SAFETY: Rear Naked Choke targets the Carotid arteries and jugular veins. Risk: Loss of consciousness from blood choke. Release immediately upon tap.
The Rear Naked Choke (RNC) is widely considered the highest-percentage submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts. This blood choke targets the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, cutting off blood flow to the brain and causing unconsciousness in 6-10 seconds if not released. Unlike air chokes that can take 30+ seconds and cause panic, the RNC is efficient and relatively safe when applied correctly with proper training protocols. The position’s effectiveness stems from the back control position itself - the opponent cannot see you, cannot effectively defend with their arms, and must deal with your body weight and control while their breathing and circulation are compromised. The RNC is the most common submission finish in high-level competition, with statistics showing it accounts for approximately 25-30% of all submission victories in professional MMA and 15-20% in gi BJJ competition. The technique’s universality across gi and no-gi contexts, combined with its mechanical simplicity and high success rate even against larger opponents, makes it an essential technique for all practitioners regardless of style or body type.
From Position: Back Control (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
- Forearm blade across carotid arteries, not windpipe
- Elbow position in front of chin prevents escape
- Back hand on bicep creates structural compression frame
- Head control by placing your head beside opponent’s head
- Hip and hook control prevents opponent from escaping position
- Expansion of chest while constricting arms creates maximum pressure
- Progressive tightening allows partner to tap before unconsciousness
Prerequisites
- Secure back control with both hooks in or body triangle established
- Seat belt grip or harness control to prevent opponent turning into you
- Opponent’s posture broken with your chest tight to their back
- One arm free to begin inserting under the chin
- Head control to prevent opponent looking away from choking arm
- Base and stability maintained with hooks or body triangle
Execution Steps
- Establish back control foundation: From back control position, ensure you have both hooks in or a body triangle secured. Your chest should be tight to opponent’s back. Establish seat belt control with one arm over the shoulder and one arm under the armpit. Your head should be beside their head, not directly behind where they can push it away. (Timing: Hold position until opponent settles)
- Hand fight and create entry angle: Use your top hand (over the shoulder) to control opponent’s hand or collar, preventing them from defending their neck. Slightly angle your body to the choking arm side. If opponent’s chin is down, use your chest pressure and head position to create space. Post your choking arm’s hand on their shoulder or chest initially to prevent them from tracking the danger. (Timing: 1-2 seconds of setup)
- Insert choking arm under chin: Slide your choking arm under the chin, driving deep until your elbow is past the centerline of their chin. The blade of your forearm (thumb-side) should be across one carotid artery. Keep your hand open or in a loose fist initially. The deeper your elbow position in front of their chin, the more difficult the escape. Your forearm should not be on the trachea or windpipe - it must be on the sides of the neck. (Timing: Insert quickly but smoothly, 1-2 seconds)
- Secure back hand position on bicep: Bring your non-choking arm behind opponent’s head. Grab your choking arm’s bicep with your back hand, creating a frame. Your opponent’s head should be trapped between your choking forearm and your back arm. The back arm pulls their head forward slightly into the choke structure. Alternative: palm on back of head for ‘short choke’ variation. (Timing: Establish grip before applying pressure)
- Position choking hand on back of head: With your back hand secured on your bicep, bring your choking hand to the back of opponent’s head. Your choking forearm and back arm now form a frame on both sides of the neck, with opponent’s head trapped in the middle. Your choking elbow should point forward, not to the side. Ensure your forearm blade is positioned on both carotid arteries, not the windpipe. (Timing: Complete structure before applying finishing pressure)
- Apply progressive finishing pressure: Expand your chest while simultaneously bringing your elbows together. Pull your choking arm back toward you while your back arm applies pressure forward on their head. The motion is like trying to touch your elbows behind their head. Maintain tight hooks or body triangle to prevent escape. Apply pressure progressively over 3-5 seconds in training, allowing partner to tap. In training, stop at 50-70% pressure maximum. (Timing: 3-5 seconds progressive pressure in training)
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 78% |
| Failure | Back Control | 22% |
Opponent Defenses
- Tucking chin and defending neck with hands (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Don’t force through chin. Instead, use your choking arm’s hand to pull their defensive hand away, create a collar grip to pull them into you, or wait for them to tire from defending and attack when they adjust position. Alternatively, switch to short choke with hand behind head. → Leads to Back Control
- Turning into you to escape back control (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Maintain seat belt control tightly. As they turn, follow their movement and maintain back pressure. If they succeed in turning, immediately transition to armbar from guard or triangle setup. Use your hooks to prevent the turn by pulling them back into you. → Leads to Back Control
- Grabbing your choking arm with both hands and pulling down (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: This defense exposes their neck more. As they pull your arm down and away, use this opportunity to get your elbow even deeper past their chin. Once your back hand secures the bicep grip, their pulling creates the choke structure for you. Simply finish by expanding chest. → Leads to Back Control
- Bridging and rolling to escape back control entirely (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Anticipate the bridge by staying heavy on your hooks and keeping chest tight to their back. If they attempt to roll, roll with them while maintaining all controls. The roll often makes the choke tighter. Your hooks and body triangle should prevent effective bridging entirely. → Leads to Back Control
- Attacking your hands and fingers to break grips (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Keep your choking arm deep and structural, not relying on grip strength. If they grab your fingers, simply transition your back hand from bicep grip to palm on back of head for short choke variation. The structural frame of your arms matters more than any specific grip. → Leads to Back Control
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary target of a properly applied Rear Naked Choke, and why is this important for safety? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The primary target is the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, NOT the windpipe or trachea. This is critically important for safety because a blood choke causes unconsciousness in 6-10 seconds through reduced blood flow to the brain, while an air choke can take 30+ seconds, causes panic and violent resistance, and creates serious risk of trachea injury. The forearm blade must be positioned on the sides of the neck where you can feel the pulse, creating compression of the arteries. Proper positioning makes the technique both more effective and significantly safer.
Q2: Describe the proper elbow position for the choking arm and why this positioning matters for effectiveness and defense prevention? A: The choking arm’s elbow must be positioned in front of the centerline of the opponent’s chin, pointing forward toward their chest rather than flaring out to the side. This deep elbow position is critical because it prevents the opponent from tucking their chin effectively to defend, creates a structural frame that cannot be pulled apart easily, and ensures the forearm is properly positioned across both carotid arteries. If the elbow is too shallow or pointing to the side, the opponent can create defensive space, the choke loses structural integrity, and they can potentially turn into you to escape. The deeper the elbow past the chin, the higher the success rate.
Q3: What are the five valid tap signals for a Rear Naked Choke, and what should you do if your partner goes limp during application? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The five valid tap signals are: 1) verbal tap or any verbal sound, 2) physical hand tap on your body or the mat, 3) physical foot tap on the mat, 4) going limp or losing consciousness, and 5) any distress signal or unusual sound. If your partner goes limp, you must immediately release all pressure, remove hooks/body triangle, gently guide them to a side-lying recovery position, and monitor their consciousness and breathing for at least 30 seconds. Never allow someone who lost consciousness to stand up immediately, as they may experience dizziness or disorientation. This is a critical safety protocol that must never be violated in training.
Q4: Why is maintaining hook or body triangle control essential while attacking the Rear Naked Choke, and what happens if you lose this control? A: Maintaining hook or body triangle control is essential because it prevents the opponent from turning into you, escaping the back control position, or improving their position while you work for the choke. Your lower body control anchors you to their back and removes their ability to generate escape momentum. If you lose hook/body triangle control while focused on the upper body choke, the opponent can turn to face you (escaping to guard or scramble), they can roll to improve position, or they can create enough space to defend their neck more effectively. Back control is the foundation - without it, the choke becomes low percentage. Many practitioners make the error of becoming so focused on finishing the choke that they neglect their base, losing the dominant position entirely.
Q5: What is the mechanical difference between squeezing with arm strength alone versus properly expanding your chest while constricting your arms? A: Squeezing with arm strength alone creates limited pressure, fatigues your muscles quickly, and gives the opponent time to defend or escape as your strength diminishes. The proper finish involves expanding your chest by taking a deep breath and arching your back slightly while simultaneously bringing your elbows together and squeezing your arms. This body expansion creates significantly more pressure than arm strength alone by using your entire upper body structure and back muscles, not just biceps and forearms. The chest expansion against the constricting arms creates a vise effect that is both more powerful and more sustainable. Think of it as spreading your shoulder blades apart while your arms squeeze inward - this is the mechanical advantage that makes the Rear Naked Choke so effective even against larger, stronger opponents.
Q6: What is the minimum safe application time for a Rear Naked Choke in training, and why is jerking or spiking the choke considered critically dangerous? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The minimum safe application time in training is 3-5 seconds of progressive pressure, building gradually from light to firm. Jerking or spiking the choke with sudden force is critically dangerous because it can cause neck injury, damage to the carotid arteries, and prevents the partner from safely recognizing the danger and tapping before injury occurs. Progressive application allows your training partner to feel the pressure building, understand they are caught, and tap with plenty of time to prevent any injury. Sudden force violates fundamental training safety, can cause serious long-term damage including potential stroke from carotid injury, and is never acceptable in any training context. In training, you should stop at approximately 50-70% maximum pressure once you feel the choke is locked, allowing your partner to tap from position recognition rather than discomfort or danger.
Q7: Your opponent tucks their chin tightly and defends with both hands on your choking arm - what adjustment creates the finishing opportunity? A: When opponent tucks chin and uses both hands defensively, you have multiple options. First, use your seat belt control arm to strip one of their defensive hands away from your choking arm, occupying it with grip fighting while you work the neck. Second, if they keep hands on your arm, attack behind their defenses by switching to the short choke variation - place your palm on the back of their head instead of the bicep grip, which changes the angle and often slides under their chin defenses. Third, maintain patient position and wait for them to fatigue from the isometric effort of holding their chin down. Finally, use your head position and chest pressure to create space by driving your chest into their back while angling your head pressure into theirs, which often creates enough gap to slide deeper. The key is never to force through the chin with direct pressure, which wastes energy and rarely succeeds.
Q8: What are the physical indicators that the choke is properly applied and about to cause unconsciousness? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The physical indicators of a properly applied blood choke include: opponent’s face changing color (typically reddening or purpling) as blood flow is restricted, their defensive movements becoming weaker or less coordinated as brain oxygen decreases, a distinctive change in their breathing pattern often becoming more labored, their body beginning to relax involuntarily as they approach unconsciousness, and potentially gurgling or unusual sounds as they struggle. These signs appear within 4-8 seconds of proper blood choke application. Recognizing these signs is critical for safety - in training, you should release before these signs become severe. The absence of violent struggling (compared to air chokes) often indicates proper positioning on the carotid arteries rather than the trachea.
Q9: How do you determine the optimal moment to commit to the finishing squeeze versus continuing to refine position? A: The optimal moment to commit to finishing occurs when these criteria are met: your elbow is clearly past the centerline of opponent’s chin (not resting on top), your forearm blade is positioned on the sides of the neck (you can feel it compressing tissue, not bone), your back hand has secured either the bicep grip or palm on head, your hooks or body triangle remain stable and controlling, and opponent’s defensive hands are either trapped, exhausted, or occupied elsewhere. If any of these elements are missing, continue refining position rather than forcing the finish. Attempting to finish with shallow positioning wastes energy and often results in losing the position entirely. The point of no escape is when the structural frame is complete with proper depth - at this point, even light pressure creates the choke effect. Patience in setting up the position leads to effortless finishes.
Q10: What grip adjustments should you make if opponent begins to successfully peel your choking arm away from their neck? A: If opponent begins peeling your choking arm, several adjustments can save the position. First, immediately switch your back hand from bicep grip to grabbing your own wrist (gable grip configuration) - this is structurally stronger against pulling. Second, focus on driving your elbow deeper past their chin rather than fighting the pull directly - their pulling motion often helps you get deeper if you redirect rather than resist. Third, switch to the short choke variation by placing your palm directly on the back of their head, which changes the angle and makes their pull less effective. Fourth, if they succeed in significant separation, immediately secure your choking arm in an overhook configuration on their far arm, preventing escape while you reset for another attempt. Never abandon all control during the transition - maintain at least one control point throughout any adjustment.
Q11: What distinguishes a competition-finishing squeeze from a training-appropriate application of the Rear Naked Choke? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Competition finishing involves full commitment to maximum pressure once the position is secured - chest expansion combined with full arm constriction applied as quickly as structurally possible (typically 1-2 seconds). Training application requires progressive pressure over 3-5 seconds minimum, never exceeding 50-70% of maximum force, with constant monitoring of partner’s responses and immediate release on any tap signal. In training, the goal is position recognition and partner tapping from understanding they are caught, not from discomfort or oxygen deprivation. Competition involves holding through brief defense attempts while training involves catch-and-release protocols. The structural positioning is identical in both contexts - the difference is purely in pressure application speed and intensity. Training partners should never experience lightheadedness, vision changes, or the physical sensation of approaching unconsciousness during drilling.
Q12: Your opponent has successfully inserted two fingers between your choking arm and their neck - how do you eliminate this defensive space? A: Finger defense creates a wedge that must be systematically eliminated. First, stop applying direct squeeze pressure, which only tightens their finger wedge. Instead, use rotation - rotate your choking forearm slightly toward the blade edge while simultaneously angling your body to drive your elbow deeper past their chin. This rotational movement often slides past finger defenses. Second, use your back hand to attack their defending hand directly, peeling fingers away or controlling their wrist to pull the hand clear. Third, increase chest-to-back pressure dramatically, compressing their overall structure which often forces the defending hand out of position. Fourth, switch to the high elbow variation, changing the angle of attack. If their fingers remain wedged, transition to armbar threat on the defending arm - this forces them to choose between defending the choke or protecting the arm, creating your opening. Never attempt to crush through finger defense with pure squeeze, as this rarely succeeds and exhausts you.