SAFETY: Bow and Arrow Choke from Truck targets the Carotid arteries. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to unconsciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
Attacking with the Bow and Arrow Choke from the Truck requires understanding that the truck is the entry, not the finishing position. The perpendicular figure-four traps only one leg in the wrong plane, so you cannot complete the bow from inside it; you must release the figure-four and climb up to genuine back control with a seatbelt and both hooks to reach the angle the choke actually needs. Your primary challenge is establishing the deep collar grip while maintaining control through that conversion. The key insight is that the bow’s far-leg anchor comes from a HAND grip on the opponent’s far pant leg or hip, taken once you are on the back, not from the truck entanglement. Patient collar establishment combined with a disciplined climb to the back makes this one of the more reliable collar entries from the truck when properly executed.
From Position: Truck (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
What are the key principles for executing Bow and Arrow Choke from Truck?
- Maintain boot pressure on the opponent’s hip throughout the collar grip setup to preserve rotational control before you convert to back control
- Feed the collar grip deep past the chin line early, using the truck’s control to buy time before you climb to the finishing angle
- Release the truck figure-four and climb to a seatbelt with both hooks in: the bow and arrow is a back-control finish, not a truck finish
- Take the far-leg anchor with your free HAND, gripping the opponent’s far pant leg or hip from back control, then stretch the torso back while pulling the collar to create the opposing-force mechanism
- Threaten the twister and calf slicer to force defensive reactions that expose the collar for grip access
- Monitor the opponent’s hand position constantly: hands defending low means the collar is open, hands defending high means redirect to leg attacks
Prerequisites
What do you need before attempting Bow and Arrow Choke from Truck?
- Established Truck position with boot pressure firmly on the opponent’s hip and leg entanglement controlling their lower body
- Opponent wearing a gi with accessible collar material on the near side of their neck
- Upper body control sufficient to prevent the opponent from rolling through or completing a granby roll during grip establishment
- Boot pressure maintained through entangled legs to keep opponent pinned on their side with back exposed
- Opponent’s defensive focus directed toward twister or leg attacks rather than collar protection
Execution Steps
How do you execute Bow and Arrow Choke from Truck step by step?
- Consolidate Truck control and assess collar access: Ensure your boot is firmly planted against the opponent’s hip with your entangled legs controlling their lower body. Verify your chest or shoulder is pressing against their upper back. Assess which collar is accessible based on the angle of their neck relative to your hand position. The far collar is typically the target from the truck angle. (Timing: 2-3 seconds for assessment)
- Initiate collar grip with non-boot hand: Using the hand not controlling the boot-side leg, reach across to grab the opponent’s far lapel. Feed four fingers inside the collar and pull the material deep past the chin so the wrist blade sits directly across the carotid arteries. Use a caterpillar grip motion to walk the collar progressively deeper if the opponent resists the initial feed. Maintain boot pressure throughout. (Timing: 3-5 seconds for grip establishment)
- Lock the collar and secure choking position: Once the collar grip is deep, lock your wrist position by pulling your elbow toward your ribs. Adjust your chest pressure against their upper back to prevent them from turning into you. Your choking hand should feel the collar tighten across the front of the neck when you apply even slight pulling pressure toward your hip. (Timing: 1-2 seconds to lock grip)
- Release the figure-four and climb to back control: With the collar locked, release the truck figure-four and climb your hips up the opponent’s back, threading both hooks in and locking a seatbelt over the shoulder and under the armpit. The truck only opened the door; the bow and arrow is a back-control finish, so you must abandon the perpendicular entanglement to reach genuine back mount with your chest sealed to their upper back. Keep the collar grip the entire climb so the choke stays primed as you arrive on the back. (Timing: 2-3 seconds for the climb to back control)
- Take the far-leg hand grip and create the bow shape: From back control, reach your free hand down and grip the opponent’s far pant leg or hip: this hand grip is the bow’s far-leg anchor, supplying the lower-body force vector that the truck entanglement never could. Fall back to the choking-arm side, swing your hips out, and stretch your torso away while pulling the collar toward your hip and driving the hand-gripped far leg the opposite direction. The opponent’s body stretches between the collar pull and the hand-gripped leg, creating the characteristic bow-and-arrow shape. (Timing: 2-3 seconds for the grip and stretch)
- Apply progressive finishing pressure: With the bow shape established from back control, progressively tighten the choke by pulling the collar toward your chest while stretching your torso back and arching slightly. The two-directional force, collar toward you and the hand-gripped far leg away, compresses the collar deep into the carotid arteries. Apply pressure over 3-5 seconds, monitoring for tap signals. Squeeze elbows toward ribs and arch the spine to maximize the pull. Release immediately upon any tap indication. (Timing: 3-5 seconds progressive application)
- Complete finish or transition to alternative attack: If the opponent taps, immediately release all pressure and grips. If they survive by tucking chin or fighting collar, maintain back control and regrip the collar deeper using caterpillar motion. If the choke stalls completely, you still own the back: switch to a rear naked choke with the same seatbelt, or re-establish the truck to threaten the calf slicer and twister again. Do not surrender back position to force a stalled bow. (Timing: Varies based on opponent response)
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 58% |
| Failure | Truck | 27% |
| Counter | Closed Guard | 15% |
Opponent Defenses
How might your opponent defend against Bow and Arrow Choke from Truck?
- Opponent strips collar grip with both hands before it is fully established (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: With both hands occupied stripping the collar, the opponent cannot defend the twister or calf slicer. Immediately redirect to the twister by controlling their far arm, or attack the calf slicer by extending the trapped leg while their hands are high. → Leads to Truck
- Opponent initiates granby roll to escape the truck position during collar setup (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow the roll and transition to traditional back control by inserting hooks during their rotation. Maintain the collar grip throughout the roll, as it often becomes a standard bow and arrow from back control once the roll completes. → Leads to Truck
- Opponent tucks chin and blocks collar from sliding past the jawline (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use caterpillar grip to incrementally walk the collar deeper. Alternatively, apply boot pressure to rotate them slightly, which opens space for the collar to slide past the jaw. If chin tuck is persistent, switch to the short choke variation with a shallower grip. → Leads to game-over
- Opponent clears boot pressure and begins untangling legs (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: If you have the collar grip established, commit immediately to the finish before leg control is fully lost. If the collar grip is not yet deep enough, abandon the bow and arrow and transition to back control by inserting hooks before they fully escape the entanglement. → Leads to Closed Guard