The Rear Naked Choke is the highest-percentage submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, executed from back control by encircling the opponent’s neck with your choking arm and applying bilateral pressure to the carotid arteries. This blood choke renders opponents unconscious within seconds when properly applied, making it the preferred finishing technique from the back position in both gi and no-gi competition.
The technique’s effectiveness stems from its mechanical simplicity combined with the dominant positional advantage of back control. Your opponent cannot see your attacks, has limited defensive options, and faces immediate danger once your arm passes their chin line. The rear naked choke works equally well against larger opponents because it relies on arterial compression rather than strength, requiring proper arm placement and squeeze mechanics rather than pure power.
Strategically, the rear naked choke serves as the primary threat from back control, forcing opponents to defend their neck continuously. This defensive commitment creates opportunities for alternative attacks including armbar variations, bow and arrow choke, and crucifix transitions. The submission’s reliability across all experience levels makes it a foundational technique that every practitioner must master both offensively and defensively.
From Position: Back Control (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
- Chin line clearance is the critical entry point - your choking arm must pass under the chin to reach the neck, making this the primary battle in the technique
- Blade of the forearm contacts the throat, with the bicep and forearm creating a V-shape that compresses both carotid arteries simultaneously
- Head position behind opponent’s head prevents them from turning into you and creates the wedge pressure needed for the squeeze
- The non-choking hand assists by controlling opponent’s defensive hand, securing the choke grip, or blocking escape attempts
- Chest expansion and shoulder squeeze generate finishing pressure rather than arm strength alone
- Maintaining hooks or body triangle throughout the choke attempt prevents opponent from creating escape angles
Prerequisites
- Secure back control with chest-to-back connection and hooks in or body triangle established
- Harness grip or seatbelt control of opponent’s upper body providing initial arm position
- Opponent’s neck defense compromised through hand fighting, misdirection, or positional adjustment
- Head positioned behind opponent’s head, not beside it, creating proper angle for choke entry
- Dominant side hook deep to prevent opponent from turning away from the choking arm
Execution Steps
- Secure seatbelt control: From back control, establish harness grip with one arm over opponent’s shoulder and one under their armpit, hands clasped together on their chest. This controls their upper body and positions your choking arm on the over-shoulder side.
- Initiate hand fighting sequence: Begin systematic hand fighting to isolate or occupy opponent’s defensive hands. Use your underhook hand to control one of their wrists while your overhook arm begins working toward the neck. Alternate between threatening the choke and attacking their grip to create openings.
- Clear the chin: Use your hand fighting techniques to create an opening past opponent’s chin. Walk your fingers up their chest, use misdirection attacks to their arm, or time their defensive hand movement to slide your forearm under their chin toward their neck.
- Set the choking arm: Slide your forearm across the throat until the blade of your forearm (radius bone) contacts the trachea and your bicep and forearm create a V-shape around the neck. Your elbow should be directly under their chin with the crook of your elbow centered on the throat.
- Position your head: Place your head tight behind opponent’s head on the choking arm side, using your temple against the back of their skull. This prevents them from turning into you and creates a wedge that amplifies squeeze pressure by closing off the rotation angle.
- Secure the figure-four grip: Bring your non-choking hand to the bicep of your choking arm, gripping tightly. Place the choking hand behind opponent’s head or on your own shoulder, completing the figure-four lock around their neck. This closed system maximizes leverage.
- Apply the squeeze: Expand your chest, pull your elbows back toward your body, and squeeze your shoulders together while driving your head forward into theirs. The pressure comes from your back muscles and chest expansion, compressing both carotid arteries simultaneously for the finish.
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 58% |
| Failure | Back Control | 30% |
| Counter | Turtle | 12% |
Opponent Counters
- Two-on-one grip defense where opponent controls choking wrist with both hands preventing arm from reaching neck (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Use your free hand to peel their fingers one at a time starting from the pinky, switch to arm attacks when they commit both hands to neck defense, or transition to bow and arrow choke in the gi → Leads to Back Control
- Chin tuck defense where opponent drives chin down trapping your forearm against their chest (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Walk your fingers up past their chin using short controlled movements, use your other hand to create a wedge under their chin, or apply steady pressure to their jaw until the muscle fatigues and the arm slides through → Leads to Back Control
- Turn and face escape where opponent rotates their shoulders toward you while fighting hands to escape back control (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Maintain chest-to-back connection and follow their rotation using hooks to prevent full turn, or transition to mounted position if they face you completely to maintain dominant control → Leads to Turtle
- Hook strip to back escape where opponent removes your hooks while defending neck and works to turtle (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Prioritize hook retention over immediate choke attempts, switch to body triangle if hooks are threatened, or follow opponent to turtle top and re-establish back control → Leads to Turtle
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary mechanism of the Rear Naked Choke and why does it cause unconsciousness so quickly? A: The primary mechanism is bilateral compression of the carotid arteries restricting blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within 4-10 seconds. It is a blood choke, not an air choke, which makes it faster-acting and more effective because the brain cannot tolerate even brief blood supply interruption.
Q2: Where exactly should your forearm be positioned when executing the choke? A: The blade of your forearm (radius bone) should contact the trachea with your elbow positioned directly under the opponent’s chin. Your bicep and forearm create a V-shape around the neck that compresses both carotid arteries when squeezed. The crook of your elbow should be centered on the throat.
Q3: Why is head position critical for finishing the Rear Naked Choke? A: Your head must be positioned directly behind your opponent’s head, temple against skull, not beside it. This creates a wedge that prevents them from turning toward you, amplifies squeeze pressure through the head-to-head contact, and closes off the escape angle they need for rotation.
Q4: Your opponent has both hands on your choking wrist in a two-on-one defense - what options do you have? A: You can peel their fingers one at a time starting with the pinky, use your free hand to control one of their wrists creating an armbar opportunity since they have no hands protecting their arms, switch to bow and arrow choke if wearing a gi, or transition to crucifix position to trap their arms before returning to the choke.
Q5: How should you generate the finishing squeeze - through arm strength or body mechanics? A: Finishing pressure should come from chest expansion, pulling elbows back toward your body, squeezing shoulders together, and driving your head forward. Your arms maintain position while your back muscles and chest generate the compression. Arm strength alone leads to rapid forearm fatigue and failed attempts.
Q6: What is the proper grip configuration for maximum leverage in the RNC? A: The figure-four configuration: your non-choking hand grips the bicep of your choking arm, while your choking hand goes behind opponent’s head or on your own shoulder. This creates a closed mechanical system that amplifies pressure through leverage rather than requiring pure arm strength.
Q7: When is the optimal timing window to attempt the Rear Naked Choke? A: The optimal moment is when opponent’s defensive hands are occupied elsewhere - during their escape attempts, when they are addressing your hooks, after you have misdirected to arm attacks, or when fatigue has slowed their hand fighting. Never chase the choke when both their hands are actively protecting the neck.
Q8: Your opponent tucks their chin aggressively against your forearm - how do you clear it? A: Walk your fingers up past their chin using small controlled movements, use your other hand to create a wedge or frame under their chin, apply steady forearm pressure to their jaw until the muscle fatigues and your arm slides through, or switch attacks to draw their hands away from neck defense then return to the choke when the chin opens.
Q9: What should you do if your opponent begins turning to face you during the choke attempt? A: Maintain chest-to-back connection and follow their rotation using your hooks to limit their turn angle. If they complete the turn, transition to mount rather than losing position entirely. The choke only works from back control, so prioritize maintaining that relationship over forcing a failed choke attempt.
Q10: Your hooks are being stripped mid-choke attempt - do you continue the choke or address the hooks? A: Address the hooks immediately. Without leg control, the opponent will create hip escape angles and turn to face you, making the choke impossible regardless of arm position. Switch to body triangle if available, or disengage the choke attempt to re-establish hooks first. Position retention always takes priority over submission attempts.
Q11: What grip adjustments allow the choke to finish when you cannot achieve full arm depth? A: Switch to the short choke (palm-to-palm) variation where you clasp both hands behind the opponent’s head with your choking forearm still across the throat. Alternatively, use the one-arm variation by driving your shoulder forward to compress while using the free hand to push opponent’s head into the choking arm. Both sacrifice some mechanical advantage for faster application from limited depth.
Safety Considerations
The Rear Naked Choke is a blood choke that can cause unconsciousness within 4-10 seconds when properly applied. Training partners must tap immediately when they feel the choke sink in - there is no benefit to ‘seeing if you can escape’ once the grip is locked. The attacking practitioner must release immediately upon tap or verbal submission, as continued pressure risks serious injury including stroke, brain damage, or death. During drilling, apply pressure gradually and release the moment you feel a tap anywhere on your body. Never apply this technique standing where an unconscious opponent could fall and sustain head injury. If a training partner goes unconscious, release immediately, place them in recovery position, and monitor breathing. This technique should never be practiced on unwilling participants or outside controlled training environments.