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.
Key Attacking 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 60% |
| Failure | Side Control | 25% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 15% |
Opponent Defenses
- Releasing the guillotine grip immediately (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: 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. → Leads to Side Control
- Attempting to turn into you to recover guard (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: 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. → Leads to Half Guard
- Using legs to push your hips away and create distance (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: 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. → Leads to Side Control
- Switching to a different grip or attempting to re-guard (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: 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. → Leads to Side Control
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.
Q7: Your opponent is stubbornly holding their guillotine grip despite your shoulder pressure. What indicators suggest they are approaching unconsciousness, and what should you do? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Key indicators of impending unconsciousness include: their grip beginning to loosen without them intentionally releasing, their body going slack or limp, changes in their breathing pattern (becoming irregular or stopping), their skin color changing (flushing or becoming pale), and lack of purposeful movement or resistance. If you observe any of these signs, you must immediately release all pressure and check their consciousness. Do not wait for a tap—a stubborn opponent may pass out before they decide to tap. The moment you sense they’re approaching unconsciousness, the training round is over regardless of whether they formally surrendered.
Q8: You’ve established the Von Flue position but your opponent’s legs are actively pushing your hips away. What adjustment secures the finish? A: When facing leg pressure pushing your hips away, immediately walk your hips higher toward their head in small incremental steps. This accomplishes two things: it increases the downward angle of your shoulder pressure (making the choke tighter) and it removes the leverage their legs have to push you. The higher your hips travel toward their head, the less effective their leg push becomes because they lose the angle needed to generate force. Keep your chest heavy and maintain the crossface throughout this adjustment. If they create significant distance despite this, consider transitioning to mount while keeping shoulder pressure on the neck.
Q9: Why does the Von Flue work specifically against opponents holding a guillotine from bottom position but not against other defensive configurations? A: The Von Flue only works against opponents holding a guillotine because their own arm creates half of the choking mechanism. When they hold the guillotine grip from bottom, their forearm crosses their own neck, compressing one carotid artery from the inside. Your shoulder then compresses the opposite carotid from the outside. Without their guillotine grip in place, your shoulder pressure alone only compresses one side of the neck, which is insufficient to cause a blood choke. This is why the technique is specifically a counter to the guillotine—it weaponizes their offensive grip against them. Against other defensive positions, this same shoulder pressure would at best be uncomfortable but not create a submission.
Q10: During competition, your opponent is caught in your Von Flue but neither taps nor releases their grip as time expires. What is the correct response? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: You must release the submission immediately when time expires, regardless of how close the finish seemed. In competition, the referee will stop the match and you cannot continue the submission after time. From a safety perspective, your opponent may have been about to go unconscious but time saved them. Never try to hold the submission hoping the referee doesn’t notice time has expired. Additionally, this scenario demonstrates why competition finishing requires faster pressure application than training—in competition, you may need to apply firmer pressure within the rules to get the tap before time runs out, while always maintaining control to release instantly when required.
Q11: What crossface grip configuration provides the best control during the Von Flue, and how does it enhance the finishing mechanics? A: The optimal crossface configuration has your near arm crossing their face with your hand gripping behind their far shoulder or hooking under their far armpit. This grip serves multiple functions: it locks your shoulder in position against their neck by creating a closed circuit of control, it prevents them from turning their head toward you which would relieve the choke, and it allows you to actively drive additional pressure through your shoulder by pulling with your crossface arm. The elbow should stay tight to their near side to eliminate space. This grip configuration transforms the crossface from passive head control into an active pressure multiplier for the choke.
Q12: Your training partner has been caught in two Von Flue chokes this session and now seems reluctant to attempt guillotines. How should you interpret this and what training adjustment should you make? A: This reluctance demonstrates the secondary strategic value of the Von Flue—it serves as a deterrent that changes opponent behavior. When training partners know you can counter their guillotine with the Von Flue, they become hesitant to hold the grip from bottom position, which actually makes your guard passing easier. However, for their development, you should now give them space to practice guillotines without immediately countering with the Von Flue. Consider alternating rounds where you allow the guillotine to develop so they can work their technique, versus rounds where you apply the counter. Good training partnership means developing both practitioners, not just demonstrating your counters repeatedly.