⚠️ SAFETY: High Elbow Guillotine targets the Carotid arteries and trachea. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to loss of consciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The High Elbow Guillotine is a devastating blood choke that targets the carotid arteries through precise elbow positioning and shoulder pressure. Distinguished from the traditional arm-in guillotine by its mechanics, this variation achieves superior control and finishing power by elevating the choking elbow above the opponent’s shoulder line while driving the non-choking shoulder into their neck. The technique excels in both standing and ground scenarios, making it a versatile weapon across all grappling contexts. Its effectiveness stems from the biomechanical advantage created when the high elbow position redirects force directly into the carotid arteries rather than relying primarily on forearm compression. The submission can be entered from numerous positions including standing clinch exchanges, failed takedown attempts, and guard pulls, making it an essential component of any complete submission system. Modern competitive grapplers favor this variation for its reliability under pressure and its capacity to finish opponents who successfully defend traditional guillotine mechanics.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and trachea Starting Position: Front Headlock 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 if released promptly; potential for serious complications if held past unconsciousness |
| Tracheal damage from excessive pressure or improper angle | CRITICAL | 2-6 weeks for minor trauma; months for severe damage requiring medical intervention |
| Cervical spine stress from defensive bridging or improper application | High | 1-3 weeks for minor strain; 3-6 months for significant injury |
| Jaw and temporomandibular joint stress | Medium | 1-2 weeks for minor inflammation |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum application time with constant awareness of partner’s response
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap or any verbal sound of distress
- Physical hand tap on opponent’s body or mat
- Physical foot tap on mat or opponent
- Any loss of resistance or body going limp
- Unusual gurgling or breathing sounds
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release choking arm grip upon any tap signal
- Lower choking elbow and remove shoulder pressure simultaneously
- Release head control and create space by stepping back or opening guard
- Monitor partner’s breathing and consciousness for 10-15 seconds
- Never reapply pressure once released, even if partner signals they are okay
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply at competition speed during drilling or positional training
- Never spike or jerk the submission - always apply smooth progressive pressure
- Never continue pressure if partner’s face changes color or shows signs of oxygen deprivation
- Always maintain verbal communication during slow drilling phases
- Never practice on partners with neck or throat injuries without explicit instructor approval
- Always allow clear tap access - never trap both arms while finishing
Key Principles
- Elbow positioning above opponent’s shoulder line redirects force into carotid arteries rather than trachea
- Non-choking shoulder drives into opposite side of neck to close the choking angle
- Hip pressure or guard closure prevents opponent from creating distance and escaping
- Wrist-to-wrist or palm-to-palm grip configurations maximize choking power through arm structure
- Head positioning with crown driving into opponent’s sternum or chest maintains control and leverage
- Constant adjustment of angle based on opponent’s defensive movements - never static pressure
- Shoulders should be active and engaged throughout the finish, not relying solely on arm strength
Prerequisites
- Front headlock control established with opponent’s head controlled and posture broken
- Choking arm secured around opponent’s neck with deep grip achieved before opponent defends
- Strong grip connection (wrist-to-wrist, palm-to-palm, or gable grip depending on gi/no-gi)
- Hip positioning close to opponent to prevent distance creation and escape
- Opponent’s near arm controlled, trapped, or otherwise neutralized to prevent frame creation
- Clear understanding of opponent’s head position relative to your centerline
- Proper base established whether standing, seated, or in closed guard configuration
Execution Steps
- Secure deep guillotine grip: From front headlock position, slide your choking arm deep around opponent’s neck with your wrist reaching past the opposite side of their neck. Your grip should be palm-up with the blade of your wrist against their trachea/carotid area. Connect your hands using wrist-to-wrist grip (no-gi) or palm-to-palm with gi grips, ensuring your grip is tight before proceeding to the next step. (Timing: 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Light]
- Elevate choking elbow above shoulder line: This is the defining characteristic of the high elbow variation. Drive your choking-side elbow upward and backward, positioning it above the plane of opponent’s shoulder. Your forearm should now be angled diagonally across their neck rather than horizontal. This elevation redirects pressure into the carotid arteries and creates the proper angle for the finish. Keep your grip tight as you elevate to prevent opponent from pulling their head free. (Timing: 1 second) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Drive non-choking shoulder into opponent’s neck: Your non-choking shoulder becomes a critical pressure point in this variation. Drive this shoulder forcefully into the opposite side of opponent’s neck, effectively creating a vice between your forearm and your shoulder. This shoulder pressure closes the angle and prevents opponent from turning into you to escape. Your shoulder should make contact with the side of their neck near the carotid, not their face or jaw. (Timing: Simultaneous with step 2) [Pressure: Firm]
- Establish lower body control: Close your guard if seated, or drive hips forward if standing. The goal is to eliminate space between your hips and opponent’s body, preventing them from pushing off to create distance. If standing, slight backward lean can add pressure. If seated with guard closed, your heels should squeeze together behind their back while your knees pinch their torso. This lower body connection is what separates a defended guillotine from a successful finish. (Timing: 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Firm]
- Position crown of head into opponent’s sternum: Lower your head so the crown makes contact with opponent’s chest or sternum area. This head positioning serves multiple purposes: it prevents opponent from driving forward to stack you, it creates a structural frame that reinforces your shoulder pressure, and it allows you to use your neck muscles to add finishing power. Your chin should be tucked to protect your own neck from counter pressure. (Timing: 1 second) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Apply progressive choking pressure: With all structural components in place, squeeze your arms together while maintaining high elbow position and shoulder pressure. The finish comes from pulling your choking-side elbow backward and upward while simultaneously driving your shoulder forward and downward. Think of closing a scissor rather than simply squeezing with your forearm. Apply pressure progressively over 3-5 seconds in training, monitoring for tap. The choke should feel tight immediately but allow time for safe tapping. (Timing: 3-5 seconds progressive application) [Pressure: Maximum]
- Maintain control through defensive reactions: As opponent attempts to escape, continuously adjust your angles while maintaining the core principles. If they push your head, keep your crown connection. If they try to turn into you, increase shoulder pressure. If they create distance with hips, follow and tighten guard or close distance if standing. The high elbow guillotine requires active maintenance throughout the finish - small adjustments are necessary as opponent defends. Never simply hold static pressure and hope for the finish. (Timing: Ongoing until submission or position change) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Pushing attacker’s head away to create space between head and chest (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Increase crown of head pressure into sternum and ensure your non-choking shoulder maintains contact with their neck. If they create significant space, transition to standing finish or adjust to arm-in variation.
- Turning into the choke to face attacker and eliminate shoulder pressure (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: This is the most effective defense. Counter by immediately increasing non-choking shoulder pressure and pulling choking elbow further back and up. If turn is successful, be prepared to transition to darce or anaconda, or to abandon and establish different control.
- Bridging or arching back to create space in the hip connection (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Follow their bridge by extending your body and maintaining guard closure or hip pressure. Your weight should move with them. Increase choking pressure during the bridge as their neck is often more exposed during this defensive movement.
- Grabbing attacker’s choking wrist and attempting to pull it away from neck (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Maintain strong grip connection and use your entire arm structure rather than just grip strength. Their pulling on your wrist often helps elevate your elbow higher, actually improving your position. Keep shoulder pressure constant.
- Tucking chin deep to protect the neck before choke is fully set (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: This prevents the choke if done early. You must break their chin-tuck connection before attempting the finish. Use your choking-side grip to lift their head or transition to different submission like darce or front headlock controls. Never force the choke over the chin as this risks jaw injury.
- Creating frames on hips or thighs to push away and stand up (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Elevate your hips or stand with them while maintaining upper body control. The high elbow guillotine can finish standing as effectively as from guard. Follow their movement upward rather than trying to pull them back down.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary distinguishing characteristic of the high elbow guillotine compared to traditional guillotine variations? A: The primary distinguishing characteristic is the elevation of the choking elbow above the opponent’s shoulder line, which redirects pressure into the carotid arteries rather than relying primarily on tracheal compression. This elbow positioning, combined with aggressive shoulder pressure from the non-choking side, creates a more effective blood choke with better control and higher finishing percentage.
Q2: Why must the non-choking shoulder play an active role in the high elbow guillotine finish, and what specific area should it target? A: The non-choking shoulder must drive into the opposite side of the opponent’s neck near the carotid artery to create a vice-like pressure between the forearm and shoulder. This shoulder pressure is what closes the angle and prevents opponent from turning into the choke to escape. Without active shoulder engagement, the submission loses most of its finishing power and becomes much easier to defend.
Q3: What are the immediate signs that you must release a guillotine choke during training, and what is the correct release protocol? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: You must immediately release upon any tap signal (verbal, hand, foot, or any loss of resistance), changes in facial color, unusual breathing sounds, or if opponent’s body goes limp. The release protocol is: immediately release choking arm grip, lower elbow and remove shoulder pressure simultaneously, release head control and create space, then monitor partner’s breathing and consciousness for 10-15 seconds. Never reapply pressure once released, even if partner indicates they are okay.
Q4: Why is it critical never to force a guillotine choke over an opponent’s chin, and what should you do instead if their chin is tucked? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Forcing a choke over the chin creates high risk of jaw injury and temporomandibular joint damage, causing pain without the blood flow restriction that would signal danger and prompt a tap. If the chin is tucked, you must either use your grip to lift their head to expose the neck properly, or transition to a different attack such as darce, anaconda, or other front headlock controls. Patient technical adjustment is always preferable to forced application.
Q5: How does lower body positioning (guard closure or hip pressure) contribute to the effectiveness of the high elbow guillotine? A: Lower body control eliminates the space between your hips and opponent’s body, preventing them from creating distance and escaping. If seated, closed guard with heels connected and knees squeezing prevents opponent from pushing off. If standing, forward hip drive maintains the connection. Without this lower body engagement, even perfect upper body structure will fail as opponent can push away and create escape space. The submission requires total body integration from head to hips.
Q6: What is the most effective defensive response an opponent can make against a high elbow guillotine, and how should you counter it? A: The most effective defense is turning into the choke to face the attacker, which eliminates the shoulder pressure and compromises the high elbow structure. The counter is to immediately increase non-choking shoulder pressure and pull the choking elbow further back and upward to maintain the angle. However, if the turn is successful and your structure is compromised, you must recognize the failed attempt and transition to darce, anaconda, or different control rather than holding a submission that is no longer effective.
Q7: Why is progressive pressure application over 3-5 seconds mandatory in training, and what injuries can result from spiking the submission? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Progressive pressure application allows your partner clear opportunity to recognize the danger and tap safely before sustaining injury. Spiking or jerking the submission can cause tracheal damage requiring weeks or months of recovery, cervical spine stress or injury, or sudden loss of consciousness before the partner can tap. Smooth, progressive pressure over 3-5 seconds is the minimum safety standard for all choking techniques in training environments. Competition speed should never be used during drilling or positional training.
Q8: What role does head positioning play in the high elbow guillotine, and where specifically should the crown of your head make contact? A: The crown of your head should drive into opponent’s sternum or chest area, serving multiple critical functions: it prevents opponent from driving forward to stack you, creates a structural frame that reinforces your shoulder pressure, and allows you to use your neck muscles to add finishing power. Your chin should be tucked to protect your own neck. This head positioning is what transforms separate upper and lower body controls into one integrated submission system.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The high elbow guillotine represents a significant mechanical improvement over traditional guillotine applications because it transforms a technique that often fails at high levels into a legitimate finishing threat. The key is understanding that elevation of the elbow above the shoulder line redirects force vectors directly into the carotid arteries rather than relying on tracheal compression, which is both less effective as a finishing mechanism and more uncomfortable for training partners. The non-choking shoulder’s role cannot be overstated - it functions as the second jaw of a vice, with the forearm being the first jaw. When both are actively engaged, the opponent faces a true dilemma: any defensive movement that addresses one pressure point necessarily exposes them to the other. The systematic approach to this submission begins with perfect positioning before any pressure is applied. Students must internalize that structural integrity precedes pressure application. In training, apply this submission with extreme care and progressive pressure over minimum 3-5 seconds, as the blood choke mechanism can cause unconsciousness rapidly if applied at competition speed. The safety protocols are not suggestions but mandatory requirements for responsible training.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the high elbow guillotine is one of the most reliable submissions from standing exchanges and guard pulls because it requires less setup time than many other submissions and can be finished quickly once structure is established. I favor this variation over arm-in guillotines because it’s significantly harder to defend through turning, which is the most common and effective guillotine defense at high levels. The key is establishing the high elbow position before pulling guard - if you pull guard with a standard guillotine and then try to elevate the elbow, opponent has time to defend. In no-gi especially, this submission pairs perfectly with front headlock snap-downs and can catch opponents who are focused on defending their back. Against good opponents, you need to hide your submission attempt until the last moment - maintain what looks like standard front headlock control, then explosively transition to high elbow configuration as you pull guard or apply pressure. That said, in training with partners, always apply progressive pressure and give them clear opportunity to tap. Competition urgency has its place, but training is where we develop technique safely. The distinction between training application and competition application is critical - one builds skills, the other wins matches, but they require different mindsets around safety and pressure.
- Eddie Bravo: The high elbow guillotine fits perfectly into 10th Planet methodology because it works equally well gi and no-gi, and it chains beautifully with our rubber guard and electric chair systems from bottom position. When I’m teaching this, I emphasize that the finish isn’t about crushing with your arms - it’s about creating the right angles and letting geometry do the work. The shoulder pressure is actually the secret that most people miss; your forearm is just one part of a two-part system. One variation we use a lot is combining this with zombie position from half guard, where you can maintain the high elbow structure even as opponent tries to pass. The creativity comes in finding entries that opponents don’t expect - catching it off failed single leg attempts, setting it up from weird angles in scrambles, or using it as a counter when opponent tries to pass your guard aggressively. But here’s the real talk about safety: in our gym culture, tapping early and often is a sign of intelligence, not weakness. We want training partners who are still healthy and training in five years, ten years, twenty years. So when you’re learning this submission, tap when you feel the pressure starting, not when you’re already in danger. And when you’re applying it, go slow and progressive every time unless you’re in actual competition. Build that habit so deeply that it’s automatic.