What is the Short Choke?
The short choke finishes from back control when a full palm-to-palm rear-naked choke is unavailable. Instead of a long wrap and figure-four, you seat a short forearm under the jaw, clasp near your own shoulder or bicep, and finish with shoulder pressure and chest expansion. It rewards tight back control more than deep arm length.
Setup
- Secure back control with hooks or a body triangle and clear the near shoulder line.
- Thread a short forearm under the chin so the blade sits on the neck.
- Clasp near your shoulder/bicep rather than hunting a deep figure-four.
Execution
- Expand your chest and drive the shoulder into the back of their head/neck line.
- Pinch the choking elbow toward their sternum to close space.
- Keep hip and hook connection so they cannot slide off the seatbelt.
Finishing
- Finish with steady pressure — avoid cranking the jaw if the forearm is shallow.
- If the short wrap slips, re-clear the chin and reset rather than yanking.
- Transition to a classic RNC when space opens for a deeper wrap.
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Safety Note
Short chokes can feel like a crank if the forearm is on the jaw instead of the neck. Adjust to the carotids and release immediately on tap.
Primary Targets
- Neck
- Carotid arteries
Key Concepts
- Short choke is a compact RNC family finish, not a different position.
- Shoulder pressure and chest expansion finish what the short wrap starts.
- Back control quality decides whether the short choke is available.
Primary Entries
- Back control when the chin is tucked and a deep RNC wrap is blocked.
- Technical mount to back transitions with a short seatbelt.
- Body-triangle back control that limits their hand-fighting space.
Defenses & Counters
- Expect two-on-one hand fighting on the choking wrist — re-clear before squeezing.
- Watch for hip escapes that slide them off your hooks.
- If they hide the chin completely, improve chest-to-back connection before restarting.
Follow-Ups
- Classic rear-naked choke when the wrap deepens.
- Bow-and-arrow style finishes in the gi if a collar becomes available.
- Armbar or collar attacks if they overcommit hands to the choke defense.
Training Drills
- Back-control short-choke inserts with cooperative chin clears
- Short choke to classic RNC transition rounds
- Hook retention while finishing with light resistance
Related Techniques
Deepen your study with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
The short choke finishes back control with a compact forearm wrap and shoulder pressure when a deep RNC is unavailable. Clear the chin, expand the chest, and keep hooks honest through the squeeze.