⚠️ SAFETY: Guillotine Variations targets the Carotid arteries and trachea. Risk: Trachea crush and airway damage. Release immediately upon tap.
The guillotine choke represents one of the most versatile submission families in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with numerous grip variations that fundamentally change the mechanics and effectiveness of the finish. While the basic guillotine is effective, understanding the full spectrum of variations—from the high elbow guillotine that maximizes shoulder pressure to the arm-in configuration that prevents defensive hand fighting—allows practitioners to adapt to different body types, positions, and defensive responses. Each variation serves a specific strategic purpose: the chin strap guillotine controls opponents who tuck their chin, the ten finger guillotine provides maximum squeeze for shorter arms, and the marce variation creates a devastating choke from front headlock positions. Mastery of these variations transforms the guillotine from a single technique into a complete submission system that can be applied from standing, guard, half guard, or scrambles, making it one of the highest percentage finishes across all skill levels and competition formats.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and trachea Starting Position: Front Headlock Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Trachea crush and airway damage | CRITICAL | Weeks to months, potential permanent damage |
| Cervical spine compression and neck strain | High | 2-6 weeks with proper treatment |
| Carotid artery trauma | High | 1-4 weeks, risk of blood clot formation |
| Jaw dislocation or TMJ damage | Medium | 3-8 weeks |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum application time, never snap or jerk the choke
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap or any vocal distress signal
- Physical hand tap on partner’s body
- Physical foot tap on mat
- Any loss of consciousness signs (immediate release)
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release all choking pressure upon tap signal
- Lower partner’s head gently to mat - never drop or release suddenly
- Keep hand under partner’s head for support during release
- Monitor partner for 30+ seconds post-release for any distress signs
- If partner was close to unconsciousness, keep them lying down and check responsiveness
Training Restrictions:
- Never use competition speed or intensity during drilling
- Never spike or drive opponent’s head downward during finish
- Always maintain clear communication with training partner
- Stop immediately if partner shows any distress beyond normal discomfort
- Never practice on partners with existing neck or throat injuries
- Ensure partner always has at least one free hand to tap
Key Principles
- Grip variation selection based on opponent’s defensive posture and body position
- Control of opponent’s head and posture before attempting the finish
- Hip positioning creates the lever arm that generates choking pressure
- Shoulder squeeze generates supplemental pressure beyond arm compression
- Preventing opponent’s defensive hand fighting through grip selection and body positioning
- Maintaining connection between your chest and opponent’s shoulder throughout the sequence
- Adapting finish mechanics based on whether opponent’s chin is up or tucked
Prerequisites
- Control of opponent’s head through front headlock position or guard control
- Opponent’s posture broken forward with head positioned below their hips
- Deep collar tie or head control preventing opponent from posturing up
- Your choking arm threaded around opponent’s neck with proper depth
- Hip positioning that allows you to create downward and rotational pressure
- Opponent’s defensive hands controlled or nullified through grip selection
- Strong connection between your chest and opponent’s trapped shoulder
- Base and balance allowing you to maintain control while finishing
Execution Steps
- Establish front headlock control and break opponent’s posture: From standing, guard, or scramble position, secure a strong collar tie or head control that breaks opponent’s posture forward. Your goal is to get their head below hip level while controlling their movement. Use your free hand to control their far shoulder or establish an overhook preventing them from circling away. This positional control is critical before attempting any guillotine variation. (Timing: Take 2-3 seconds to establish solid positional control) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Thread choking arm deep around opponent’s neck: Slide your choking arm around opponent’s neck, aiming to get the blade of your wrist as deep as possible against the far side of their neck. The depth of this initial threading determines the effectiveness of all guillotine variations. Your elbow should be positioned on the near side of their neck, creating the choking mechanism. Maintain downward pressure on their head with your non-choking hand to prevent them from pulling their head free during this threading motion. (Timing: 1-2 seconds for deep threading) [Pressure: Light]
- Select and establish grip variation based on position and opponent’s defense: Choose your grip variation based on the tactical situation: High elbow guillotine (palm-to-palm grip with high elbow) for maximum shoulder pressure when opponent’s chin is up; Arm-in guillotine when opponent gets their defensive hand inside; Chin strap when opponent tucks chin defensively; Ten finger guillotine (gable grip) for maximum squeeze with shorter arms. Each grip fundamentally changes the finishing mechanics, so this selection point is critical for success. (Timing: 1 second for grip transition) [Pressure: Light]
- Establish body position appropriate for chosen variation: High elbow variation: Pull guard or establish closed guard with hips loaded under opponent. Arm-in variation: Can finish from standing, closed guard, or half guard bottom. Chin strap: Typically most effective from closed guard with strong hip extension. Ten finger: Works from any position but requires very tight body connection. Your body position must create the lever arm that allows the choke to finish—the arm alone cannot generate sufficient pressure. (Timing: 1-2 seconds to establish position) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Engage hip movement to create choking leverage: This is the key mechanical element that separates effective from ineffective guillotines across all variations. From guard: Extend your hips upward while pulling opponent’s head downward, creating opposing forces. From standing: Sit back and down while maintaining head control. The choking pressure comes from this hip extension combined with arm compression, not from arm strength alone. Your chest should drive into opponent’s trapped shoulder while your hips create rotational torque on their neck. (Timing: Apply over 3-5 seconds progressively) [Pressure: Firm]
- Add variation-specific finishing details: High elbow: Raise your choking elbow while squeezing your shoulder to your ear, maximizing the guillotine plane angle. Arm-in: Pull opponent’s trapped arm across their own neck while extending hips. Chin strap: Maintain grip on opponent’s chin while creating downward and rotational pressure. Ten finger: Focus on maximum squeeze with forearms while maintaining hip extension. The specific finishing details vary by variation but all require the fundamental hip extension and shoulder connection established in previous steps. (Timing: 3-5 seconds progressive squeeze) [Pressure: Maximum]
- Make micro-adjustments based on opponent’s defensive response: If opponent attempts to posture up: Increase hip extension and use your legs to prevent their base. If they try to turn away: Follow their movement while maintaining grip and hip pressure. If they attempt to create space at your hips: Squeeze your knees together and maintain tight connection. The ability to maintain the submission through opponent’s defensive attempts separates high-level execution from beginner attempts. Always be prepared to transition to different guillotine variations if opponent’s defense makes your current variation less effective. (Timing: Continuous adjustment until tap) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Tucking chin to chest to block arm from going under (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Switch to chin strap variation which specifically addresses the tucked chin defense, or use your free hand to peel opponent’s chin up before completing the choke
- Getting defensive hand inside to create space at neck (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Transition to arm-in guillotine variation which incorporates their defensive arm as part of the choking mechanism, turning their defense into your advantage
- Driving forward and establishing strong base to posture out (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: If in guard, extend hips more aggressively and use legs to break their base; if standing, transition to guard or sacrifice position while maintaining head control throughout
- Turning away and creating angle to escape head position (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Follow their turning motion while maintaining grip, often this rotation helps tighten the choke; alternatively transition to darce or anaconda variations as they turn
- Creating space at the hips to reduce choking leverage (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Squeeze knees together tightly, use heel hooks on their back if in closed guard, and increase hip extension to restore choking pressure regardless of space at hips
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary source of choking pressure in all guillotine variations, and why is arm strength alone insufficient? A: Hip extension creates the primary choking pressure by generating a lever arm that multiplies force against opponent’s neck. The arms function primarily to hold the position and maintain grip depth, while the hips driving upward (from guard) or downward (from standing) create the actual compressive force on the carotid arteries. Arm strength alone cannot generate sufficient pressure to finish a guillotine against a defending opponent, and attempting to do so leads to muscle fatigue and loss of position. The mechanical advantage created by proper hip positioning allows even smaller practitioners to finish guillotines against larger opponents.
Q2: SAFETY CRITICAL: What are the immediate actions you must take when your partner taps to a guillotine choke, and why is the release protocol particularly important for this submission? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Upon tap signal, immediately release all choking pressure and carefully lower partner’s head to the mat with hand support—never drop or suddenly release their head. Monitor partner for 30+ seconds for any signs of distress including difficulty breathing, neck pain, or dizziness. The release protocol is critical because guillotine chokes compress both the carotid arteries (causing potential unconsciousness) and the trachea (causing potential airway damage). Sudden release after intense pressure can cause partner’s head to fall unsupported, risking additional cervical spine injury. The combination of blood choke and airway restriction makes guillotines particularly dangerous when applied too aggressively, requiring extra vigilance during release and post-submission monitoring.
Q3: How do you select the appropriate guillotine variation based on opponent’s defensive posture, and what are the key indicators for each variation? A: Variation selection depends on opponent’s defensive response: High elbow guillotine when opponent’s chin is up and neck is exposed, allowing maximum shoulder pressure and optimal choking angle. Arm-in guillotine when opponent gets their defensive hand inside your choke, incorporating their arm as part of the choking mechanism. Chin strap guillotine when opponent tucks their chin defensively to their chest, requiring you to control the chin itself to open up the neck. Ten finger guillotine when you have shorter arms or need maximum squeezing pressure against a smaller opponent. Marce variation from front headlock when opponent is in turtle or defensive posture. Reading these defensive cues and adapting grip selection is what separates high-percentage guillotine attacks from low-percentage attempts.
Q4: What is the correct depth of the initial arm threading around opponent’s neck, and how does insufficient depth affect all guillotine variations? A: The blade of your wrist must reach the far side of opponent’s neck, with your forearm positioned diagonally across their throat and your elbow on the near side. This deep threading is critical because it determines whether you’re choking the neck (correct) or the chin/face (incorrect and ineffective). Insufficient depth means your arm is too high on opponent’s head, resulting in a face crank rather than a choke, which is both ineffective and dangerous. All guillotine variations—high elbow, arm-in, chin strap, ten finger—require this fundamental depth to function. You should feel your wrist blade against the far side muscles of their neck, and their neck should be positioned in the crook of your elbow, not their chin or jaw.
Q5: How does body position differ between standing and guard-based guillotine finishes, and what mechanical principles remain constant? A: From standing guillotine finish, you sit back and down while maintaining head control, using your bodyweight and hip drop to create downward pressure on opponent’s neck. From guard-based finish, you extend hips upward while pulling opponent’s head downward, creating opposing forces. The constant mechanical principle is creating a lever arm through hip movement—standing creates downward leverage, guard creates upward leverage, but both generate the same choking pressure against the carotid arteries. In both positions, your chest must maintain tight connection to opponent’s trapped shoulder, and the choking pressure comes from hip extension (standing or guard) combined with arm compression, never from arm strength alone. The direction of hip movement changes but the fundamental leverage principle remains identical.
Q6: What specific grip adjustments convert a standard guillotine into the high elbow variation, and what tactical advantages does this create? A: High elbow guillotine uses a palm-to-palm grip (not gable grip) with the choking elbow positioned high, ideally at or above shoulder level. To finish, you actively raise the choking elbow while squeezing your shoulder toward your ear, creating maximum shoulder pressure against the side of opponent’s neck. This elevation of the elbow changes the choking angle to attack the carotid arteries more directly and allows your shoulder to function as an additional pressure point. The tactical advantage is significantly increased pressure against opponents who maintain upright posture with exposed chin, and it’s particularly effective in gi where the friction of the gi material against the neck enhances the choke. The high elbow position also makes it more difficult for opponents to defend by tucking their chin because the angle of attack comes from above rather than straight across.
Q7: SAFETY CRITICAL: What are the specific injury risks associated with guillotine chokes, and what application speed is required during training? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Guillotine chokes carry critical injury risks including trachea crush and permanent airway damage, cervical spine compression and neck strain, carotid artery trauma with potential blood clot formation, and jaw dislocation or TMJ damage. The application speed during training must be SLOW and progressive over minimum 3-5 seconds, never snapping or jerking the choke. Unlike some submissions where the danger is primarily at the finish, guillotines are dangerous throughout the application because they compress both blood vessels and the airway simultaneously. Jerking or spiking opponent’s head downward during finish risks severe cervical spine injury. Training partners must always have clear access to tap, and the person applying the choke must develop sensitive recognition of tap signals and distress indicators. Competition speed or intensity is never appropriate during drilling, and practitioners must maintain constant communication with training partners throughout the application.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The guillotine choke family represents a perfect example of how grip variation fundamentally alters submission mechanics. Most practitioners treat the guillotine as a single technique when in reality it’s a system of at least five distinct submissions, each with different biomechanical properties and tactical applications. The high elbow variation maximizes shoulder pressure and attacks the carotid arteries at an optimal angle, making it superior when opponent’s chin is exposed. The arm-in configuration transforms opponent’s primary defense—getting their hand inside—into your advantage by incorporating their arm into the choking mechanism. The chin strap variation specifically addresses the tucked chin defense through controlled manipulation of opponent’s head position. What separates elite guillotine practitioners from beginners is not strength or speed but rather the ability to read opponent’s defensive posture and select the appropriate variation instantaneously. Furthermore, the safety considerations with guillotines are paramount because these chokes compress both the carotid arteries and the trachea simultaneously. Training partners must develop exceptional sensitivity to tap signals and maintain progressive application speed, never jerking or spiking the choke, as tracheal damage can be permanent and cervical spine injuries are a genuine risk with improper application. The guillotine system exemplifies how technical knowledge and variation mastery create reliable submission success across all positions and competitive contexts.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, guillotine variations are my highest percentage submission from standing and scramble positions because they require minimal positional dominance to finish—you only need head control and proper grip selection. I’ve won multiple ADCC and no-gi world championship matches with guillotines because they’re incredibly difficult to defend once you understand variation selection. Here’s the competition reality: if opponent’s chin is up, I immediately go high elbow guillotine because the shoulder pressure finishes in 2-3 seconds under competition intensity. If they get their hand inside during my setup, I don’t fight it—I switch to arm-in guillotine and use their defensive arm against them. If they turtle and tuck their chin, chin strap variation opens up their neck. The key competitive advantage is recognizing which variation to use before you commit to the finish, because switching grips mid-sequence gives opponent time to defend. However, I want to be absolutely clear about the difference between competition application and training application: in competition, I finish guillotines explosively in 2-3 seconds because the stakes demand it. In training, I take 5-7 seconds minimum and never spike or jerk the choke because injuring training partners is counterproductive and unethical. The guillotine can cause serious neck and trachea injuries if applied recklessly, so training requires controlled progressive pressure even though competition requires explosive finishing. Master all five major variations—high elbow, arm-in, chin strap, ten finger, and marce—and you’ll have guillotine options from every position including standing, guard, half guard, and scrambles. This versatility makes guillotines one of the most reliable submission systems for both gi and no-gi competition.
- Eddie Bravo: The guillotine has been a foundational submission in the 10th Planet system since day one because it works from everywhere—standing, guard, half guard, rubber guard transitions, everywhere. What I’ve innovated is chaining guillotine variations with other front headlock attacks to create submission sequences that are almost impossible to defend completely. If opponent defends the standard guillotine by tucking their chin, I immediately switch to chin strap variation. If they defend chin strap by pulling their head back, I transition to darce or anaconda. If they defend those by turning away, I take their back. This systematic approach to variation chaining creates what I call ‘submission flow’ where you’re never stuck on one technique. One huge innovation we use is combining guillotine variations with rubber guard control—the ‘New York’ position in rubber guard sets up devastating guillotines because you control their posture completely. Another game-changer is using guillotine threats to set up completely different submissions: threaten the guillotine hard, they defend by posturing and creating space, you immediately switch to triangle or omoplata. But here’s what’s absolutely critical and non-negotiable in our training culture: safety with guillotines is paramount because these chokes can seriously injure the trachea and neck. We drill slow, we communicate constantly with training partners, and we never use competition speed during practice. I’ve seen too many people get injured from guillotines applied too fast or with jerking motions. The tap signal must be respected instantly, and the person applying the choke must develop sensitivity to their partner’s distress signals beyond just the tap. Creative variation and flow are important, but they mean nothing if you’re injuring your training partners. Master the variations, chain them together creatively, but always prioritize your partner’s safety above finishing the submission in training contexts.