Breaking Down the Rear Naked Choke: Tips and Tricks for a Tighter Hold

If you’re new to jiu jitsu, you’ve probably heard of the rear naked choke. It’s one of the most effective and popular submissions in the sport, and for good reason: when done correctly, it can quickly end a fight and force your opponent to tap out. However, executing the rear naked choke takes more than just brute strength – it requires technique, strategy, and practice. In this article, we’ll go over the fundamentals of the rear naked choke, from the basics of the hold to common mistakes to avoid. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you improve your rear naked choke and take your jiu jitsu game to the next level.

The basics of the rear naked choke: Understanding the mechanics of the technique

To execute a rear naked choke, you need to get behind your opponent and wrap your arm around their neck, with your bicep on one side of their neck and your forearm on the other. You then grab your bicep with your opposite hand, forming a “chokehold” around your opponent’s neck, and squeeze until they submit.

Setting Up The Rear Naked Choke:

Before you can apply the rear naked choke, you need to get yourself into a good position. This usually involves taking your opponent’s back, either from the side or from behind, and wrapping your arms around their neck. You may need to adjust your body position and move your legs to get into the right spot.

Applying the choke:

Once you have the rear naked choke set up, it’s time to apply pressure. This involves squeezing your arms together and bringing your elbows towards each other. You can also use your chest and shoulder muscles to help tighten the hold. The key is to keep the pressure steady and increase it gradually over time.

Finishing the choke:

The goal of the rear naked choke is to make your opponent submit by cutting off their air supply. To do this, you need to maintain control of the hold and increase the pressure until they tap out or lose consciousness. This can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the skill and resistance of your opponent.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them:

One of the biggest mistakes people make with the rear naked choke is not getting into a good position to start with. You also need to be careful not to grab your own wrist instead of your bicep, which can make the hold less effective. Finally, you need to avoid using too much strength and burning yourself out too quickly, since this can make it harder to maintain the hold.

Drills to improve your rear naked choke:

To become proficient at the rear naked choke, you need to practice the technique regularly. You can start by drilling the basic setup and chokehold on a partner or grappling dummy. You can also work on developing your strength and endurance with exercises like pull-ups, push-ups, and core work. As you get more comfortable with the technique, you can start to practice it in live sparring situations to refine your skills.