⚠️ SAFETY: Darce Variations targets the Carotid arteries and jugular veins. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to unconsciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The D’arce choke represents one of the most versatile blood chokes in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with numerous variations that adapt to different scenarios and opponent reactions. Unlike the standard D’arce which follows a specific sequence, these variations allow practitioners to finish the choke from unconventional positions, angles, and grips. The D’arce family of chokes—including the Marce, Brabo, and modified entries—shares the fundamental principle of creating a figure-four configuration around the opponent’s neck and shoulder, but each variation exploits different positional contexts. Understanding these variations transforms the D’arce from a single technique into a comprehensive attacking system that can be applied from turtle, front headlock, scrambles, half guard, and even standing positions. The key to mastering D’arce variations lies in recognizing the common thread: controlling the opponent’s near arm while threading your choking arm through the gap between their neck and trapped shoulder. Each variation modifies the entry, angle, or finishing position while maintaining this core principle, making the D’arce one of the most adaptable submissions in the grappling arsenal.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and jugular veins Starting Position: Front Headlock Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carotid artery compression leading to unconsciousness | High | Immediate recovery if released promptly; potential for lasting effects if held too long |
| Neck strain or cervical spine stress from rotation | Medium | 2-7 days with rest |
| Shoulder joint stress on trapped arm | Medium | 3-10 days depending on severity |
| Trachea compression if positioned incorrectly | CRITICAL | Immediate medical attention required; 2-4 weeks recovery |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum to allow partner time to recognize pressure and tap
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap or any vocal distress signal
- Physical hand tap on opponent’s body
- Physical foot tap on mat
- Any frantic movement or distress signal
- Loss of resistance (automatic release required)
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release choking arm pressure
- Remove arm from around neck completely
- Allow opponent to straighten neck naturally
- Check partner’s condition before continuing
- Wait for clear verbal confirmation partner is okay
Training Restrictions:
- Never spike or jerk the choke—apply smooth, progressive pressure only
- Never use competition speed in drilling or light sparring
- Always ensure partner has at least one arm free to tap
- Never hold choke after tap or loss of resistance
- Avoid practicing on significantly smaller or less experienced partners without extra caution
- Never practice finishing details at full pressure—use 30-40% pressure maximum in drilling
Key Principles
- Arm isolation and control of opponent’s near-side shoulder creates the choking structure
- Figure-four arm configuration maximizes pressure on carotid arteries while minimizing effort
- Hip pressure and body weight provide finishing force rather than pure arm strength
- Head position controls opponent’s posture and prevents defensive head movement
- Angle adjustment determines choke tightness—small positional changes create significant pressure differences
- Grip variations adapt to gi, no-gi, and different body types while maintaining choking mechanics
- Connection between shoulder control and neck compression must be maintained throughout all variations
Prerequisites
- Dominant front headlock position with opponent’s head controlled below your chest
- Opponent’s near arm isolated and controlled, preferably trapped between their body and yours
- Your choking-side arm positioned with space to thread through the neck-shoulder gap
- Opponent’s posture broken forward to create the necessary gap for arm insertion
- Weight distributed to prevent opponent from standing or rolling away during entry
- Grips established on opponent’s far arm or body to prevent them turning into you
- Your hips positioned to the side rather than directly behind opponent for optimal angle
Execution Steps
- Establish front headlock control: Secure a dominant front headlock position with opponent’s head trapped under your chest. Control their far arm with your non-choking hand while keeping your weight forward to prevent them from standing. Your choking-side arm should be free and positioned near their neck. Ensure opponent’s posture is broken forward with their head lower than their hips. (Timing: 2-3 seconds for secure position) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Isolate and trap the near arm: Control opponent’s near-side arm by pinning it against their body with your chest and shoulder pressure. This arm must be trapped between you and them to create the necessary space at their neck. If they’re defending with this arm extended, use your body weight to collapse it back toward their body. The goal is to eliminate this arm from the defensive equation entirely. (Timing: 1-2 seconds to secure arm isolation) [Pressure: Firm]
- Thread choking arm through neck gap: Slide your choking-side arm (palm down) through the space between opponent’s neck and their trapped shoulder. Your arm should penetrate deep, with your bicep making contact with one side of their neck. Drive your shoulder forward as you thread to maximize depth. The deeper your arm penetrates, the tighter the finish will be. Your hand should emerge on the far side of their neck. (Timing: 2-3 seconds for deep penetration) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Establish figure-four grip configuration: Reach your non-choking arm underneath opponent’s trapped arm and grab your own choking-arm’s wrist or forearm, creating a figure-four lock. The grip can be palm-to-palm, gable grip, or wrist-to-wrist depending on the variation and your arm length. Ensure the lock is tight with no space between your arms and opponent’s neck. Your choking-arm bicep should be against one carotid while your radius bone presses the opposite side. (Timing: 1-2 seconds to secure grip) [Pressure: Firm]
- Adjust angle and drop weight: Step your legs to the side opposite your choking arm, creating a perpendicular angle to opponent’s body. This angle is critical—being too square reduces pressure significantly. Drop your chest weight onto opponent’s trapped shoulder while keeping your hips heavy. Your head should be positioned near their far hip, creating maximum leverage. Some variations finish from turtle or side control positions, but the angling principle remains constant. (Timing: 1-2 seconds for optimal positioning) [Pressure: Maximum]
- Lock elbows and expand chest for finish: Pinch your elbows together while simultaneously expanding your chest. This dual action cinches the figure-four tight around opponent’s neck. Drive your shoulder forward into their trapped arm to maintain structure. The finish pressure comes from body mechanics, not arm strength. Apply pressure progressively over 3-5 seconds, monitoring partner closely for tap. In competition, maintain pressure until opponent taps or referee stops match; in training, use 40-50% maximum pressure. (Timing: 3-5 seconds progressive application) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Opponent grabs their own trapped arm to prevent full isolation (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Switch to alternative variation such as the Marce (D’arce from opposite side) or use your legs to kick their defensive arm away while maintaining head control. Can also transition to anaconda choke if they create space defending.
- Opponent turns into you to escape the angle (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Follow their rotation while maintaining the figure-four lock, potentially transitioning to anaconda choke or taking the back if they continue rotating. Alternatively, use your legs to block their hip movement and prevent the turn.
- Opponent drives forward and attempts to stand (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Jump to closed guard while maintaining the D’arce grip, finishing from bottom position. Alternatively, use their forward momentum to roll them over your shoulder into a top position, similar to guillotine defense counters.
- Opponent tucks their chin and hides neck (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: The D’arce chokes the shoulder and neck structure, not the neck alone, so chin tucking provides limited defense. Adjust your arm depth deeper and focus on squeezing the carotid on the bicep side. The shoulder pressure will eventually overcome the chin defense.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary anatomical target of the D’arce choke and why is proper positioning critical for safety? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The D’arce choke targets the carotid arteries and jugular veins on both sides of the neck using a figure-four arm configuration. Proper positioning is critical because the bicep should compress one carotid while the radius bone compresses the opposite side—NOT the forearm across the trachea. Incorrect positioning can create a dangerous air choke or neck crank instead of a clean blood choke. The choke should render opponent unconscious within 8-10 seconds if applied correctly, making it essential to release immediately upon tap to prevent injury.
Q2: Why is the angle of your body relative to your opponent critical for an effective D’arce finish, and what specific angle should you create? A: The angle is critical because a perpendicular position (approximately 90 degrees to opponent’s spine) maximizes pressure on the carotid arteries while minimizing the effort required. When you’re too square or parallel to opponent, the compression is distributed poorly and the choke feels weak. By stepping your legs to the side opposite your choking arm and dropping your chest weight at a right angle, you create a mechanical advantage that cinches the figure-four tight around the neck structure. This angle also prevents opponent from turning into you to escape.
Q3: What is the key difference between a D’arce choke and a Marce choke, and when would you choose each variation? A: The Marce is essentially a reverse D’arce where you thread your choking arm from the opposite side of opponent’s neck. In a standard D’arce (right arm choking), you thread through the gap between opponent’s left neck and left shoulder. In a Marce with the same arm, you thread through the gap between their right neck and right shoulder. You choose the Marce when opponent defends the standard D’arce by controlling their near arm, making the standard entry unavailable. Both finish with the same figure-four mechanics and body positioning, but the entry side differs based on which arm is available.
Q4: How deep should your choking arm penetrate when threading through the neck-shoulder gap, and what landmark indicates proper depth? A: Your choking arm should penetrate deep enough that your entire hand emerges on the far side of opponent’s neck—you should be able to see your own hand past their body. A good landmark is reaching toward their far hip as you thread. Shallow penetration is the most common mistake, leaving your arm at neck level rather than shoulder depth. Deep penetration ensures your bicep is positioned against one carotid artery while your forearm creates the figure-four structure that compresses the opposite side. Without proper depth, the choke relies on neck cranking rather than blood flow restriction.
Q5: What defensive response should trigger an immediate release of the D’arce choke, and why is this safety protocol non-negotiable? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: ANY tap signal (verbal, hand tap, foot tap, or frantic movement) or loss of resistance/unconsciousness requires immediate release of all pressure. This is non-negotiable because blood chokes can render someone unconscious in 8-10 seconds, and holding the choke beyond the tap creates serious injury risk including potential brain damage from prolonged blood flow restriction. Additionally, if partner becomes unresponsive (goes limp), you must release immediately and check their condition. In training, you should never apply full finishing pressure—40-50% is sufficient to demonstrate technical proficiency while maintaining safety.
Q6: From which common BJJ positions can D’arce variations be effectively applied, and what is the unifying principle across all these entries? A: D’arce variations can be applied from front headlock, turtle top position, side control top (Brabo variation), half guard top, standing front headlock, and scramble situations. The unifying principle across all entries is: controlling opponent’s near arm while threading your choking arm through the gap between their neck and trapped shoulder to create a figure-four configuration. Regardless of starting position, you need arm isolation (removing one of their arms from defending the choke) and deep shoulder penetration with your choking arm. The finish always involves creating a perpendicular angle and using body weight rather than arm strength.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The D’arce family of chokes represents a perfect example of systematic submission development—a single mechanical principle expressed through multiple positional contexts. The core mechanical structure never changes: you create a figure-four arm lock that simultaneously controls the opponent’s shoulder while compressing the carotid arteries. What changes is the entry pathway and the angle of finish. Understanding this allows you to recognize D’arce opportunities in positions where most people would never look for them. The critical technical detail that separates effective D’arce variations from weak attempts is penetration depth of the choking arm. Shallow penetration creates a neck crank that is both ineffective and potentially dangerous. Deep penetration—where your hand completely clears the far side of their neck—positions your bicep perfectly against one carotid while your radius bone compresses the opposite artery. This creates a true blood choke that is both safer and more effective. Train the depth obsessively until it becomes automatic, and the variations will follow naturally from positional understanding.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, D’arce variations are absolutely devastating because they’re available from so many common positions—front headlock, turtle, side control, half guard passes. I’ve won multiple matches with D’arce variants because opponents simply don’t expect the attack from certain angles. The Brabo from side control is particularly underrated in gi grappling; people defend the standard arm triangle religiously but leave the opposite side completely open. The key difference between training room D’arces and competition finishing is commitment—in competition, once you’ve secured the figure-four grip and achieved the proper angle, you finish explosively without hesitation. In training, you control the pace and use 50-60% pressure maximum to preserve your partners. I’ve trained the D’arce enough that I can feel when it’s locked versus when my opponent still has defensive options. If the choke isn’t tight after you’ve established position, don’t force it—transition to anaconda, guillotine, or take the back instead. The worst thing you can do is waste energy grinding a choke that isn’t there while better options are available.
- Eddie Bravo: The D’arce is one of those techniques that evolved primarily in no-gi grappling because it doesn’t rely on fabric grips—it’s all about body mechanics and positioning. At 10th Planet, we teach D’arce variations from everywhere: turtle attacks, half guard passes, even from bottom position if you’re creative enough. One of my favorite details that nobody talks about is using your head position to control their posture during the finish. If you post your head on the mat near their far hip while finishing, it creates additional torque and prevents them from rolling toward you to escape. Another key innovation we use is the ‘truck to D’arce’ transition—when you have someone in the truck position and they defend the twister by tucking their head, you can transition to a modified D’arce by threading your arm through and creating the figure-four. It’s all about being creative and recognizing the fundamental structure in unconventional positions. Safety-wise, the D’arce can be brutal if you crank it like a neck crank instead of applying it as a blood choke, so make sure you’re squeezing the sides of the neck, not the front of the throat. In our gym, we’re militant about safety protocols because these chokes are so effective—tap early, release immediately, and save the death grips for competition only.