SAFETY: Ezekiel Choke from Mount targets the Carotid arteries and trachea. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to loss of consciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The Ezekiel Choke from Mount is one of the highest-percentage gi submissions available from the dominant mount position. Named after Brazilian judoka Ezequiel Paraguassu, this technique uses the attacker’s own gi sleeve as a fulcrum to create a devastating blood choke while maintaining full positional control. The mount provides ideal conditions for the Ezekiel: gravity assists the choking pressure, the attacker’s weight pins the defender’s hips, and the dominant position means that even a failed attempt typically results in maintaining mount rather than losing position entirely.
The technique works by threading four fingers into the opposite sleeve cuff to create an anchor point, then driving the blade of the free forearm across the opponent’s throat. The sleeve grip and blade forearm form a scissors-like structure that compresses both carotid arteries simultaneously. Unlike many mount submissions that require postural changes or arm isolation, the Ezekiel can be initiated from a low, heavy mount position with minimal setup telegraphing, making it an excellent surprise attack that catches experienced defenders off-guard.
From a strategic perspective, the Ezekiel Choke from Mount fills a critical role in the mount attack system. When opponents defend the cross collar choke by keeping elbows tight and chin tucked, the Ezekiel bypasses these defenses because it attacks through the sleeve rather than requiring collar access. This creates an additional layer in the mount submission dilemma, forcing defenders to address yet another threat vector while already managing armbar, americana, and collar choke attacks.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and trachea Starting Position: Mount From Position: Mount (Top) Success Rate: 58%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carotid artery compression leading to loss of consciousness | High | Immediate recovery if released promptly, potential complications if held too long |
| Trachea damage from improper blade angle favoring windpipe over arteries | Medium | 1-2 weeks for minor trauma, longer for severe damage |
| Neck strain from resisting or jerking movements under mount pressure | Low | 3-7 days |
| Jaw injury from improper forearm placement across the chin rather than throat | Low | 1-2 weeks |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum. Blood chokes should never be spiked or jerked. Apply steady, increasing pressure using body weight through the choking structure and release immediately upon tap.
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (saying ‘tap’ or any distress vocalization)
- Physical hand tap on partner or mat (multiple rapid taps)
- Physical foot tap on mat or partner
- Any unusual sound or sudden loss of resistance (immediate release required)
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release blade hand grip and sleeve grip upon any tap signal
- Remove forearm pressure from neck completely in a smooth controlled motion
- Maintain mount position briefly to ensure partner is conscious and oriented
- Allow partner to recover without immediate movement requirements or positional scrambles
- Check partner’s verbal confirmation they are okay before continuing training
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply sudden or jerking pressure to the choke - progressive pressure only
- Never hold the choke after tap signal for any reason
- Never practice on partners with known neck injuries without explicit medical clearance
- Never apply full pressure during initial learning phase (use 20-30% pressure maximum)
- Always ensure partner has clear access to tap with at least one hand
- Never combine with explosive weight drops or sudden postural changes
Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 58% |
| Failure | Mount | 27% |
| Counter | Closed Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute and finish | Escape and survive |
| Key Principles | Disguise the sleeve grip by threading fingers during normal … | Monitor the attacker’s hands constantly for any threading mo… |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 3 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Disguise the sleeve grip by threading fingers during normal mount adjustments and pressure resettling to avoid alerting the defender
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Maintain heavy hip pressure throughout the entire attack sequence to prevent upa bridges and hip escape attempts
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Use body weight driven through the choking structure rather than arm strength alone for sustainable finishing pressure
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Keep a wide knee base to defend against bridge sweeps triggered by your arm commitment to the choke
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Commit fully once the blade forearm crosses the throat because hesitation allows recognition and defense
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Time the attack when the defender’s hands are occupied with frames or other defensive priorities rather than monitoring your grips
Execution Steps
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Establish the sleeve grip from mount: While maintaining heavy mount pressure with hips driving into the defender’s torso, thread your domi…
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Widen base and settle weight forward: Spread your knees slightly wider than shoulder width to create a stable base that absorbs bridge att…
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Position the blade forearm across the throat: Slide the knife edge of your free forearm across the defender’s throat, threading it underneath thei…
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Close the choking loop: Drive the blade hand through while pulling with the sleeve grip to create a closed circuit around th…
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Drop head and commit full body weight: Drop your head beside the defender’s head on the choking side, using your skull as a wedge to preven…
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Finish with progressive weight-driven squeeze: Apply steady, progressive pressure by squeezing both forearms together in a scissoring motion while …
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Monitor response and release safely: Throughout the finishing sequence, maintain constant awareness of all tap signals. Upon any indicati…
Common Mistakes
-
Telegraphing the sleeve grip entry by obviously reaching across the body while sitting upright in mount
- Consequence: The defender immediately recognizes the Ezekiel setup and defends by tucking the chin, stripping the grip with both hands, or initiating an escape while your hand is committed to the sleeve rather than maintaining control
- Correction: Lower your chest close to the defender before threading the sleeve grip. Disguise the motion as a normal gi adjustment or weight resettling. Practice the entry until it looks identical to standard mount pressure adjustments. The closer your chest is to the defender when you establish the grip, the less visible the threading motion becomes.
-
Sitting upright while attempting to finish the choke using only arm strength without committing weight
- Consequence: An upright posture generates insufficient choking pressure because the arms alone cannot compress both carotids against a determined defense. The elevated position also creates optimal conditions for the defender’s upa bridge by raising your center of gravity
- Correction: Drop your chest onto the defender and drive your head beside their head on the choking side. The choke finishes through body weight driven downward through the forearm structure, not through an arm squeeze. Think of your arms as the choking frame and your body mass as the force that closes it.
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Maintaining a narrow knee base while committing both arms to the choking structure
- Consequence: Both arms committed to the choke removes your ability to post for balance. A narrow base makes you extremely vulnerable to upa bridges that the defender will attempt the moment they feel both your arms leave the mat. Getting swept from mount is the worst possible outcome of a failed Ezekiel.
- Correction: Spread your knees wider than shoulder width before initiating the sleeve grip. Maintain this wide base throughout the entire attack. Your knees function as outriggers that prevent lateral tipping in either direction when your hands cannot post.
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Monitor the attacker’s hands constantly for any threading motion into their own gi sleeve, which is the earliest warning of the Ezekiel setup
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Maintain an active chin tuck as default defensive posture whenever the attacker lowers weight without obvious guard-passing or arm-isolation intent
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Use two-on-one grip control against the choking forearm rather than attempting to strip with a single hand
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Recognize that the attacker’s arm commitment to the choke removes their posting ability and creates bridge sweep opportunities
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Keep elbows tight to your body and use frames rather than extended arms that create armbar or americana vulnerabilities
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Tap early and without hesitation if the choke structure is fully locked, as blood chokes cause unconsciousness within seconds
Recognition Cues
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The attacker threads one hand inside their own opposite gi sleeve while maintaining mount, which is the definitive early warning signal for the Ezekiel setup
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A deliberate forward weight shift combined with widened knee base, indicating preparation to absorb bridge attempts during the choke commitment
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The attacker’s free hand moving toward your neck or jaw line rather than establishing collar grips or isolating your arm for americana or armbar
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The attacker lowering their chest and head close to yours without any arm isolation or collar grip fighting that would indicate other submissions
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The attacker’s head dropping beside your head, which is the final commitment signal before the choking structure locks and finishing pressure begins
Escape Paths
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Two-on-one forearm push combined with aggressive chin tuck to prevent the choking loop from closing, then immediately resume standard mount escape sequences
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Upa bridge when both attacker arms are committed to the sleeve grip and blade forearm, exploiting their inability to post for balance to sweep to closed guard
From Which Positions?
Match Outcome
Successful execution of Ezekiel Choke from Mount leads to → Game Over
All submissions in BJJ ultimately converge to the same terminal state: the match ends when your opponent taps.