SAFETY: North-South Choke from North-South targets the Carotid arteries. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to loss of consciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The North-South Choke executed from standard North-South position is one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most effective blood chokes, combining the crushing pressure of the pin with precise arm and shoulder placement to compress both carotid arteries simultaneously. This submission capitalizes on the control advantages inherent to North-South, where the opponent is already pinned under heavy chest pressure with limited defensive options. The choking mechanism relies on threading one arm under the opponent’s neck while driving the shoulder into the near-side carotid artery, with the bicep and forearm compressing the far-side carotid to create bilateral blood flow restriction.
The finish involves dropping the hips away from the opponent and rotating the body to tighten the squeeze, using the entire torso as a choking mechanism rather than relying solely on arm strength. Once properly locked, this choke can render an opponent unconscious within seconds due to the efficient bilateral carotid compression. The position-specific advantage of executing this choke from standard North-South is that the opponent is already dealing with restricted breathing and limited arm mobility, making early detection and defense significantly harder.
Strategically, the North-South Choke creates a powerful dilemma when combined with arm attacks available from the same position. Opponents defending the kimura by keeping their elbows pinched expose their neck to the choke, while those protecting their neck open their arms for shoulder locks. This attack-chain dynamic makes the North-South Choke a cornerstone technique for any practitioner who regularly works from North-South control.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries Starting Position: North-South From Position: North-South (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 for longer-term effects if held after unconsciousness |
| Tracheal compression and windpipe damage from misaligned pressure | Medium | 1-2 weeks with proper medical attention |
| Neck strain from bridging escape attempts against locked choke | Medium | 3-7 days |
| Cervical spine stress from improper release or continued pressure after tap | CRITICAL | Weeks to months depending on severity |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum to allow partner to recognize the danger and tap before blood flow restriction causes unconsciousness
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap or verbal submission
- Multiple rapid hand taps on opponent’s body
- Multiple rapid foot taps on the mat
- Any distress signal including body convulsions or going limp
- Loss of resistance indicating possible unconsciousness
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release arm pressure and remove shoulder compression upon tap
- Roll off opponent’s head and neck area completely
- Allow opponent to recover in side-lying position with airway clear
- Monitor for signs of consciousness and normal breathing for at least 30 seconds
- Never move opponent’s neck after release - allow them to move naturally first
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply explosive or jerking pressure to the neck area
- Always ensure partner has clear tap access with at least one hand
- Never hold the choke after partner taps or goes limp
- Beginners should practice the position and grip placement only, without applying choking pressure
- Apply progressive pressure in training - never use competition-level squeeze speed
Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 58% |
| Failure | North-South | 27% |
| Counter | Closed Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute and finish | Escape and survive |
| Key Principles | Establish heavy North-South chest pressure and arm control b… | Recognize the choke setup before the arm threads under your … |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
-
Establish heavy North-South chest pressure and arm control before initiating the choke setup
-
Thread the choking arm deep under the opponent’s neck with palm facing upward to maximize contact surface on the far-side carotid
-
Drive your shoulder into the near-side carotid artery as the primary compression point
-
Use hip drop and body rotation away from the opponent to tighten the choke rather than squeezing with arm strength
-
Control the opponent’s near-side arm throughout the setup to prevent framing and early escape
-
Maintain chest-to-chest connection during the transition to prevent space creation
-
Time the choke entry during opponent’s exhalation when their defensive tension is lowest
Execution Steps
-
Establish North-South Control: Secure heavy chest-to-chest pressure in standard North-South with your weight distributed forward ov…
-
Slide to Choking Side: Walk your body slightly toward the side you intend to choke from, shifting your chest pressure to an…
-
Thread the Choking Arm: Feed your near arm underneath the opponent’s neck with your palm facing upward, reaching across to t…
-
Drive Shoulder Pressure: Simultaneously drive your shoulder on the choking side directly into the near-side carotid artery, c…
-
Secure the Grip: Lock your choking hand by grabbing your own wrist, clasping a gable grip, or gripping your own bicep…
-
Drop Hips and Rotate: Drop your hips toward the mat on the side away from the opponent while rotating your upper body to f…
-
Apply Progressive Squeeze: Increase the bilateral compression gradually by continuing the body rotation and hip drop. Monitor y…
Common Mistakes
-
Threading the choking arm too shallow under the neck
- Consequence: Creates an air choke on the trachea instead of a blood choke on the carotids, which is less effective, slower, and more dangerous to your training partner
- Correction: Feed the arm deep under the neck until your bicep contacts the far-side carotid artery - your elbow should be past the centerline of their neck
-
Lifting chest pressure off the opponent during the choke setup
- Consequence: Creates space for the opponent to hip escape, insert frames, or turn to their side, defeating the choke before it is locked in
- Correction: Maintain continuous chest-to-chest contact throughout the entire setup sequence, sliding into position rather than lifting and repositioning
-
Squeezing with arm strength instead of using hip drop and body rotation
- Consequence: Fatigues your arms rapidly, produces a weaker choke that experienced opponents can endure, and telegraphs the finish attempt
- Correction: Drop your hips toward the mat and rotate your torso away from the opponent to generate choking pressure through body structure and leverage
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
-
Recognize the choke setup before the arm threads under your neck - early defense is the only reliable defense
-
Maintain at least one forearm frame against your opponent’s chest at all times in North-South bottom
-
Protect your neck by keeping your chin tucked and shoulders shrugged to block the arm threading path
-
Time your escape attempts during the opponent’s weight shifts as they slide to the choking side
-
If the arm threads under your neck, immediately fight the grip before hips drop - grip lock is the point of no return
-
Turn toward the choking arm side to reduce the angle available for shoulder compression
-
Tap early and decisively when the choke is locked - this is a blood choke that causes unconsciousness rapidly
Recognition Cues
-
Opponent begins sliding their body to one side from standard North-South, shifting chest pressure to an angle across your upper body
-
You feel an arm feeding under your neck with the palm facing upward, reaching toward your far-side ear
-
Opponent’s shoulder starts driving specifically into one side of your neck rather than providing general chest pressure
-
Opponent releases arm control on one side to free their choking hand, creating a momentary change in grip pattern
-
Weight distribution shifts as opponent begins walking their base to the choking side
Escape Paths
-
Frame against opponent’s chest with both forearms and chain multiple small hip escapes to create enough space to insert a knee shield and recover half guard or closed guard
-
Bridge explosively toward the choking side when opponent’s base narrows during setup, then turn to turtle position before the arm can thread fully under the neck
-
Fight the choking arm grip with both hands before it locks, simultaneously hip escaping away to create angle that prevents the shoulder from compressing the near-side carotid
From Which Positions?
Match Outcome
Successful execution of North-South Choke from North-South leads to → Game Over
All submissions in BJJ ultimately converge to the same terminal state: the match ends when your opponent taps.