SAFETY: North-South Choke from Side Control targets the Carotid arteries and trachea. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to loss of consciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The North-South Choke from Side Control is a powerful blood choke that combines positional transition with submission finishing in a single fluid sequence. Unlike entries from north-south itself, this variation begins from a stable side control position and uses the transition toward north-south as the mechanism for threading the choking arm underneath the opponent’s near-side neck. The movement catches many opponents off-guard because they are focused on defending the standard side control attacks — americana, kimura, and arm triangle — rather than anticipating the rotational transition that sets up the choke.
The key mechanical advantage of entering from side control is that the crossface already controls the opponent’s head position, making it straightforward to slide the choking arm into place as you walk your body toward the north-south angle. The finishing pressure comes from a combination of the choking arm compressing one carotid artery while the shoulder and chest weight compress the other side, creating bilateral carotid occlusion that produces unconsciousness within seconds when applied correctly. The attacker’s sprawled legs and chest-to-chest contact prevent the defender from creating the space needed to relieve pressure.
This submission is particularly effective against opponents who defend side control by keeping their elbows tight and chin tucked, as the transition bypasses those defensive structures entirely. The choke does not require a gi, making it equally effective in no-gi competition, and the slow, grinding nature of the setup makes it difficult for referees to identify the danger early — a significant tactical advantage in competition settings where opponents may not realize the severity of the choke until it is too late to escape.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and trachea Starting Position: Side Control From Position: Side Control (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 | Medium | 1-2 weeks with proper medical attention |
| Neck strain from bridging attempts | Medium | 3-7 days |
| Cervical spine stress from improper release | 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
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
- Loss of resistance or going limp
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release arm pressure and remove shoulder compression
- 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 breathing
- Never move opponent’s neck immediately after release — allow them to move naturally first
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply explosive or jerking pressure to the neck
- Never use competition speed or full pressure in training
- Always ensure partner has clear tap access with at least one hand
- Never hold the choke after partner taps or goes limp
- Beginners should only practice the position and grip, not the actual choking pressure
Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 58% |
| Failure | Side Control | 27% |
| Counter | Closed Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute and finish | Escape and survive |
| Key Principles | Maintain constant chest-to-chest pressure throughout the ent… | Defend early during the transition phase rather than waiting… |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Maintain constant chest-to-chest pressure throughout the entire transition from side control to the choking position, never allowing space for the opponent to insert frames
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Thread the choking arm deep under the opponent’s neck before committing to the north-south rotation — a shallow arm produces a crank, not a choke
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Use the crossface hand to control the opponent’s far-side head and jaw, preventing them from turning toward you during the transition
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Sprawl your legs wide and drive your hips to the mat once in position, anchoring your body weight through the shoulder into the neck
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Squeeze the choking arm elbow tight to your own body to close the gap between your bicep and forearm around the neck
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Keep your head low and tight against the opponent’s far-side hip to prevent them from creating rotational escape angles
Execution Steps
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Establish dominant side control: Settle into a tight side control with your chest heavy on the opponent’s chest, crossface driving th…
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Clear the near-side arm: Use your crossface hand or a quick push to move the opponent’s near-side arm above their head or tra…
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Thread the choking arm under the neck: Slide your crossface arm deeper so that your bicep and forearm wrap around the opponent’s near-side …
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Begin walking toward north-south: With the choking arm threaded, start walking your body toward the north-south position by stepping y…
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Lock the choking position: Once your body reaches approximately a 45-degree angle relative to the opponent’s body, drop your sh…
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Apply finishing pressure: With everything locked in position, apply the finish by simultaneously dropping your shoulder weight…
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Adjust if choke is not tight: If the opponent is not tapping after 5 seconds, micro-adjust by walking your hips slightly more towa…
Common Mistakes
-
Lifting chest off the opponent to thread the choking arm
- Consequence: Creates space that allows the opponent to turn in, insert frames, recover guard, or escape to turtle — the choke attempt fails and you lose positional advantage
- Correction: Keep your chest glued to the opponent’s face and upper chest throughout the arm thread. Slide the arm through the gap created by your crossface angle rather than lifting to create the gap yourself.
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Threading the choking arm too shallow, with the elbow only reaching the opponent’s chin
- Consequence: Produces a jaw crank or chin crush rather than a blood choke, which is painful but not fight-ending and risks injuring training partners
- Correction: Thread the arm deep enough that your elbow passes beyond the opponent’s chin to the far side of the neck. Your bicep should be directly on the near-side carotid artery.
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Rushing the transition by jumping to north-south in one motion
- Consequence: Loses chest contact and pressure during the jump, giving the opponent a window to escape, insert frames, or recover guard
- Correction: Walk to north-south in small controlled steps, maintaining constant chest pressure. Each step should increase the choke tightness, not create space.
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Defend early during the transition phase rather than waiting until the choke is locked — the window for escape closes rapidly once the arm is threaded
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Protect your near-side arm by keeping it inside and tight to your body, preventing the attacker from clearing it and threading the choking arm
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Frame against the attacker’s hips and shoulders to prevent them from walking to north-south and completing the rotational transition
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Turn toward the attacker rather than away — turning away exposes the neck and makes the arm thread easier
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If the choke is locked, tap immediately rather than attempting late escapes — blood chokes produce unconsciousness within seconds and the risk of passing out is real
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Use hip movement to follow the attacker’s rotation, staying perpendicular to them rather than letting them achieve the north-south angle
Recognition Cues
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Attacker’s crossface deepens significantly beyond normal side control pressure, with their arm sliding further under your neck toward the far side
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Attacker begins walking their body toward the north-south position, stepping their far leg over your head in small incremental movements
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Attacker actively clears or pins your near-side arm by pushing it above your head, trapping it with their body weight, or swimming past your frames
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Attacker’s chest pressure shifts from perpendicular to an angle, with their shoulder increasingly focused on your neck and jaw area
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You feel the attacker’s bicep sliding underneath your neck with their elbow moving past your chin toward the far side
Escape Paths
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Frame and shrimp back to standard side control bottom, then work standard side control escapes to recover guard
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Turn into the attacker and fight for underhook to prevent north-south angle, recovering half guard or butterfly guard
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Bridge and hip escape toward the attacker’s legs when they lift their hips during transition, recovering closed guard
From Which Positions?
Match Outcome
Successful execution of North-South Choke from Side Control leads to → Game Over
All submissions in BJJ ultimately converge to the same terminal state: the match ends when your opponent taps.