Escaping the Guillotine Choke in BJJ: 6 Effective Techniques

The guillotine choke is a common submission hold in BJJ that can be executed from a variety of positions. Whether you’re in the closed guard, half guard, or standing, your opponent can quickly lock in a guillotine and leave you feeling trapped and helpless. However, with the right technique and timing, you can escape the guillotine and turn the tables on your opponent. In this article, we’ll explore six effective techniques for escaping the guillotine choke in BJJ.

The Chin Tuck Escape

The chin tuck escape is a simple yet effective technique for escaping the guillotine choke from the standing position. To execute this escape, start by tucking your chin down towards your chest. This will create space between your neck and your opponent’s arm, making it more difficult for them to finish the choke. Next, use your free hand to push your opponent’s elbow up and away from your body. This will further open up the choke and give you the opportunity to break free and escape.

The Sprawl Escape

The sprawl escape is a great option for escaping the guillotine choke from the standing position, particularly when your opponent has a deep grip on your neck. To execute this escape, start by sprawling your legs back and dropping your hips down towards the mat. This will create a lot of pressure on your opponent’s arms and shoulders, making it difficult for them to maintain the choke. From here, use your hands to push your opponent’s hips away from your body, and work to pass their guard and gain a dominant position.

The Elbow Escape

The elbow escape is a classic technique for escaping the guillotine choke from the closed guard. To execute this escape, start by placing both hands on your opponent’s hips. Next, shrimp out to the side and use your elbow to push their knee open. Once you’ve created enough space, use your other hand to reach up and grab your opponent’s wrist, breaking their grip on your neck. From here, you can work to pass their guard and gain a dominant position.

The Arm Drag Escape

The arm drag escape is a versatile technique that can be used to escape the guillotine choke from a variety of positions, including the standing position and the closed guard. To execute this escape, start by grabbing your opponent’s wrist with one hand and reaching across their body with the other hand to grab their tricep. Next, pull their arm across your body and step around behind them, dragging them down to the mat. From here, you can work to take their back or gain a dominant position.

The Single Leg Escape

The single leg escape is a great option for escaping the guillotine choke from the standing position when your opponent has a deep grip on your neck. To execute this escape, start by dropping down to one knee and grabbing your opponent’s leg with both hands. Next, drive forward and use your head to push your opponent’s leg to the side, breaking their grip on your neck. From here, you can work to take them down to the mat and gain a dominant position.

The Leg Over Escape

The leg over escape is a useful technique to escape the guillotine, but it requires proper execution to be effective. The first thing to keep in mind when attempting this escape is to create space by getting your hips away from your opponent’s body. You will also need to control your opponent’s arms to prevent them from tightening the guillotine choke. Once you have created space, you can quickly swing your leg over your opponent’s head and onto their back, putting you in a position to take their back or transition to another escape. Remember to stay calm and focused on technique, as rushing the escape can often lead to further trouble.