What is the Rear Naked Choke?
The rear naked choke (RNC) is arguably the most important submission to master in BJJ. It's a blood choke that cuts off circulation to the brain, making it extremely effective and relatively safe when applied correctly.
Setup
- Secure tight back control with hooks or body triangle and chest-to-back contact.
- Win the hand fight by covering the opponent’s defensive hand and clearing the chin line.
- Slide the choking arm beneath the chin while hiding your wrist behind the opponent’s head.
Execution
- Grab your bicep with the choking hand and place the non-choking hand behind their head.
- Squeeze elbows toward the centerline while pulling the opponent back into your chest.
- Drive hips forward by bridging slightly to remove slack and compress the neck.
Finishing
- Maintain ear-to-ear head pressure so the opponent cannot rotate out.
- Keep shoulders squeezed together and breathe steadily to sustain pressure.
- Release immediately when the tap comes or the opponent loses consciousness.
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Safety Warning
Monitor training partners closely—blood chokes can cause unconsciousness within seconds. Never apply neck cranks in place of clean blood pressure.
Primary Targets
- Neck
- Carotid arteries
Key Concepts
- Hide the choking hand behind the head to prevent two-on-one grips.
- Keep elbows tight to preserve the strangulation channel.
- Maintain chest-to-back connection while adjusting hooks.
- Seatbelt grip with choking arm over the shoulder and support arm under the armpit.
- Hooks engaged at the hip line or locked body triangle when control is slipping.
- Head tight next to the opponent’s to block shoulder turns.
- Cover the opponent’s top hand and peel control grips one finger at a time.
- Switch between palm-to-palm, gable grip, and short choke grips as reactions change.
- Attack the neck only after full positional control is established.
- Adjust angle by sliding to the choking-arm side when resistance increases.
- Be patient—steady pressure finishes more reliably than sudden squeezes.
- Pull your choking-side shoulder back to close the pressure loop.
- Keep the support hand on the back of the head rather than clasping fingers together.
- Drive heels inward on the hips or lock the body triangle to immobilize the lower body.
- Watch elite finishers like Marcelo Garcia and Gordon Ryan for modern details.
- Review slow-motion footage to understand elbow positioning and hip extension.
Primary Entries
- Seatbelt control from back takes out of turtle breakdowns.
- Chair-sit transition off arm drag to expose the back.
- Failed double-leg defense that allows quick hook insertion.
Defenses & Counters
- Opponents will try to peel the choking arm—switch to the short choke grip when fingers pry.
- Watch for bridge-and-turn escapes; follow them with tight hip pressure to stay connected.
- Expect two-on-one wrist controls—strip them by rolling wrists and re-covering the hand.
- Use shoulder traps or leg traps to prevent the opponent from turning into you.
- Opponent sliding their back to the mat—follow with hip scoots to stay glued.
- Two-on-one grip breaks that open space around the neck.
- Prying at the bottom hand—switch grips or trap the defending arm.
Follow-Ups
- Short choke variation when the chin is stubbornly tucked.
- Neck crank to open defenses before re-shooting the choke (competition only).
- Triangle choke from back when the opponent traps an arm across their body.
- Slide into bow-and-arrow choke when gi lapels are available.
- Transition to straight armbar if the opponent over-defends the choke hand.
- Switch to a body triangle to lock the torso when hooks start slipping.
Training Drills
- Back retention rounds focusing on hook recovery and grip fighting.
- Timed squeeze drills to practice gradual pressure without burning out.
- Seatbelt entries from turtle with escalating resistance.
Related Techniques
Deepen your study with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
The rear naked choke rewards disciplined control and calm grip fighting. Secure back position, peel defenses methodically, and finish with incremental pressure for a dominant, fight-ending submission.