The Hindulotine is a 10th Planet guillotine variation locking a chin-strap figure-four grip from the front headlock, wedging the forearm under the jaw so carotid pressure builds from leverage rather than the grip strength a slick standard guillotine loses.
Safety
Hindulotine targets the Carotid arteries and trachea. Primary risk: Loss of consciousness from bilateral carotid compression. Tap early; release immediately on the tap. Full safety guide ↓
Emerging from the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, the Hindulotine was built to solve a problem that plagues no-gi front headlock attacks: as sweat and fatigue set in, conventional clasped-hand guillotines slide off the chin and fail. It belongs to a broader family of front headlock chokes, sitting alongside the standard guillotine, anaconda, and darce as the answer when the defender gives you their neck but denies a clean clasped grip.
What separates the Hindulotine from conventional guillotine attacks is the mechanical advantage created by the grip. The chin strap configuration—where the choking arm threads deep under the chin and the hand grips the attacker’s own opposite wrist in a figure-four—prevents the choking arm from sliding off the chin, a common failure point in standard guillotines. The figure-four structure allows the attacker to apply increasing pressure by closing their elbows together and arching their back, rather than relying on raw grip strength. This makes the technique particularly effective in no-gi settings where sweat makes traditional clasped-hand grips unreliable.
Strategically, the Hindulotine serves as both a primary finishing technique and a gateway to other front headlock attacks. When the opponent defends by turning their chin or attempting to posture, the attacker can transition to an anaconda choke, darce choke, or arm-in guillotine variation. This creates a submission chain that forces the defender to address multiple threats simultaneously, increasing the overall finishing rate of the front headlock position.
What positions can you finish from?
| From Position | Seat | Success | Play as Attacker | Play as Defender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindulotine | Top | 40% | Attack → | Defend → |
Mechanical variations (how the choke is finished)
- Standing Hindulotine: Applied from a standing clinch or front headlock, the attacker locks the chin strap grip while standing and either finishes standing or pulls guard to complete the choke. The standing version generates additional choking pressure from the opponent’s own body weight hanging on the grip. (When to use: When the opponent shoots a takedown or dips their head in the clinch, exposing the neck for the front headlock entry)
- Guard Pull Hindulotine: The attacker secures the Hindulotine grip from front headlock, then sits back to closed or butterfly guard to break the opponent’s posture and finish. Pulling guard removes the opponent’s base and creates downward leverage through hip extension. (When to use: When the opponent is defending the standing version by maintaining strong posture and base, making it difficult to finish without pulling them down)
- Transition from Failed Standard Guillotine: When a conventional guillotine grip is slipping or the opponent is beginning to posture out, the attacker switches to the chin strap grip configuration mid-exchange. The figure-four grip re-secures the choke with a stronger mechanical advantage than the original clasped-hand grip. (When to use: When a standard guillotine attempt is failing due to grip fatigue, sweat, or the opponent beginning to strip the grip)
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of consciousness from bilateral carotid compression | CRITICAL | Seconds to minutes if released promptly; prolonged compression can cause brain damage |
| Tracheal damage from incorrect pressure angle crushing the windpipe | High | 2-6 weeks depending on severity; may require medical intervention |
| Cervical spine strain from forced neck flexion under load | Medium | 1-3 weeks with rest and physical therapy |
Application Speed: Blood chokes can cause unconsciousness in 4-10 seconds once fully locked. Apply gradually in training and never crank suddenly. The chin strap grip tightens faster than standard guillotine grips due to the figure-four leverage.
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap saying ‘tap’ clearly
- Physical tap on partner’s body, arm, or leg with hand or foot
- Tapping the mat repeatedly if unable to reach partner
- Any verbal distress signal or going limp (treat as immediate tap)
Release Protocol:
- Release all grip pressure immediately upon any tap signal
- Monitor partner for 30 seconds after release for delayed signs of unconsciousness
- If partner goes unconscious, release immediately, place in recovery position, elevate legs, and seek medical attention
- Never reapply the choke in the same round after a near-unconsciousness event
Training Restrictions:
- Apply pressure gradually and incrementally during drilling, never explosively
- Beginners should drill grip mechanics and positioning without applying finishing pressure until comfortable with the release protocol
- Do not hold the fully locked choke for extended periods even if the partner has not tapped