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BeginnerCoach's PickPaper Cutter Choke
Taught by:Nathan Merkle
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About This Technique
Technique Overview
The Paper Cutter Choke is a classic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu submission often executed from the side control position. Its effectiveness comes from its ability to redirect the opponent's attention and immobilize them while setting up a choke that mimics the motion of cutting paper with scissors.
Step-by-Step Instruction
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Begin in Side Control
- Secure a tight side control over your opponent. Preferably, place your chest against theirs, with your knee close to their hip and your other knee near their head.
- Keep a good base to prevent any escape attempts.
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Establish Grips
- Use your near-side hand (closest to their head) to open their gi lapel.
- With your far-side hand, feed their lapel to your near-side hand, securing a palm-up grip deep near their neck.
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Distract and Control
- Use your far-side elbow to lead across and control their far shoulder, inviting them to shield themselves or resist in that direction.
- Maintain chest pressure to prevent them from turning into you.
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Slide the Near Arm
- Slide your near-side arm under their head and face, gripping the gi at the back of their neck with your thumb inside.
- Tighten your chest to push against their neck slightly and pull them into you.
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Execute the Paper Cutter Movement
- Using your near-side hand, tighten the grip around their neck.
- At the same time, slide your other arm along their neck, as if "cutting" with pressure to close the choke tight.
- Your grip distances should create a cutting pressure along their throat.
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Apply Final Pressure and Finish
- Widen your base for balance. Squeeze your arms together while dropping your chest to increase pressure on the choke.
- This combination forces your opponent to submit.
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Options for Adjustment
- If they bridge or attempt to turn, maintain chest pressure or control the hips to prevent escapes.
- If they roll towards you, flow into a different attack or reposition to secure the choke tighter.
Key Points
- Control is paramount. Ensure your opponent cannot easily escape your grips.
- Keep attention on maintaining a strong base.
- Always be ready to adapt if the opponent makes defensive movements.
Conclusion
The Paper Cutter Choke is an efficient submission when performed correctly. It thrives on deception and control, allowing practitioners to manipulate their opponent’s focus while setting up a methodical finish. Practice significantly and understand each grip transition to deliver this choke effectively.
How to Execute
# Paper Cutter Choke from Side Control
## Setup
- **Initial Position Details:** Begin in side control on your opponent's chest. Your body should be perpendicular to your opponent's, with your chest pinning their upper body. Your legs should be spread for stability, with your knees close to your opponent's body.
- **Grips and Controls Needed:** Establish a cross-face grip with your far-side arm (the arm closest to your opponent's head) by gripping the back of their collar with four fingers inside, palm facing you. Your near-side arm should be controlling their near-side hip or arm to prevent them from turning in towards you.
## Steps
1. **Secure the Cross-Face Grip:** With your far-side hand, reach behind your opponent's neck and grip the back of their collar. Ensure your grip is deep enough to control their head and neck effectively.
2. **Adjust Your Base:** Shift your weight slightly towards your opponent's head, maintaining good pressure on their chest. Keep your hips low to prevent them from bridging or escaping.
3. **Create Space for the Near-Side Arm:** Use your near-side arm to push down on your opponent’s far shoulder or hip, or use your knee to create space. This will help loosen their defensive posture and create an opening for your next move.
4. **Slide Your Near-Side Arm:** Thread your near-side arm underneath your opponent’s arm (close to their armpit) and bring your hand across their neck, aiming to grip the far-side collar. This is the critical choke arm that completes the submission.
5. **Grip the Collar:** With your near-side hand, reach under their neck and grab the far-side collar. Your thumb should be inside the collar, palm facing down. Adjust your grip to ensure it's tight and secure.
6. **Apply the Choke:** To finish the choke, pull down with your far-side hand (the cross-face grip) while simultaneously driving your near-side elbow to the mat, cutting across your opponent's neck like a paper cutter motion. This creates the choking pressure.
7. **Maintain Position:** Keep your weight low and your hips close to your opponent throughout the choke to maintain control and prevent escapes.
## Key Points
- **Important Details to Remember:**
- Ensure your initial grips are deep and secure to maintain control and apply effective pressure.
- Use your body weight to control your opponent and keep your hips low to the mat.
- **Common Mistakes to Avoid:**
- Failing to secure deep collar grips, which weakens the choke's effectiveness.
- Allowing your opponent to create space or turn into you, which can disrupt the choke setup.
- Not applying enough pressure with your body weight, which can lead to escape opportunities for your opponent.
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