximately 90 degrees of angle between your torso and their spine. This angle is essential for the bow shape that generates the choking mechanism. Maintain collar grip security throughout this transition. (Timing: Mid-setup phase)
- Establish far leg control: With your non-choking hand, secure a grip on the opponent’s far-side pants at the knee or lower leg. Alternatively, if your top leg is already positioned, thread it across their far hip and bend your knee to hook their far leg. This control prevents them from turning into you and creates the foundation for the stretching mechanism. The pants grip should be firm - use all four fingers inside the fabric with thumb outside for maximum security. (Timing: Setup completion)
- Remove bottom hook and position leg: Release your bottom hook (the leg closer to the mat) and begin extending it toward a straightened position. Simultaneously, your top leg should maintain its hook or transition to draping over the opponent’s far hip. Your bottom leg will become the primary extension force, so position your foot to push against their near hip or place it on the mat for maximum leverage. This step transforms your body from a back control configuration into the characteristic bow shape. (Timing: Transition to finishing position)
- Create bow tension through extension: Begin extending your bottom leg forcefully while pulling the collar grip toward your opposite shoulder. Your top leg should simultaneously push or pull their far leg away, creating separation. This creates the bow shape - your body arches with your spine as the bow’s curve while your legs and arms create opposing tension forces. Your chest should press against the back of their head, controlling its position. The extension should be progressive but continuous. (Timing: Initial pressure application)
- Final adjustment and maximum pressure: Make final adjustments by ensuring your collar grip pulls across their neck at an angle targeting both carotid arteries. Your choking-side elbow should be tight to their neck with your wrist creating the primary pressure point against their near-side carotid. Continue extending your legs while arching your back to generate maximum bow tension. Your chest controls their head position, preventing any rotational escape. The pressure should build progressively until they tap. If they don’t tap within 3-4 seconds of maximum pressure, release immediately and reassess position. (Timing: Finishing phase - 3-5 seconds)
- Maintain until tap and immediate release: Hold the maximum pressure configuration while remaining alert for any tap signal - hand taps, foot taps, verbal submission, or loss of resistance. The moment you detect a tap, immediately release the collar grip and leg extension, allowing the opponent’s body to return to a neutral position. Check their responsiveness and ensure they recovered consciousness if the choke was held to completion. Never maintain pressure beyond the tap signal, as this choke can induce unconsciousness rapidly once properly locked. (Timing: Completion and release)
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 60% |
| Failure | Back Control | 25% |
| Counter | Closed Guard | 15% |
Opponent Defenses
- Tucking chin and grabbing choking arm with both hands (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: The bow and arrow does not require neck access like rear naked choke. Continue extending legs to generate pressure through the collar grip regardless of chin position. The leverage from your body extension overcomes grip fighting. → Leads to game-over
- Attempting to roll toward you (into the choke) (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Use this rolling momentum to help establish the perpendicular angle faster. As they roll toward you, accelerate your hip rotation and immediately establish the bow configuration. Their own movement assists your positional transition. → Leads to game-over
- Straightening their far leg and creating rigid posture (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: If they prevent the leg control, shift to a modified finish by placing your bottom foot on their near hip and your top leg straight across their far side. Use this configuration to generate the same bow tension through different leverage points. → Leads to Back Control
- Turning away from you (rolling away from the choke) (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: This is their highest-percentage defense if executed early. Counter by immediately tightening your bottom hook and using your collar grip to pull them back toward you. If they succeed in creating space, transition back to standard back control and reset the position. → Leads to Closed Guard
- Grabbing your bottom leg to prevent extension (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: If they secure your extending leg, use your top leg more actively by pushing off their hip to create rotational force. You can also transition to a modified bow and arrow by accepting less leg extension but increasing the pulling force on the collar grip. → Leads to Back Control
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the minimum time you should apply progressive pressure during the bow and arrow choke in training, and why is this critical? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: You should apply pressure progressively over a minimum of 3-5 seconds in training to allow your partner sufficient time to recognize the submission and tap safely. This is critical because the bow and arrow can induce unconsciousness very quickly once properly locked due to its efficient compression of both carotid arteries. Rushing the application creates danger of partner injury or losing consciousness before they can tap, which is completely unacceptable in training environments. Competition speed should never be used in practice.
Q2: What are the two primary anatomical targets of the bow and arrow choke, and what direction should you pull the collar to engage them properly? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The bow and arrow choke targets both carotid arteries simultaneously through compression with the lapel. To engage them properly, you must pull the collar at an angle toward your opposite shoulder (not straight back). This angular pull ensures the lapel crosses the neck diagonally to compress both arteries. Pulling straight back would pressure the trachea (windpipe) instead, creating an airway choke that is painful but less efficient and potentially more dangerous. The proper blood choke should cause rapid loss of consciousness with minimal discomfort when resistance continues.
Q3: Describe the optimal body angle relationship between your spine and the opponent’s spine for the bow and arrow choke, and explain why this angle is mechanically necessary? A: Your spine should be approximately perpendicular (90 degrees) to the opponent’s spine when executing the bow and arrow choke. This perpendicular angle is mechanically necessary because it allows you to create the characteristic ‘bow’ shape with your body - your extended legs push in opposite directions while your torso arches, generating tremendous leverage through the collar grip. If you remain parallel to their spine (standard back control position), you cannot generate the leg extension and body tension that makes the bow and arrow so powerful. The perpendicular position transforms your entire body into a leveraging system multiplying your choking pressure.
Q4: What are the three immediate steps you must take upon feeling your partner tap during the bow and arrow choke? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Upon feeling a tap: (1) Immediately release the collar grip to eliminate all choking pressure, (2) Release leg extension and hooks simultaneously to remove stretching tension from their body, (3) Allow their head to return to neutral position while checking their consciousness and responsiveness. If they were unconscious or unresponsive, you must elevate their legs and monitor them until full recovery occurs. Never delay release even momentarily - the tap signal demands instant response to prevent injury or medical emergency.
Q5: Why is depth of collar grip more important in the bow and arrow choke than in many other collar chokes? A: Depth of collar grip is critical in the bow and arrow because the choking pressure is generated primarily through your body’s leveraging extension rather than arm strength. With a shallow grip, when you extend your legs and arch your back, the collar will slip or pull out of position, dissipating all the pressure you’re generating. A deep four-finger grip with knuckles near the back of their neck ensures the collar remains anchored in the correct position across their carotid arteries throughout your body extension. The bow and arrow is a leverage-based submission - the grip must be deep enough to withstand the significant forces your body position creates.
Q6: What defensive movement by the opponent actually assists your entry into the bow and arrow position, and how should you capitalize on it? A: When the opponent attempts to roll toward you (into the choke) to defend back control or escape position, this rolling momentum actually assists your transition into bow and arrow. You should capitalize on this by accelerating your hip rotation to the perpendicular angle as they roll, using their momentum to help establish the position faster. Their defensive roll inadvertently creates the exact angle you need - instead of resisting their roll, follow it and immediately establish your collar grip depth, leg controls, and bow configuration before they realize their defensive movement helped rather than hindered your submission attempt.
Q7: How does leg control function differently in the bow and arrow compared to standard back control, and why is this mechanical difference important? A: In standard back control, your hooks serve to control the opponent’s hips and prevent escape by maintaining inside leg position. In the bow and arrow, leg control transitions from containment to force generation - your legs become the primary mechanism creating the ‘bow’ tension that multiplies your choking pressure. Your bottom leg extends forcefully while your top leg pushes or pulls their far leg in the opposite direction, creating a stretching force that dramatically increases collar pressure on their neck. This mechanical difference is important because it explains why you must establish proper leg configuration before applying finishing pressure - without the opposing leg forces creating bow tension, you’re essentially attempting a weak one-armed collar choke.
Q8: Your opponent grabs your pants grip hand with both of their hands to prevent leg control - what adjustment maintains your finishing ability? A: When the opponent commits both hands to defending the pants grip, you have several options: (1) Use your top leg to drape over their far hip and push down while your bottom leg extends against their near hip, creating bow tension through leg position alone without the pants grip, (2) Take advantage of their hands being occupied - they cannot defend the choke while grip fighting your leg control, so increase your collar pull immediately while they’re distracted, (3) Circle your grip-fighting hand underneath to grab lower on their leg (calf or ankle) where they have less defensive leverage. The key insight is that their defensive commitment opens other vulnerabilities you can exploit.
Q9: What indicates you have achieved the ‘point of no escape’ in the bow and arrow choke, and how should you adjust your pressure once this threshold is reached? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The point of no escape is reached when: (1) Your perpendicular angle is fully established with chest controlling their head, (2) Both legs are in proper extension configuration creating bow tension, (3) Your collar grip has engaged both carotid arteries as evidenced by their face flushing or resistance weakening rapidly. Once this threshold is reached, maintain steady progressive pressure rather than jerking or increasing force - the position’s mechanical advantage will finish the choke within 3-5 seconds if properly locked. Excessive force at this stage risks injury without improving effectiveness. Simply maintain the bow tension and stay alert for the tap or loss of consciousness.
Q10: You have secured the perpendicular angle and collar grip, but your opponent’s collar feels loose and your pressure seems ineffective - what is the most likely technical error and correction? A: The most likely error is pulling the collar straight back toward your body rather than at an angle toward your opposite shoulder. This straight-back pull creates pressure on the trachea (windpipe) instead of the carotid arteries, resulting in an airway choke that is painful but mechanically inefficient. The correction is to redirect your collar pull angle - imagine pulling toward your opposite shoulder blade. This diagonal pull ensures the lapel crosses their neck properly to compress both carotid arteries. You may also need to sink your collar grip deeper if it slipped during the transition. A properly angled blood choke should produce rapid results without your opponent gasping for air.
Q11: During competition, your bow and arrow is locked but your opponent refuses to tap and begins showing signs of unconsciousness - what is the proper protocol? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: If your opponent shows signs of unconsciousness (eyes glazing, body going limp, loss of resistance) during competition, maintain your grip configuration but do not increase pressure - the referee should intervene momentarily. The instant the referee touches you or signals to stop, release immediately. If the referee fails to notice, you may verbally alert them while maintaining control. Never release prematurely as some opponents will fake loss of consciousness to escape. However, once the referee calls the match or you’re confident they’re unconscious, release the collar grip and leg tension, allow them to return to neutral, and step away to allow medical personnel access. In training, always release immediately upon any unconsciousness signs.
Q12: How do you chain the bow and arrow with the rear naked choke to create a submission dilemma for your opponent? A: The bow and arrow and rear naked choke create an excellent dilemma because they require opposite defensive responses. When attacking the rear naked choke, opponents typically defend by tucking their chin and hand-fighting the choking arm. This defense leaves the collar exposed for the bow and arrow grip. Conversely, when you threaten the bow and arrow by securing collar grip, opponents often lift their chin and use both hands to strip your collar grip, exposing their neck for the rear naked choke. The chain works by: (1) Attacking RNC until they commit hands high to neck defense, (2) Securing deep collar grip while they’re focused on arm defense, (3) Beginning hip transition to bow and arrow, (4) If they release neck defense to fight collar, immediately return to RNC. This cycling between threats exhausts their defensive capacity.