Short Choke
Compact rear strangulation that finishes with a short forearm wrap and shoulder pressure — a tight no-gi cousin of the rear-naked choke.
blood choke
Overview
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.