Guillotine
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About This Technique
Guillotine Choke in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
The Guillotine is a versatile submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that targets the opponent's neck. It can be executed from several positions, most notably from the guard or standing, making it a valuable technique for practitioners.
Position: Closed Guard / Standing
Step-by-Step Instructions (Closed Guard):
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Setup:
- Start from the closed guard position.
- Engage your opponent by controlling their posture. Utilize your grips to keep them within your sphere of control.
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Control the Head:
- While your opponent attempts to posture up, seize the moment to sit up slightly and wrap your arm around their neck.
- Aim to position your forearm across their neck, with your elbow pointing down to the mat.
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Grip Setup:
- Secure your hand on the wrist of your choking arm or clasp your hands together. There are multiple variations of the grip, including the "ball-in-socket" grip.
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Adjust the Position:
- Pivot your hip slightly to one side, making space to move. This helps in creating an angle that optimizes pressure.
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Close the Guard and Apply Pressure:
- With the grip secure, bring your legs up and re-close your guard tightly.
- Squeeze your torso, apply pressure with your legs, and pull your arms to tighten the choke.
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Finishing the Choke:
- Ensure your head is positioned to the side of your opponent’s, preventing them from posturing out.
- Lean back towards the mat, applying pressure akin to pulling the head and neck into the chest, compressing the breathing passage.
Step-by-Step Instructions (Standing):
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Initiation:
- In a standing clinch or if your opponent has dropped levels for a takedown, wrap your arm around the opponent's neck.
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Grip and Control:
- With your free hand, grab your choking wrist or form the "ball-and-socket" grip by grabbing your hand in a fist.
- Use your body weight to control and pull your opponent downwards.
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Adjustment:
- Angle off, aligning your body slightly away from your opponent for leverage.
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Hips and Finish:
- Drive your hips forward and arch your back slightly, applying pressure using your legs and core to tighten the guillotine.
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Complete the Choke:
- Continue squeezing your arms and pulling into your body until the opponent taps or the submission is effective.
Japanese Name: N/A
Top/Bottom: Bottom (closed guard) / Top (standing)
The Guillotine is renowned for its simplicity and effectiveness, making it a staple in BJJ for both defensive and offensive strategies.
How to Execute
Setup
Initial Position Details
- •You start in the Closed Guard position. This means you are on your back with your opponent between your legs, and your legs are wrapped around your opponent's waist.
Grips and Controls Needed
- •You need to control one of your opponent's arms, preferably the arm of the side you're going to apply the submission.
- •Your other hand will be free to apply the choke.
Steps
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Control the Opponent's Arm: From the Closed Guard position, control one of your opponent's arms using both your hands. If you want to apply the choke with your right hand, control your opponent's left arm.
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Open Your Guard: Release your legs from around your opponent's waist and place your feet on the mat.
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Hip Escape: Do a hip escape to create the necessary space to apply the choke. This involves moving your hips out to the side away from the controlled arm.
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Apply the Choke: Slide your free hand (the one that was not controlling the arm) under your opponent's neck and grab your own wrist from the other hand, forming a figure-four grip. Your forearm should be across your opponent's throat.
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Close Your Guard: Wrap your legs back around your opponent's waist.
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Finish the Choke: To finish the choke, arch your back and pull your wrists towards you while you squeeze your legs together.
Key Points
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Hand Positioning: It's important to have the blade of your wrist across your opponent's throat when applying the choke.
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Hip Escape: Make sure you create enough space by doing a hip escape. This will allow you to slide your hand under your opponent's neck.
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Common Mistakes: A common mistake is not controlling the opponent's arm effectively before attempting the choke. If you don't control the arm, your opponent may be able to defend against the choke.