⚠️ SAFETY: Ten Finger Guillotine targets the Carotid arteries and trachea. Risk: Trachea damage from excessive crushing pressure. Release immediately upon tap.
The Ten Finger Guillotine is a fundamental front headlock choke that utilizes an interlocking grip with all ten fingers, creating tremendous squeezing power around the opponent’s neck. Unlike the traditional guillotine which uses a gable or arm-in configuration, the ten finger variation employs both hands clasped together with fingers interlaced, allowing for maximum compression of the carotid arteries. This submission is particularly effective in no-gi grappling where hand-fighting and grip transitions happen rapidly. The choke can be applied from standing positions during scrambles, from guard pulls, or when defending takedown attempts. The ten finger grip provides exceptional control even against sweaty or slippery opponents, making it a reliable finishing option across all skill levels. The submission works through a combination of blood restriction and airway compression, with proper technique emphasizing the former for safety and effectiveness. The versatility of this choke allows it to be integrated into multiple positional sequences, from front headlock control to closed guard variations.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and trachea Starting Position: Front Headlock Success Rates: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Trachea damage from excessive crushing pressure | High | 2-4 weeks with severe cases requiring medical attention |
| Neck strain or cervical spine stress from jerking motions | Medium | 1-2 weeks |
| Loss of consciousness from carotid compression | High | Immediate recovery but repeated incidents can cause long-term damage |
| Jaw or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injury from improper chin positioning | Medium | 2-6 weeks |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum to allow partner to recognize danger and tap
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (saying ‘tap’ or any distress sound)
- Physical hand tap on partner’s body or mat
- Physical foot tap on mat or partner
- Any unusual body stiffening or loss of resistance indicating unconsciousness
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release the choking hand grip while maintaining head control
- Lower opponent’s head gently to prevent whiplash or neck strain
- Create space by stepping back or opening guard to remove all pressure
- Check partner’s awareness and allow recovery time before continuing
- If partner was unconscious, elevate legs and monitor breathing
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply full pressure at competition speed in training - always give partner time to tap
- Never jerk or spike the choke with explosive movements
- Never continue pressure after partner taps or shows distress
- Never practice on partners with neck injuries without medical clearance
- Always ensure partner has access to tap with at least one hand free
Key Principles
- Grip configuration with interlaced fingers creates maximum compression while distributing pressure evenly
- Shoulder elevation and lat engagement are critical to generate choking force without arm strength alone
- Hip positioning relative to opponent’s body determines angle of attack and effectiveness
- Head control prevents opponent from creating posture and escaping the danger zone
- Elbow position tight to own ribs prevents opponent from stripping the grip or creating space
- Weight distribution forward onto opponent creates additional compression and control
- Timing the finish with opponent’s defensive reactions maximizes success rate
Prerequisites
- Establish front headlock control with opponent’s head secured below your chest level
- Opponent’s posture must be broken forward, preventing them from standing upright
- Your choking arm must be deep around the neck with forearm crossing the throat
- Non-choking hand must be positioned to receive and interlock with choking hand
- Hip position must be squared or slightly angled to generate proper leverage
- Opponent’s far arm must be controlled or neutralized to prevent hand-fighting
- Your base must be stable enough to resist opponent’s escape attempts and weight shifts
Execution Steps
- Secure front headlock position: From standing or turtle position, wrap your choking arm (typically your dominant arm) deep around opponent’s neck. Your bicep should be against one side of their neck, your forearm across the throat, and your armpit should be tight over the crown of their head. Keep your chest heavy on their upper back to prevent them from standing up. (Timing: Initial control - 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Establish ten finger grip: Reach your non-choking hand underneath opponent’s torso to meet your choking hand. Interlace all ten fingers together, creating a palm-to-palm connection with fingers woven tightly. This grip should feel like a prayer grip but with maximum finger engagement. Position the grip so your choking forearm is centered on their throat, not on their chin or purely on the side of the neck. (Timing: Grip establishment - 1 second) [Pressure: Light]
- Adjust hip position and posture: If standing, step your hips back slightly while keeping your chest forward and heavy on opponent. If on the ground after a guard pull, establish closed guard or maintain a seated position with hooks. Your spine should be relatively upright with your head positioned above or slightly in front of theirs. This posture allows your lats and shoulder muscles to generate choking pressure rather than relying purely on arm strength. (Timing: Positional adjustment - 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Elevate shoulders and engage lats: Shrug your shoulders upward toward your ears while simultaneously pulling your elbows down and back toward your own hips. This creates a powerful squeezing action that closes the noose around opponent’s neck. The movement should feel like you’re trying to touch your elbows together behind your back while keeping your hands stationary. Your lats (latissimus dorsi muscles) should be fully engaged, creating the primary choking force. (Timing: Initial squeeze - 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Firm]
- Arch back and expand chest: Create additional compression by arching your upper back slightly and expanding your chest. This movement increases the distance between your shoulders and hands, tightening the choke further. Imagine trying to look at the ceiling while keeping your arms in the same position. This subtle arch can transform a loose choke into a fight-ending finish. Maintain heavy pressure with your chest on opponent’s back to prevent postural escape. (Timing: Secondary tightening - 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Firm]
- Walk backwards or fall to guard (finish): If standing, walk your feet backward while maintaining all previous pressure points. This drags opponent forward onto their toes, preventing them from generating counter-pressure. If entering from guard pull or transitioning to the ground, fall to closed guard or seated guard while keeping the choke locked. As you settle into position, perform one final shoulder shrug and lat squeeze to complete the submission. Monitor opponent for tap and release immediately when they signal. (Timing: Final adjustment and finish - 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Hand fighting to break the grip by prying fingers apart (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Counter by squeezing your elbows tighter to your ribs and increasing shoulder elevation. The opponent’s grip-breaking attempts actually help you finish if you maintain elbow position. Alternatively, adjust your hand position slightly deeper or switch to a different grip variation momentarily before re-establishing the ten finger lock.
- Driving forward aggressively to create space and posture up (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Use opponent’s forward pressure to sit to guard or jump to closed guard, bringing them with you. As you fall backward, maintain the choke and use your legs to control their hips, preventing them from following through with the posture recovery. The transition to guard actually tightens the choke by changing the angle.
- Grabbing your leg for a single or double leg takedown to alleviate pressure (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Sprawl your hips backward while maintaining upper body pressure and the choke. Alternatively, accept the takedown but ensure you maintain the guillotine grip and land in closed guard. Many successful guillotine finishes occur after the opponent completes a takedown but finds themselves trapped in guard with the choke still locked.
- Turning into you to face the same direction (inside position escape) (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Follow opponent’s rotation by pivoting your feet and hips, maintaining front headlock control throughout. If they successfully turn all the way through, transition to an anaconda or darce choke by adjusting your arm position. Alternatively, use the scramble to take the back or improve position while threatening the choke.
- Tucking chin aggressively to prevent forearm from crossing throat (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: The ten finger guillotine is less affected by chin defense than other variations because the squeeze comes from shoulder elevation and lat engagement. Continue applying pressure - the opponent will either tire from holding their chin position or you’ll finish with a combination of jaw pressure and blood restriction. Never force the chin up with jerking motions; let sustained pressure do the work.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary muscle group that should generate choking pressure in the ten finger guillotine, and why is this biomechanically superior to using arm strength alone? A: The latissimus dorsi (lats) and shoulder muscles should generate the primary choking force through shoulder elevation and elbow retraction. This is biomechanically superior because these large muscle groups are much stronger and have greater endurance than the biceps and forearms. The lat engagement creates a powerful pulling motion that tightens the noose around the neck without requiring grip strength, making the choke sustainable even in extended sequences. Additionally, using the lats allows the arms to remain relatively relaxed, preserving energy and preventing the grip from failing due to forearm fatigue.
Q2: Why is it critically important to apply the ten finger guillotine with progressive pressure over 3-5 seconds rather than explosive force, especially in training environments? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Progressive pressure application over 3-5 seconds is critical for partner safety because it gives them clear warning that the submission is developing, allowing time to recognize danger and tap before injury occurs. Explosive or jerking applications can cause immediate trachea damage, neck strain, or loss of consciousness without warning. In training, partners need to develop their defensive awareness and tap reflexes, which requires experiencing the gradual development of the choke. Furthermore, progressive pressure allows the person applying the choke to develop better sensitivity and control, understanding the difference between control pressure and finishing pressure. This builds safer habits that carry over into competition while maintaining training partner relationships and preventing injuries that would sideline both practitioners.
Q3: What is the proper release protocol if your training partner taps to a ten finger guillotine, including what to monitor after release? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Upon feeling the tap, immediately release the interlaced finger grip while maintaining gentle head control to prevent whiplash. Lower the opponent’s head smoothly to the mat or upright position without letting it drop suddenly. Create space by opening your guard or stepping back to remove all choking pressure. Check your partner’s awareness by making eye contact and asking if they’re okay. Monitor their breathing pattern and neck mobility. Allow 10-20 seconds of recovery before continuing training. If the partner shows any signs of disorientation, loss of balance, or difficulty breathing, help them to a seated position, elevate their legs if they were briefly unconscious, and ensure they’re fully recovered before resuming. Never make light of a tight choke or unconsciousness, as repeated incidents can cause cumulative neurological damage.
Q4: What are the key differences between finishing the ten finger guillotine from standing position versus from closed guard, and how does body positioning change between these two scenarios? A: From standing, the finish relies on walking your feet backward to drag the opponent onto their toes, preventing them from generating counter-pressure with their legs while maintaining heavy chest pressure on their back. Your hip position should be back with spine relatively upright, creating a leveraged pulling angle. From closed guard, the finish emphasizes squeezing your knees together and arching your back while your legs control the opponent’s hips, preventing them from posturing up. The guard position allows you to use your entire body as a unit, with leg control replacing the need to manage your standing base. In guard, you can afford to arch backward more aggressively since you don’t risk being driven forward. Both positions require the same upper body mechanics (shoulder shrug, lat engagement, elbow position), but the lower body and weight distribution change significantly to optimize leverage for each scenario.
Q5: How should you adjust your ten finger guillotine technique when an opponent successfully tucks their chin to defend the choke, and what are the safest ways to address this defense? A: When opponent tucks their chin, avoid forcefully prying the chin up with jerking motions, as this can cause jaw or TMJ injury. Instead, maintain your shoulder elevation and lat squeeze with steady pressure. The ten finger grip’s compression is often enough to finish even with chin defense, as it combines jaw pressure with carotid compression. You can also subtly adjust your choking forearm to a higher angle (high elbow variation), attacking over the chin rather than through it. Alternatively, use the opponent’s chin-tuck as an opportunity to transition to related submissions like the anaconda or darce choke by slightly adjusting your arm position. The key is patience and sustained pressure rather than explosive force. Many opponents will either tire from maintaining the chin tuck, allowing you to slip your arm deeper, or they’ll tap to the combined pressure on the jaw and neck. Always prioritize blood restriction over airway or jaw cranking for safety and effectiveness.
Q6: What are the warning signs that indicate you may have applied the ten finger guillotine too aggressively, and what immediate actions should you take if you observe these signs in your training partner? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Warning signs of overly aggressive application include: opponent going suddenly limp (loss of consciousness), unusual stiffening or convulsing movements, gurgling or choking sounds indicating airway obstruction, inability to tap or signal distress, eyes rolling back, or discoloration of the face. If you observe any of these signs, immediately release all pressure, gently lower the opponent to the mat on their back, and check their responsiveness by calling their name and checking for breathing. If they’re unconscious, elevate their legs above their heart to restore blood flow to the brain. They should regain consciousness within 5-10 seconds. If breathing is labored or they don’t regain consciousness quickly, call for medical assistance immediately. Once they’re conscious, allow several minutes of recovery and check for neck pain, difficulty swallowing, or vision problems. Do not continue training that session and encourage medical evaluation if symptoms persist. These situations are medical emergencies and should be treated seriously regardless of how quickly the person recovers.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The ten finger guillotine represents a fascinating study in biomechanical efficiency and grip configuration. The interlaced finger structure creates a mechanical advantage that traditional gable or S-grips cannot match, particularly in no-gi environments where moisture and friction work against you. The key insight is understanding that this is not an arm-strength submission—it’s a full-body compression system. The shoulders elevate, the lats engage, the chest expands, and the hips position correctly to create a noose that tightens from multiple vectors simultaneously. When teaching this technique, I emphasize the concept of ‘progressive entrapment’—each micro-adjustment increases pressure incrementally until the opponent reaches a breaking point. Safety is paramount: the choke must be applied with deliberate, controlled pressure that gives the opponent clear feedback about increasing danger. The training progression should emphasize sensitivity and control over raw finishing power, as this builds both technical mastery and the ethical framework necessary for safe training partnerships.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the ten finger guillotine is one of my highest percentage finishes from scrambles and front headlock positions, particularly in ADCC rules where the time limits require efficient submissions. The grip is incredibly secure even when opponents are sweaty and explosive, which is why I favor it over traditional guillotine variations in no-gi competition. The key difference between training and competition application is timing and commitment—in competition, once I have the grip established and feel my opponent’s defensive structure failing, I finish in 1-2 seconds maximum. In training, I apply the same technical sequence but over 4-5 seconds to allow partners to tap safely. The standing to guard pull variation is particularly devastating because opponents don’t expect the sudden change in leverage when you jump to guard. I’ve finished multiple ADCC trials and high-level matches with this exact sequence. However, in training, I’m very conscious about partner safety—I release immediately on tap and often finish at 80% pressure rather than breaking someone’s will to continue training. Competition is where you prove the technique works at full intensity; training is where you develop the control and precision that makes competition application safe and effective.
- Eddie Bravo: The ten finger guillotine is old school street fighting wisdom that translates perfectly to modern no-gi jiu-jitsu, and it’s a fundamental part of the 10th Planet system for exactly that reason—it works when everything is sweaty, scrambled, and chaotic. What I love about this choke is its simplicity and its variability. You can hit it from standing, from guard pulls, from failed takedown attempts, from the dogfight position—it’s everywhere if you know how to see it. In our training methodology, we emphasize what we call ‘threat-based grappling,’ where the guillotine threat creates opportunities for back takes, leg attacks, and positional improvements even if you don’t finish the choke itself. The innovation in this technique comes from understanding that the ten finger configuration lets you maintain control through transitions that would break a traditional grip. When I teach this to students, especially those preparing for competition or self-defense scenarios, I stress two things equally: technical precision and absolute commitment to partner safety in training. You can be creative and aggressive in how you enter the position, but the application phase demands respect and control. Too many people have been injured by training partners who don’t understand the difference between proving they can finish a choke and actually developing the skill to use it effectively when it matters.