SLC MMAExploring MMA and Jujitsu in Salt Lake City Utah

Chokes from the sprawl positionFiled Under: Instruction

Whether you just sprawled out from a takedown attempt or your opponent is trying to escape your side mount, it’s a great time to go for a choke. Three I like a lot are the guillotine, anaconda and D’arce chokes. Right as your opponent starts to move into the sprawl, you lead his body right into the choke. If you have a good “sprawl and brawl” game, drilling these choke off a single or double leg takedown attempt will really help out against a guy whose committed to take you down.

To help sink the chokes, remember that the anaconda and D’arce chokes are sometimes just called snake chokes. You have to snake your arm in and around like a snake weaving through heavy weeds – your hand needs to spear down through the gaps in your opponents body.

Here’s a couple of videos to explain how each one is done.

The D’arce Choke:

The Anaconda Choke

(Notice how the anaconda and D’arce chokes are really the same except one is working from the outside in and the other from the inside out.)

The Classic Guillotine:

“Modified” Guillotine:

I like this certain video because it shows off an angled version of the guillotine – often times when a guy is escaping half guard, side control, a failed takedown, what have you, you end up positioned like this. (The regular version you don’t have the opponents arm in the choke – you just have your forearm across his neck).

A few pointers on all the chokes:

• Keep your thumb tucked in.
• “Snake” your hand on or close to the body – you want your arm bone (radial bone) to already be in place underneath your opponent’s chin before before you push their head down and secure the choke. If they get alerted that you’re weaving your arm to choke, a good grappler will naturally tuck his chin down and shrug the shoulders.
• These chokes work very well when an opponent is trying to escape from your side mount. Set up the choke by leading the mind – don’t put your opponents mind on high alert if he’s escaping, just let them “escape” from side control (pushing your hips away and shrimping) while snaking your arm on his body towards the opposite side of the neck. If you’re sneaky, he’ll roll into it and not notice until its too late.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• Quick Reveiw: Armbar From Guard
• Brabo Choke From Mount
• Nogueira Teaching MMA Jujutisu Techniques

Tags: submissions