The Bow and Arrow Choke is one of the highest-percentage submissions in gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, executed from back control using a cross-collar grip combined with leg control of the opponent’s far leg. The name derives from the finishing position where your body resembles an archer drawing a bow—one hand pulls the collar while the opposite leg hooks and extends the opponent’s leg, creating maximum mechanical leverage on the neck.
This choke works by applying pressure to the carotid arteries through the gi collar, creating a blood choke that renders opponents unconscious within seconds when properly applied. The technique’s effectiveness stems from the simultaneous control of three critical points: the collar grip tightening across the neck, the near-side leg preventing rotation, and the far-side leg grip preventing escape while adding rotational torque to the choking mechanism.
Strategically, the Bow and Arrow Choke represents the primary collar attack from back control in gi grappling. It chains naturally with other back attacks—opponents defending the Bow and Arrow often expose their arms for armbar attacks or create space that allows transition to rear naked choke attempts. Understanding this submission’s mechanics and entries is essential for any serious gi competitor, as it accounts for a significant percentage of submission victories at the highest levels of competition.
From Position: Back Control (Top) Success Rate: 58%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 65% |
| Failure | Back Control | 25% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 10% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Secure deep cross-collar grip with four fingers inside befor… | Fight the collar grip before it gets deep—two-on-one control… |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Secure deep cross-collar grip with four fingers inside before initiating any other movement to ensure choking pressure
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Control opponent’s far leg with your same-side hand to prevent hip rotation and add mechanical leverage to the choke
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Maintain chest-to-back connection throughout entry to prevent opponent from creating defensive space
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Fall to your choking-side hip while extending your legs to maximize pulling distance and choking pressure
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Use your bottom leg to block opponent’s near-side hip, preventing them from turning toward you
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Keep your elbow tight to your body on the choking arm to maintain grip strength and prevent grip breaks
Execution Steps
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Secure collar grip: From back control with seatbelt, release your over-the-shoulder arm and reach across opponent’s neck…
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Control far leg: With your free hand (same side as your choking arm), reach down and grab opponent’s far-side pants a…
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Shift to choking hip: Begin falling to your choking-side hip while maintaining chest-to-back connection. Your bottom leg s…
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Extend and separate: Continue falling to your side while pulling the collar grip toward your chest and extending opponent…
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Secure hip block: Your bottom leg hooks over opponent’s near-side hip or thigh, creating a frame that prevents them fr…
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Finish the choke: Simultaneously pull the collar toward your chest while driving your hips away and extending your leg…
Common Mistakes
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Collar grip too shallow with fingers only at collar edge rather than deep with knuckles against neck
- Consequence: Choke becomes an air choke rather than blood choke, allowing opponent time to escape and requiring much more strength to finish
- Correction: Insert four fingers deep into collar before initiating transition; grip should be at ear level or below with knuckles directly contacting opponent’s neck
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Releasing chest-to-back connection too early during transition to finishing position
- Consequence: Opponent creates space to turn into you, escaping to guard or half guard and nullifying the attack
- Correction: Maintain chest contact throughout transition; only create separation during final extension phase when all control grips are established
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Forgetting to block near-side hip with bottom leg during transition
- Consequence: Opponent rotates toward you, escaping the back position and potentially reversing to top position
- Correction: Deliberately place bottom leg as hip block before extending for the finish; this leg is your anchor preventing rotation
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Fight the collar grip before it gets deep—two-on-one control on the attacking hand is your highest-percentage defense and must be your first priority
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Keep your chin tucked and shoulders elevated to reduce the available collar real estate and buy time for hand fighting
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Prevent the attacker from falling to their choking-side hip, as this transition initiates the extension that makes the choke nearly inescapable
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Control your far leg by tucking the knee toward your chest to deny the pants grip that provides the mechanical leverage for the finish
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Turn toward the attacker rather than away—turning away accelerates the extension while turning in reduces choking angle and creates escape opportunities
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Address the collar grip and leg control simultaneously when possible rather than focusing exclusively on one, as the choke requires both to finish
Recognition Cues
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Attacker releases their over-the-shoulder hand from the seatbelt and reaches across your neck toward the far-side collar—this is the primary entry signal
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You feel fingers inserting into the collar fabric near your neck or jaw line, accompanied by knuckle pressure against the side of your neck
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Attacker’s free hand reaches down toward your far-side knee or shin while maintaining collar contact—this signals the leg grip phase
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Attacker begins shifting their weight and falling to one hip while pulling the collar tighter—this indicates the finishing transition has started
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You feel your body being elongated as the attacker drives your leg away from your head while pulling your collar in the opposite direction
Defensive Options
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Two-on-one grip fight to strip or prevent collar grip establishment by controlling attacker’s wrist with both hands before fingers enter the collar - When: Immediately when you feel the attacker’s over-the-shoulder hand release from seatbelt and move toward your collar—this is the highest-percentage defensive window
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Turn toward the choking side while sitting up and driving your back into the attacker to compress the space needed for the extension finish - When: When the collar grip is established but the attacker has not yet completed the hip-fall transition to their side—you must turn before extension begins
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Control your far knee by pulling it tight to your chest and gripping your own pants or shin to deny the attacker’s leg grip - When: When the collar grip is set and you feel the attacker’s free hand reaching toward your far leg—preventing this grip eliminates the extension leverage
Position Integration
The Bow and Arrow Choke is the premier collar submission from back control in gi grappling and serves as the centerpiece of the back attack system. It chains directly with rear naked choke attempts—opponents defending the RNC by tucking chin and fighting hands often expose the collar for bow and arrow entry. Conversely, aggressive collar grip fighting by opponents opens space for RNC attacks. When opponents over-defend both chokes, their arms become vulnerable to armbar attacks from the back. If an opponent escapes to turtle during a bow and arrow attempt while you maintain collar grip, the clock choke becomes immediately available. The bow and arrow also connects to crucifix transitions when opponents attempt specific escapes. Understanding this submission’s relationship to other back attacks creates a systematic approach where defending one attack exposes another, exemplifying the dilemma-based attacking philosophy essential to high-level grappling.