⚠️ SAFETY: Von Flue Choke targets the Carotid arteries. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to unconsciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The Von Flue Choke is a devastating counter-submission that punishes opponents who maintain an overly committed guillotine grip from bottom position. Named after Jason Von Flue who famously used it in the UFC, this technique transforms a defensive scenario into an immediate offensive threat. The choke works by using shoulder pressure combined with body weight to compress one carotid artery while the opponent’s own arm compresses the other, creating a blood choke that renders the guillotine grip not only ineffective but actively dangerous for the person holding it. This submission is particularly effective in no-gi grappling where guillotine attempts are common, and it serves as a crucial defensive concept that every practitioner must understand. The psychological impact of the Von Flue choke cannot be overstated—once an opponent has been caught with it, they become hesitant to hold guillotine grips from bottom position, fundamentally changing the dynamics of guard passing exchanges. The technique demonstrates a core principle in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: every offensive position contains the seeds of its own defeat if held too long or too rigidly.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries Starting Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carotid artery compression leading to unconsciousness | CRITICAL | Immediate recovery if released promptly, potential brain damage if held past unconsciousness |
| Neck strain from resisting the choke | Medium | 3-7 days with rest |
| Shoulder impingement from pressure application | Low | 1-3 days |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum to allow partner to recognize the danger and release their guillotine grip
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (most important as arms may be trapped)
- Physical hand tap on your body or mat
- Physical foot tap on mat
- Releasing the guillotine grip immediately
- Any distress signal including body going limp
Release Protocol:
- Immediately remove shoulder pressure from neck
- Lift your head and upper body away from opponent’s neck
- Create space by posting your hands and moving your torso back
- Check partner’s consciousness and breathing
- If partner is unconscious, elevate legs and monitor recovery
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply full pressure in training—use gradual pressure to allow tap
- Never hold the choke after partner releases their guillotine grip
- Always allow partner’s arms to be free enough to tap
- Never use competition speed or sudden pressure in drilling
- Stop immediately if partner’s grip loosens (indicates impending unconsciousness)
- Require verbal confirmation that partner understands the danger before practicing
Key Principles
- Shoulder pressure creates one-sided carotid compression while opponent’s arm creates the other
- Body weight distribution amplifies the choke without requiring arm strength
- The opponent’s defensive grip becomes the mechanism of their own submission
- Patience is critical—rushing the finish allows the opponent to release and escape
- Head position must be tight to opponent’s far shoulder to prevent space creation
- Hip pressure prevents opponent from turning into you and escaping the choke
- The choke is a positional control problem first, submission second
Prerequisites
- Opponent is holding a guillotine grip from bottom position (closed guard, half guard, or open guard)
- You have achieved side control or are transitioning to side control
- Your head is positioned on the far side of opponent’s body (not trapped in guillotine)
- Opponent is maintaining their guillotine grip despite being in bottom side control
- You have shoulder contact with opponent’s neck on the side where they’re gripping
- Your base is stable enough to apply sustained pressure without being swept
Execution Steps
- Secure side control position: As you pass the guard or establish side control against an opponent holding a guillotine, ensure your chest is heavy on their chest and your hips are low. Your head should be on the far side of their body, away from the arm executing the guillotine grip. Do not try to pull your head out of any partial guillotine pressure—instead, accept the position and focus on establishing dominant control. (Timing: 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Position your shoulder against their neck: Drive your near-side shoulder (the shoulder closest to their head) directly into the side of their neck on the same side as their gripping arm. This shoulder should make contact with the soft tissue of the neck, not the jaw or chin. Your shoulder becomes the primary pressure point that will compress one carotid artery. Ensure your posture is tight with your head connected to their far shoulder. (Timing: 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Light]
- Establish crossface control: Your near arm should cross their face, with your hand gripping behind their far shoulder or under their far armpit. This crossface serves multiple purposes: it prevents them from turning into you, it helps you maintain head position, and it allows you to drive additional pressure through your shoulder into their neck. Your elbow should be tight to their near side to prevent space. (Timing: 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Control the far hip: Your far arm should reach across their body to control their far hip, either by gripping their belt, pants, or simply posting your hand on their hip bone. This control prevents them from shrimping away or turning into you. Keep your elbow tight to their ribs to maintain connection and prevent them from creating the space needed to adjust their position. (Timing: 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Light]
- Drive weight through the shoulder: Begin to gradually transfer your body weight through your shoulder into their neck. The key is to drive your weight forward and down at approximately a 45-degree angle, as if you’re trying to push their head toward their far shoulder. This angle maximizes carotid compression while their own arm (still holding the guillotine) compresses the opposite carotid. Apply pressure progressively over 3-5 seconds, not suddenly. (Timing: 3-5 seconds progressive application) [Pressure: Firm]
- Walk your hips toward their head: To increase the pressure and eliminate any escape routes, walk your hips in small steps toward their head. This movement serves multiple functions: it increases the downward angle of your shoulder pressure, it prevents them from using their legs to push you away, and it makes it nearly impossible for them to turn into you. Your chest should remain heavy throughout this movement. (Timing: 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Maintain position until tap or release: Hold steady pressure without increasing it further. Most opponents will tap within 3-5 seconds of full pressure application, though some may stubbornly hold their guillotine grip until they lose consciousness. Watch for their grip to loosen (a sign of impending unconsciousness) and be prepared to release immediately upon any tap signal. Never increase pressure once full pressure is achieved—the choke either works or the opponent escapes by releasing their grip. (Timing: Hold until tap or grip release) [Pressure: Firm]
Opponent Defenses
- Releasing the guillotine grip immediately (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: This is the desired outcome—maintain side control and continue your passing or submission attack from the improved position. Do not continue applying pressure once they release.
- Attempting to turn into you to recover guard (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Your crossface and hip control should prevent this entirely. If they create any turning motion, increase your crossface pressure and walk your hips higher to shut down the movement.
- Using legs to push your hips away and create distance (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Counter by walking your hips even higher toward their head, which removes their leverage to push. Alternatively, if they successfully create distance, transition to mount while maintaining shoulder pressure.
- Switching to a different grip or attempting to re-guard (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: As soon as they release the original guillotine grip, immediately remove the Von Flue pressure and consolidate your side control position. Don’t give them time to establish a new defensive structure.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What are the two primary pressure points that create the Von Flue choke, and why is the opponent’s own arm critical to the technique? A: The two primary pressure points are: 1) Your shoulder driving into one side of their neck to compress one carotid artery, and 2) Their own arm (from the guillotine grip) which crosses their neck and compresses the opposite carotid artery. The opponent’s arm is critical because it creates half of the choke for you—without their guillotine grip, the shoulder pressure alone would be insufficient. This is why the technique works as a counter-submission: their offensive weapon becomes the instrument of their own defeat.
Q2: Why must you apply the Von Flue choke progressively over 3-5 seconds rather than with sudden pressure, and what are the safety consequences of rushing the application? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Progressive application over 3-5 seconds is critical for safety because it gives your training partner time to recognize the danger and tap before losing consciousness. Blood chokes can cause unconsciousness in as little as 5-7 seconds once properly applied, but the onset can be sudden. If you apply explosive pressure, your partner may lose consciousness before they can tap, leading to potential brain injury from oxygen deprivation. The gradual application allows them to feel the pressure building and make the decision to tap or release their grip before reaching the point of no return. This is a fundamental safety principle for all training with blood chokes.
Q3: What is the correct action to take the moment your opponent releases their guillotine grip during a Von Flue choke attempt? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The moment your opponent releases their guillotine grip, you must immediately remove all shoulder pressure from their neck and consolidate your side control position. Continuing to apply pressure after they’ve released their grip is both unnecessary and dangerous—the submission is complete when they let go of their offensive grip. Your goal was to force them to release the guillotine, and once achieved, the technique is finished. Continuing to apply pressure would be applying a choke to a defenseless opponent, which violates safety principles and good training partnership.
Q4: How does walking your hips toward the opponent’s head improve the Von Flue choke’s effectiveness, and what defensive option does it remove? A: Walking your hips toward the opponent’s head creates a more acute angle between your body and theirs, which increases the downward and forward pressure of your shoulder into their neck. This improved angle makes the carotid compression more direct and effective. Additionally, this hip position removes the opponent’s ability to use their legs to push your hips away and create distance—their primary escape mechanism from side control. With your hips high and close to their head, they lose the leverage needed to bridge or push effectively, trapping them in the submission.
Q5: Why is shoulder placement on the neck (not the jaw) critical for the Von Flue choke to function properly? A: The shoulder must be placed on the soft tissue of the neck, lateral to the trachea and below the jawline, because this is where the carotid artery runs. Pressure on the jaw or chin creates pain and discomfort but does not compress the carotid artery, meaning no blood choke occurs. The Von Flue is a blood choke (cutting off blood flow to the brain), not an air choke (cutting off breathing), so proper targeting of the carotid is essential. If your shoulder is on the jaw, the opponent will feel pain but can survive indefinitely, whereas proper neck placement creates a true choke that will cause unconsciousness within seconds.
Q6: What are at least three valid tap signals a partner might use when caught in a Von Flue choke, and why is recognizing these signals especially important for this submission? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Valid tap signals include: 1) Verbal tap (calling out ‘tap’ or making verbal distress sounds), 2) Physical hand tap on your body or the mat, 3) Physical foot tap on the mat, 4) Releasing the guillotine grip immediately, and 5) Body going limp (indicating unconsciousness). Recognizing these signals is especially important for the Von Flue because the opponent’s arms may be trapped in their own guillotine grip, limiting their ability to tap with their hands. Verbal taps become particularly important, as does watching for their grip to loosen (which often indicates impending unconsciousness). You must be hypersensitive to any indication they want to tap, including changes in their breathing or grip pressure.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Von Flue choke represents a beautiful example of leverage mechanics in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where the opponent’s defensive structure becomes the mechanism of their own defeat. The biomechanics are elegant: by maintaining a guillotine grip from an inferior position, the opponent creates a rigid frame with their own arm that crosses their neck. Your shoulder pressure then creates a scissoring effect—one carotid is compressed by your shoulder, the other by their own arm. The key technical detail most practitioners miss is the angle of shoulder pressure. It must be at approximately 45 degrees downward and forward, not straight down. This angle ensures the shoulder contacts the neck lateral to the trachea where the carotid artery is accessible, rather than the more protected frontal aspect of the neck. From a systematic perspective, the Von Flue is not truly a submission technique but rather a positional control mechanism that uses the threat of submission to force behavioral change. Once an opponent understands you can apply this choke, they will release guillotine grips from bottom position, which fundamentally alters their defensive options during your passing sequences. This is the deeper value of the technique—it removes a defensive weapon from their arsenal through the threat of immediate countering. In training, the progressive application of pressure is not merely a safety consideration but a technical one: gradual pressure allows you to feel the exact moment when the choke becomes effective, developing your sensitivity to the proper mechanics. Safety-wise, recognize that blood chokes create unconsciousness rapidly once properly applied. Your responsibility as the person applying the technique is to provide your partner with adequate time to recognize the danger and respond appropriately, which requires patience and control that may feel contrary to competitive instincts but is essential for long-term training partnership.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the Von Flue choke is one of the highest-percentage submissions I can threaten because opponents often don’t realize they’re in danger until it’s too late. The mistake most people make is they get caught in a guillotine during a passing sequence, panic, and start trying to pull their head out. That’s exactly wrong. If someone has a guillotine on you from bottom position—especially in no-gi—you should be happy because you’re about to either pass their guard easily or submit them with the Von Flue. The key is complete commitment to the pass. Don’t try to defend the guillotine by pulling your head out; instead, drive forward into the pass while positioning your shoulder on their neck. Most opponents will stubbornly hold the guillotine because they think they’re winning the exchange, right up until they go unconscious or are forced to tap. In training versus competition, there’s a critical distinction: in training, you apply gradual pressure and release immediately when they tap. In competition, you apply progressive pressure but you can hold it longer because the referee is watching for the tap. However, even in competition, I never try to injure someone with this choke—the goal is the tap, not causing harm. One tactical consideration that’s important: once you have a reputation for the Von Flue, opponents stop holding guillotines from bottom, which makes your passing much easier. I’ve had entire matches where my opponent got a guillotine grip during a scramble and immediately released it because they knew I would punish them with the Von Flue. That fear factor is worth more than the submission itself. For training partners, recognize that the Von Flue is a learning tool. If someone catches you with it, the lesson is clear: don’t hold a guillotine from bottom position. Learn that lesson early with light pressure in training rather than learning it the hard way in competition.
- Eddie Bravo: The Von Flue choke is perfect for the 10th Planet system because it addresses one of the main counters people try to use against our aggressive guard passing—the desperation guillotine. When you’re playing a dynamic, pressure-based passing game, especially in no-gi, people will grab guillotines constantly because it’s their last line of defense. But if you understand the Von Flue, those guillotine attempts become gifts. Here’s the mind game aspect that I love: the Von Flue works because of ego. Your opponent is holding a submission grip, so in their mind they’re winning, they’re attacking, they’re dangerous. They don’t want to let go because that feels like giving up. That psychological attachment to their own submission attempt is what gets them submitted. It’s beautiful—their ego submits them more than your technique. Now, for the 10th Planet guys, we have to modify the application slightly because we’re often in more dynamic positions. You might hit the Von Flue from a scramble, from half guard, even from a weird transition where you’re not yet fully in side control. The key is recognizing the configuration: their arm is across their own neck (guillotine grip) and you have shoulder access to the opposite side of their neck. Those two elements are all you need—the position is secondary. In terms of training safety, this is one of those techniques where you really need to develop trust with your partners. Because it’s a counter-submission, it only happens when someone is trying to submit you first, so emotions can run high. You have to establish with your training partners that if they grab a guillotine from bottom and you start applying the Von Flue, they need to let go or tap immediately. No stubbornness, no proving points. The Von Flue should be a teaching moment: ‘Hey, that grip doesn’t work from there.’ Once everyone understands that, it becomes a valuable safety valve that prevents people from holding onto bad positions too long. One creative application I’ve developed is using the threat of the Von Flue to set up other submissions. If I’m passing and they grab a guillotine, I’ll start applying Von Flue pressure, they’ll release their grip, and in that moment of release they’re often exposed to other attacks—arm triangles, kimuras, even back takes. The Von Flue doesn’t have to finish the fight; it can be the setup for something else.