Mastering the Guillotine Choke from Closed Guard: A Step-by-Step Guide

The guillotine choke is a powerful submission that can be applied from a variety of positions, including the closed guard. It’s a great option when your opponent is being aggressive and trying to posture up, as it allows you to control their head and neck while attacking with a tight choke. In this article, we’ll break down the guillotine choke from closed guard into six simple steps so you can add it to your submission arsenal.

Establish a high guard:

The first step in setting up the guillotine choke from closed guard is to establish a high guard. This means bringing your legs up high around your opponent’s torso, which will help you control their posture and limit their movement. You can do this by wrapping your legs around their back, squeezing your thighs together, and pulling down on their head with your arms.

Control the head:

Once you have a high guard, your next goal is to control your opponent’s head. This will give you the leverage you need to apply the choke. To control their head, use your arms to pull down on their neck, bringing their head towards your chest. Keep your elbows tight to your body and use your chest to create pressure on their neck.

Secure the grip:

With your opponent’s head under control, it’s time to secure the grip for the guillotine choke. There are a few different grip options, but one of the most common is the “gator roll” grip. To get this grip, reach over your opponent’s back with one arm and grab your own wrist with your other hand. This creates a figure-four grip around their neck.

Trap the arm:

Once you have the grip secured, your opponent will likely try to defend by bringing their arms up to protect their neck. To counter this, use your free arm to trap one of their arms by grabbing their wrist and pulling it across your body. This will not only prevent them from defending the choke but also put them in a vulnerable position.

Create the angle:

With your opponent’s head under control and their arm trapped, it’s time to create the angle you need to finish the choke. To do this, release your high guard and pivot your body towards the trapped arm, bringing your legs over their shoulder. This will create a tight angle that puts maximum pressure on their neck.

Finish the choke:

With the angle created, it’s time to finish the guillotine choke. Squeeze your thighs together, arch your back, and pull up on the grip to apply the choke. You can also use your trapped arm to push their head down, adding even more pressure to the choke. If done correctly, your opponent will have no choice but to tap out.

The guillotine choke from closed guard is a powerful submission that can catch your opponent off guard and lead to a quick finish. By following these six simple steps, you can add this choke to your arsenal and become a more well-rounded BJJ fighter. Remember to practice these techniques regularly and experiment with different grips and variations to find what works best for you.