⚠️ SAFETY: Bow and Arrow Variations targets the Carotid arteries and trachea. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to loss of consciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The Bow and Arrow Choke variations represent a family of finishing techniques from back control that combine collar control with leg positioning to create devastating submission pressure. Unlike the standard Bow and Arrow, these variations adapt to different grip configurations, body types, and defensive responses, making them essential tools for any gi practitioner. The fundamental principle remains constant: using the gi collar to compress the carotid arteries while the legs create extension and prevent escape. However, the variations allow practitioners to adjust their approach based on collar availability, opponent size differences, and positional nuances. These adaptations include the cross-collar variation for deeper penetration, the single-collar variation for quicker entries, the rolling variation for dynamic transitions, and the modified grip variations for no-gi adaptations using the collar. Understanding these variations transforms a single technique into a comprehensive finishing system that accounts for real-world variables and opponent defensive patterns.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and trachea Starting Position: Back Control Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carotid artery compression leading to loss of consciousness | High | Immediate recovery with proper release, potential complications if held too long |
| Neck hyperextension or vertebral strain from excessive bow pressure | Medium | 2-4 weeks with proper rest |
| Tracheal compression causing breathing difficulty | Medium | 1-2 weeks for minor trauma |
| Rib or intercostal muscle strain from leg extension | Low | 1-2 weeks |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum application time in training
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap or verbal signal
- Physical hand tap on partner’s body or mat
- Physical foot tap on mat
- Any distress signal including loss of motor control
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release collar grip upon tap signal
- Remove leg extension pressure from opponent’s hip
- Allow opponent to return to neutral position slowly
- Check partner’s consciousness and neck mobility before continuing
- Provide 30-60 seconds recovery time before resuming training
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply full extension in training - use controlled pressure only
- Never hold the choke after partner taps or goes limp
- Never practice at competition speed with beginners
- Always ensure partner has clear tap access with both hands
- Never combine with cranking or jerking motions
- Avoid practicing on partners with neck injuries or vascular issues
Key Principles
- Maintain back control with seat belt or harness grip throughout the submission sequence
- Establish deep collar grip before committing to the finishing mechanics
- Use leg extension to create bow-and-arrow tension that prevents escape while amplifying choke pressure
- Control the opponent’s far hip with your leg to prevent them from turning into you
- Coordinate collar pull and leg extension simultaneously for maximum efficiency
- Adjust grip depth and angle based on opponent’s defensive posture and neck thickness
- Maintain chest-to-back connection to prevent opponent from creating defensive space
Prerequisites
- Establish secure back control with hooks in or body triangle locked
- Achieve seat belt grip or harness control with at least one arm trapped
- Obtain deep collar grip with four fingers inside the collar near the opponent’s neck
- Control opponent’s far shoulder or tricep to prevent defensive hand fighting
- Position your chest tight to opponent’s back to eliminate escape space
- Have opponent’s posture broken forward or to the side to expose the neck
- Ensure your hips are close to opponent’s hips for maximum control during transition
Execution Steps
- Secure Deep Collar Grip: From back control with seat belt grip, release your choking-side hand and immediately feed it deep into the opponent’s collar on the same side. Drive four fingers inside the collar as close to their neck as possible, with your thumb outside. Your knuckles should be touching their neck for maximum depth. This grip is the foundation of all variations. (Timing: 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Light]
- Control the Far Shoulder: With your non-choking hand, maintain a tight grip on the opponent’s far shoulder, tricep, or far-side collar. This prevents them from turning into you or using their arms to defend the choke. Keep this control tight throughout the entire sequence - any looseness here allows defensive hand fighting that can defeat the submission. (Timing: Continuous) [Pressure: Firm]
- Initiate Hip Rotation: Begin rotating your hips away from the opponent while maintaining your collar grip. Swing your top leg over their body toward their far hip, preparing to establish the bow-and-arrow position. Keep your chest connected to their back during this rotation to prevent them from following your movement and escaping back control. (Timing: 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Establish Leg Position for Extension: Place your top leg across the opponent’s far hip or thigh, with your shin or foot positioned to push their hip away. Your bottom leg should either remain as a hook behind their near knee or extend to the mat for base. The key is creating a pushing point with your top leg that will generate the bow tension. Different variations use different leg configurations here. (Timing: 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Create Bow-and-Arrow Extension: Simultaneously pull your choking hand toward your chest while extending your top leg to push the opponent’s hip away from you. This creates the characteristic bow-and-arrow shape where their body is stretched between your collar pull and leg push. The extension amplifies the choke by tightening the collar around their neck while preventing them from turning to escape. (Timing: 3-5 seconds progressive application) [Pressure: Firm]
- Adjust Angle and Secure Finish: Fine-tune the choking angle by adjusting your elbow position and wrist rotation. Pull your choking elbow back toward your ribs while rotating your wrist slightly to target the carotid arteries. Continue leg extension to maintain the bow tension. The opponent should tap within 3-5 seconds of proper application. If resistance continues, verify your collar depth and leg extension angle before increasing pressure. (Timing: 3-5 seconds hold time) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Opponent tucks their chin to block collar access (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Switch to cross-collar variation by feeding your hand to the far side collar, or use the opponent’s chin-tuck as an anchor point and apply pressure through their jaw (air choke variation). Alternatively, wait for them to breathe or adjust, then attack when the chin lifts.
- Opponent grabs your choking arm with both hands to strip the grip (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Use your non-choking hand to control their far arm and prevent two-on-one grip fighting. If they establish two-on-one, transition to rolling variation by continuing your rotation to invert their defensive position, or switch to alternative submission like armbar or triangle from back.
- Opponent turns into you to face guard and escape back control (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Maintain your collar grip and follow their rotation, transitioning to closed guard or mount with the collar already secured. Use the maintained collar grip to set up loop choke, cross collar choke, or baseball bat choke from the new position.
- Opponent bridges and hip escapes to create space (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Extend your legs more aggressively to counteract the bridge, pulling them back into your bow-and-arrow structure. If they create significant space, transition to crucifix position or technical mount while maintaining collar control.
- Opponent postures up and attempts to stand with you on their back (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Immediately drag them back down using your leg hooks and collar grip. If they succeed in standing, transition to standing back control or body triangle, then re-attack the bow-and-arrow once they’re grounded. The standing variation can still be finished but requires modified mechanics.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: Why must you establish the collar grip BEFORE transitioning your legs to bow-and-arrow position? A: Establishing the collar grip before moving your legs ensures you maintain back control throughout the transition. If you move your legs first, you sacrifice your hooks and positional control, allowing the opponent to escape to guard or turn into you before the submission is secured. The collar grip acts as your insurance policy - once it’s deep and controlled, you can safely transition your legs knowing you still have a strong control point even if they attempt to escape.
Q2: What is the primary anatomical target of the bow and arrow choke and how does the leg extension enhance this attack? A: The primary target is the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, creating a blood choke that restricts blood flow to the brain. The leg extension enhances the attack by creating opposing forces - your collar pull draws their neck into the choke while your leg push extends their body away, tightening the collar around their neck like drawing a bowstring. This compound pressure also prevents them from turning to relieve the choke pressure, as the leg extension locks them in the stretched position.
Q3: What should you do immediately upon feeling your training partner tap or observing them go limp during bow and arrow application? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: You must IMMEDIATELY release the collar grip and remove the leg extension pressure the instant you feel a tap or notice your partner going limp. Check their consciousness by verbal communication and assess their neck mobility. Position them safely if unconscious and alert your instructor immediately. Never hold the choke even one second past the tap signal - blood chokes can cause unconsciousness rapidly, and holding past the tap risks serious injury including brain damage from prolonged oxygen restriction.
Q4: How do you adjust the bow and arrow setup when the opponent tucks their chin to defend the collar grip? A: When the opponent tucks their chin, you have several options: First, switch to the cross-collar variation by feeding your hand to the far-side collar where chin defense is less effective. Second, use their chin as an anchor point and apply pressure through their jaw for an air choke variation (with extreme caution in training). Third, be patient and wait for them to breathe or adjust position, then attack the collar when their chin lifts. Fourth, transition to alternative attacks like kimura or armbar from back control, using their defensive commitment to the chin tuck.
Q5: Why is controlling the opponent’s far shoulder or arm crucial during bow and arrow execution? A: Controlling the far shoulder or arm prevents the opponent from using both hands to strip your collar grip in a two-on-one defensive sequence. With their far arm controlled, they can only defend with one arm against your collar grip, making their defense much less effective. This second point of control also prevents them from turning into you to escape back control during your transition. Without far shoulder control, skilled opponents will immediately establish two-on-one on your choking arm and systematically break your grip before you can establish the bow position.
Q6: What is the correct application speed for bow and arrow choke in training and why is this important for safety? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: In training, the bow and arrow must be applied slowly and progressively over 3-5 seconds minimum. This is critical for safety because blood chokes work by compressing the carotid arteries, and rapid application can cause the opponent to lose consciousness before they can recognize the danger and tap. Slow application gives your partner time to feel the choke developing, assess whether they can escape, and tap safely if needed. The progressive pressure also allows you to feel their defensive responses and adjust without risking injury. In training, we prioritize control and safety over speed - competition speed should only be used in competition.
Q7: What is the danger in positioning your extending leg too high on the opponent’s torso rather than their hip? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Positioning your leg too high creates dangerous rib pressure that can cause rib fractures, intercostal muscle tears, or damage to internal organs without effectively tightening the choke. The bow-and-arrow works through hip extension creating length, not through crushing the torso. The hip is the structural pivot point - pushing here creates the bow effect safely by extending their spine and tightening the collar. Target your leg against the hip or upper thigh only, never the ribs or mid-torso.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The bow and arrow choke variations represent a systematic approach to back attack finishing that accounts for the full spectrum of defensive responses. The fundamental principle is the creation of opposing forces - your collar control creates directional pull while your leg extension creates directional push, and the opponent’s body becomes trapped between these forces with their neck compressed by the tightening collar. What distinguishes the variations is their adaptability to different grip scenarios and defensive patterns. The cross-collar variation provides deeper penetration when standard grips are defended. The rolling variation converts the opponent’s primary defensive movement - turning into you - into your finishing opportunity. The body triangle variation provides more stable control during the extended setup time required for proper collar depth. From a safety perspective, these are blood chokes targeting the carotid arteries, which means they work through pressure restriction rather than pain compliance. This makes progressive application absolutely critical in training - your partner will lose consciousness before experiencing significant pain if you apply too quickly. Train these variations slowly and deliberately, focusing on the systematic progression from back control to collar grip to leg positioning to coordinated extension. The technique should feel smooth and inevitable, not forced or explosive.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, bow and arrow variations are high-percentage finishes when you’ve already established dominant back control, but the key is understanding which variation matches the specific defensive response you’re facing. I’ve finished dozens of matches with these techniques because I recognize the patterns - when they tuck their chin hard, I switch to cross-collar. When they turn aggressively, I use the rolling variation and finish on top. When they’re defending well with hand fighting, I transition through gift wrap first to compromise their arm position. The mistake most people make is committing to one variation and forcing it regardless of what the opponent gives them. In training, you need to develop the variation arsenal so you can flow between options based on real-time feedback. That said, training application versus competition application are completely different. In training, I apply these slowly and progressively because my training partners need to be healthy for tomorrow’s session. In competition, once I have the position secured and the collar deep, I’m finishing quickly because there’s no reason to give high-level opponents time to defend. But you develop that competition intensity through thousands of slow training repetitions where safety is the priority. Don’t try to prove toughness by cranking submissions in the training room - that just gets people injured and reduces your available training partners.
- Eddie Bravo: The bow and arrow is a classic gi technique, but what people don’t realize is how well the mechanical principles transfer to modern no-gi systems when you use the collar as an analogy for other control points. At 10th Planet, we look at the bow and arrow variations as a template for creating extension-based submissions where you’re stretching the opponent between two opposing forces. The gift wrap to bow-and-arrow variation is particularly valuable because the gift wrap itself is already a strong control position we use extensively in no-gi, so adding the gi collar finish creates a seamless transition between systems. The rolling variation also connects to our Twister system philosophy - using the opponent’s defensive momentum to set up the finish rather than fighting against their strength. From a safety perspective, these collar chokes require serious respect and awareness. In gi training, it’s easy to underestimate how quickly a properly applied blood choke works. I’ve seen too many people hold chokes too long because they didn’t realize their partner had already gone out. The rule is simple: the instant you feel the tap or they go limp, you release immediately. No exceptions, no ego, no proving points. Training is about building skills and relationships with your teammates. Competition is where you go hard. Keep those contexts separate and everyone stays healthy and improves faster.