Become Fighter
Rear-naked choke and guillotine: MMA guide
The two chokes MMA fighters finish most often, drilled with control and a clear tap rule.
Chokes work by compressing the blood supply to the brain. They are fast and they are dangerous when practised carelessly. In training both partners agree: the person being choked taps early and the person applying releases the instant they feel a tap, a slap or hear a word.
The rear-naked choke is applied from the back. The guillotine is applied from the front when the opponent's head is low, often as a counter to a shot. Learn both with a coach, and apply them slowly.
Key points
- Tap early, release instantly. Never hold on to see if the partner is really tapping.
- Rear-naked: back control with hooks in, one arm around the neck with the elbow under the chin, the hand on the opposite biceps and the other hand behind the head.
- Squeeze by expanding the chest and pulling the elbow back, not by pulling with the arm alone.
- Guillotine: arm around the neck, blade of the forearm under the chin, wrists connected, hips forward as you lift.
- Defend by protecting the neck first: chin tucked, hands fighting the choking arm.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Choking with the arm only. Use your back and chest. Arm-only chokes are slow and easy to defend.
- Not letting go at the tap. Release the moment you feel it. This is a rule, not a courtesy.
- Losing position to finish. Keep the hooks or the guard first. A choke without position fails.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Submissions for MMA module of MMA foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Submissions for MMA
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.