SAFETY: Paper Cutter Choke targets the Carotid arteries (bilateral compression). Risk: Loss of consciousness from carotid artery compression. Release immediately upon tap.
The Paper Cutter Choke is a highly effective blood choke executed primarily from side control, though it can also be applied from various transitional positions including north-south and turtle. The technique derives its name from the cutting motion of the choking arm across the opponent’s neck, similar to how paper is cut with a blade. This submission targets both carotid arteries simultaneously through a combination of the gi collar and the attacker’s forearm, creating a powerful constriction that leads to rapid unconsciousness if not defended. The Paper Cutter Choke is particularly dangerous because it can be applied with relatively little warning and often catches opponents by surprise during position transitions. The technique is valued for its mechanical efficiency—once the grip is secured and the angle is correct, very little strength is required to finish. This makes it an excellent submission for practitioners of all sizes and is especially effective against larger, stronger opponents who might resist other collar chokes. The choke is frequently taught as part of side control attack sequences and integrates seamlessly with other submissions like the cross collar choke and arm triangle.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries (bilateral compression) Starting Position: Side Control From Position: Side Control (Top) Success Rate: 62%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of consciousness from carotid artery compression | High | Immediate to 1-2 minutes if released promptly; potential neurological damage if held beyond tap |
| Trachea damage from improper angle or excessive force | High | 2-6 weeks for minor bruising; months for severe damage |
| Neck strain or cervical spine stress from head rotation | Medium | 1-3 weeks |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum in training, allowing partner to recognize danger and tap
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (saying ‘tap’ or any verbal distress)
- Physical hand tap on opponent or mat
- Physical foot tap on mat
- Any distress signal or unusual sound
- Loss of defensive hand fighting (possible unconsciousness)
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release the choking collar grip completely
- Remove your forearm from across the neck
- Allow opponent’s head to return to neutral position
- Check partner’s responsiveness verbally
- If unconscious, position partner on their side in recovery position and monitor breathing
- Never shake or move an unconscious partner roughly
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply this choke at competition speed in training
- Never jerk or spike the submission with sudden force
- Always ensure partner has both hands free to tap
- Do not practice on beginners who don’t understand blood chokes
- Never continue applying pressure after feeling partner go limp
- Avoid practicing when partner has neck or throat injuries
Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 60% |
| Failure | Side Control | 25% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute and finish | Escape and survive |
| Key Principles | Deep collar grip is essential—the four fingers must be insid… | Protect the far collar at all times when under side control—… |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
-
Deep collar grip is essential—the four fingers must be inside the collar at least to the second knuckle for effective compression
-
The choking force comes from pulling the collar while driving the forearm across the neck, creating a scissoring action on both carotid arteries
-
Head control with the non-choking hand prevents escape and maintains proper angle for maximum pressure
-
Hip pressure and chest-to-chest connection prevent the opponent from creating space or turning into you
-
The choke should feel tight almost immediately—if it doesn’t, the angle or grip depth needs adjustment before committing
-
Patience in setup is critical; rushing to finish allows opponent to defend the collar grip or create space to escape
-
The paper cutter works through leverage and angle, not raw strength—proper mechanics make this effective even against much larger opponents
Execution Steps
-
Establish Side Control Dominance: From standard side control, flatten opponent fully and establish chest-to-chest pressure. Your weigh…
-
Insert Collar Grip: Slide your choking hand (typically your bottom hand when in side control) deep into the opponent’s f…
-
Secure Head Control: With your non-choking hand, reach around and cup the back of opponent’s head or grab their far colla…
-
Create Choking Angle: Shift your body position slightly toward opponent’s head, creating approximately 45-degree angle fro…
-
Drive Shoulder and Pull Collar: Drive your choking-side shoulder forward and down toward the mat while simultaneously pulling the co…
-
Finish with Hip Pressure: As you feel the choke tightening, increase hip pressure to prevent any escape attempts and maintain …
Common Mistakes
-
Gripping the collar too shallow, with only fingertips inside
- Consequence: Insufficient leverage to compress carotid arteries; opponent can easily defend and escape; wasted energy with no threat
- Correction: Take time to work your hand deep into the collar before committing to the finish. Your four fingers should be at least to the second knuckle, ideally reaching all the way behind their neck. Use your non-choking hand to create space in the collar if needed.
-
Applying pressure too quickly without proper setup
- Consequence: Partner cannot tap in time; risk of unconsciousness or injury; creates unsafe training environment
- Correction: Apply the choke progressively over 3-5 seconds in training. Your partner should feel the danger building and have ample time to recognize the threat and tap. Save competition-speed finishes for competition only.
-
Positioning forearm across the trachea instead of carotid arteries
- Consequence: Creates air choke instead of blood choke; causes unnecessary pain and potential trachea damage; less effective and more dangerous
- Correction: Ensure your forearm blade is positioned on the side of the neck, not across the front of the throat. The pressure should be lateral (scissoring from both sides) rather than frontal. If opponent is coughing or their face is turning purple without loss of consciousness, adjust your angle immediately.
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
-
Protect the far collar at all times when under side control—tuck your chin and keep your near elbow tight to block hand insertion into the collar
-
Early recognition is critical; once the deep grip and angle are established, escape probability drops dramatically below 30%
-
Frame against the attacker’s neck and shoulder with your near arm to prevent them from creating the choking angle and driving shoulder pressure
-
Turn toward the attacker rather than away—turning away exposes the collar and gives them the cutting angle they need
-
Use two-on-one grip fighting on the choking wrist immediately when you feel the collar grip being established, before they can set the angle
-
Create hip movement through shrimping to disrupt the attacker’s base and prevent them from settling into the finishing position
-
Prioritize survival over escape—address the choke threat first, then work on recovering position once the immediate danger is neutralized
Recognition Cues
-
Attacker’s bottom hand begins feeding into your far collar while maintaining side control—you will feel fingers pushing under the collar fabric on the far side of your neck
-
Attacker shifts their hips toward your head, changing from perpendicular side control to an angled position approximately 45 degrees—you feel their weight move from your torso toward your shoulder and head
-
Attacker’s non-choking hand moves to control the back of your head or cup your skull, preventing you from turning away—combined with increased shoulder pressure on your jaw or cheek
-
You feel the attacker’s forearm begin to slide across the front or side of your neck while their collar grip tightens—the characteristic cutting motion that gives the choke its name
Escape Paths
-
Two-on-one grip strip followed by immediate shrimp to recover half guard or create scramble—must be executed before the grip is fully established for highest success rate
-
Turn into the attacker with underhook and hip escape to close distance, neutralize the cutting angle, and recover to half guard or closed guard position
-
Explosive bridge toward the attacker to disrupt their base and angle, followed by immediate knee insertion for guard recovery while they rebalance
From Which Positions?
Match Outcome
Successful execution of Paper Cutter Choke leads to → Game Over
All submissions in BJJ ultimately converge to the same terminal state: the match ends when your opponent taps.