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Positional
Submission · choke

Rear Naked Choke (RNC)

The cleanest and most effective choke in BJJ. One arm wraps his neck from behind, the other hand locks it in. The standard finish from back control.

Flow map
1 in · 1 out
Starting position
TopBack Control
You are hereRear Naked Choke (RNC)Submission
Where it leads
Match overTap
Prerequisites
  • Full back control, feet hooked in and actively pinning his hips
  • Seat belt grip: top arm by his neck, ready to go in
  • A settled position on his back
Mechanics · 4 steps
I
Slide your top arm under his chin and wrap the neck
Under the chin is less protected than from above. The arm has to sit deep.
Correctness test ·Your forearm lies right on his carotid artery, not on his throat.
II
Grab your other biceps, hand behind his head
The biceps grip closes a triangle with your arms: mechanically stronger than grabbing your wrist.
III
Squeeze: forearm on the neck, biceps behind
Choking the carotid arteries is faster and safer than crushing the throat: the tap comes in seconds.
IV
Push your hips forward to tighten the choke
Driving your hips forward stretches his neck and deepens the choke without more arm strength.
Defenses · if he… then you…
Opponent
Grabs your arm with both hands and tries to pull it off
Your response
Keep the grip and push your hips: his hands on your arm won't open a choke that's set properly.
Opponent
Tucks his chin and turns his head to block your arm
Your response
Wait for him to relax, or switch to the bow and arrow if you're in the gi.
Common mistakes
Choking the throat instead of the carotids
It hurts but doesn't work: he can hold out for minutes, and someone can get injured.
No hip control during the choke
He pushes you off and slides out: you lose the back and the choke together.
Arm too shallow under the chin
Without a deep grip the choke won't close, and he gets room to defend.
DRILLS · IMPROVEMENT EXERCISES
Section in development. Plan: for each technique/position I'll add solo or partner drills to strengthen your movement patterns and timing.