Guillotine Choke: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering This Submission

The guillotine choke is one of the most versatile and effective submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Known for its simplicity and power, it’s a move that can turn the tide of a match or a real-life self-defense situation. Whether you’re a beginner exploring foundational techniques or an advanced practitioner refining your submissions, understanding the guillotine choke can elevate your game. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into what the guillotine choke is, how to execute it effectively, defend against it, and why it holds such a prominent place in the world of BJJ.

What Is a Guillotine Choke?

The guillotine choke is a fundamental submission technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and mixed martial arts (MMA), renowned for its versatility and simplicity. It involves encircling the opponent’s neck with your arms and applying pressure to cut off either the blood flow (via carotid arteries) or the air supply. This move can be executed from various positions, such as standing, in guard, or during scrambles, making it a go-to submission for practitioners of all skill levels.

Technical Nuances and Setup Options

The guillotine’s mechanics are relatively straightforward, but mastering the finer details elevates its effectiveness. Key components include:

• Grip Variation: Depending on the situation, you might use a palm-to-palm grip, a high-elbow variation for tighter control, or a “power guillotine” grip to maximize torque.
• Body Positioning: Achieving the right angle is critical. Angling slightly to the side while applying pressure ensures a secure choke and minimizes the opponent’s escape options.
• Leg Involvement: Incorporating leg control, such as closing the guard, helps immobilize the opponent and enhances your leverage.

Complementary Movements

The guillotine choke pairs well with several other techniques, creating seamless transitions that enhance your submission arsenal:

• Arm-In Guillotine: A variation where one arm is trapped alongside the neck, ideal for scrambles.
• Darce Choke: Transitioning from a failed guillotine to a Darce choke capitalizes on the opponent’s attempts to defend.
• Sweep to Guillotine: Combining sweeps like the butterfly sweep with a guillotine finish ensures you maintain offensive pressure.

This combination of versatility, historical significance, and adaptability to different styles solidifies the guillotine choke as an indispensable weapon in any grappler’s toolkit. Whether you’re defending against takedowns, countering aggressive opponents, or initiating offense, the guillotine offers opportunities to turn the tide in your favor.

Top 3 Stats About the Guillotine Choke

The guillotine choke holds a special place in the arsenal of BJJ practitioners and MMA fighters alike. Its high success rate and versatility make it a valuable tool for grapplers of all levels. Below are three insightful statistics that highlight its prominence:

Popularity in Submission Grappling

Data from IBJJF tournaments reveals that the guillotine choke consistently ranks among the top five submissions in both gi and no-gi divisions. Its applicability across different styles of grappling reinforces its status as a versatile and dependable submission technique.²

Usage by Elite Athletes

World-renowned grapplers like Marcelo Garcia and MMA fighters like Dustin Poirier have used the guillotine choke to secure decisive victories. These athletes demonstrate the choke’s effectiveness at the highest levels of competition. Marcelo Garcia, in particular, is celebrated for his innovative setups and finishes using this technique.³

These statistics underline the guillotine choke’s importance as a cornerstone submission technique. From recreational training sessions to championship matches, its presence is felt across all levels of grappling. Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or an advanced athlete fine-tuning the nuances, understanding the guillotine’s effectiveness is essential to mastering this iconic submission.

Why Is the Guillotine Choke Important in BJJ?

The guillotine choke is invaluable in BJJ for several reasons:

• Versatility: It can be applied from numerous positions, including standing exchanges, guard, and scrambles.
• Effectiveness Across Sizes: Smaller practitioners can use leverage to finish larger opponents.
• Ease of Learning: Its mechanics are straightforward, making it accessible for beginners.
• Game Changer: A well-executed guillotine can end matches quickly, making it a favorite among competitors.

While beginners often find it easy to grasp, advanced practitioners refine it into a high-level weapon with variations and setups.

Who Is the Guillotine Choke Submission Recommended For?

The guillotine choke is a versatile submission that suits practitioners across all skill levels. For beginners, its mechanics are straightforward to learn, making it a practical choice for those new to BJJ. Advanced practitioners can refine the guillotine into a highly technical tool, incorporating variations like the arm-in guillotine or the standing guillotine for dynamic setups.

Additionally, smaller grapplers often find the guillotine choke effective against larger opponents, as it relies on leverage rather than brute strength. Whether you’re training for self-defense, competition, or just to improve your grappling, the guillotine choke is a technique that can fit seamlessly into any game plan.

How to Execute a Guillotine Choke

Mastering this choke requires understanding its key mechanics and the proper steps to execute it efficiently. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how to perform the Guillotine Choke effectively:

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The guillotine choke, despite its simplicity, requires precision and attention to detail. Practitioners, whether beginners or advanced, often encounter challenges that can hinder its effectiveness. Below is an expanded look at the most common mistakes and actionable solutions to ensure your guillotine choke is consistently successful.

Failing to Secure a Proper Grip

One of the most frequent errors is a loose or poorly executed grip, which can allow the opponent to escape or reduce the choke’s pressure. Practitioners often grip too high or fail to use the correct palm-to-palm or wrist-grip technique.

Solution: Focus on securing a tight grip at the base of the neck. A palm-to-palm grip or the high-elbow guillotine variation ensures better control. Practice grip transitions during drilling to develop muscle memory.

Incorrect Body Angle

Staying directly in front of your opponent reduces leverage and limits the pressure applied to the neck. This positioning often allows the opponent to posture up and escape.

Solution: Angle your body slightly to the side, shifting your hips out while maintaining control of the neck. This angle amplifies the choke’s power and minimizes their ability to counter.

Poor Hip Engagement

Without proper hip engagement, the choke often lacks the finishing pressure needed to secure the submission. Many practitioners rely solely on arm strength, which can lead to fatigue and ineffective technique.

Solution: Drive your hips forward and slightly down while pulling upward with your arms. This movement creates a fulcrum effect, maximizing pressure on the neck. Drilling hip engagement with a partner can help solidify this motion.

Neglecting to Control the Opponent’s Body

Allowing the opponent to posture up or move freely often neutralizes the choke and leads to counters. Practitioners sometimes forget to use their legs effectively in guard or maintain balance in standing guillotines.

Solution: If applying the guillotine from the guard, use your legs to control the opponent’s posture by locking your guard tightly or hooking their hips. For standing guillotines, maintain a low, stable base and adjust your balance to counter their movements.

Overcommitting Without Proper Setup

Rushing into the guillotine without proper setup often leads to missed opportunities and exposes you to counters. Opponents can easily exploit this overcommitment to pass your guard or transition into dominant positions.

Solution: Use the guillotine as part of a sequence rather than a standalone move. For example, combine it with takedown defense or sweeps to ensure you’re in a favorable position before executing the choke.

By addressing these common mistakes and incorporating the solutions into your training, you’ll significantly improve the effectiveness of your guillotine choke. Mastering these nuances will not only elevate your submission game but also enhance your overall understanding of BJJ techniques.

Drills to Improve Your Guillotine Choke

Improvement comes with targeted practice. These three drills will help you refine the mechanics and timing of this choke:

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Defending Against the Guillotine Choke

Defending against the guillotine choke requires a combination of awareness, posture, and strategic counter-movements. Whether facing this submission from a standing position, within the guard, or during scrambles, a proper defense can turn the tables on your opponent. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to protect yourself and escape effectively:

1. Prevention is Key

The best defense against the guillotine starts before it’s even applied. By maintaining good posture and hand positioning, you can limit your opponent’s ability to secure the choke. During takedown attempts or scrambles, keep your head up and your neck protected. Avoid letting your opponent get under your chin, as this gives them the opening they need to lock in the guillotine. Practicing defensive drills during training can help build this habit.

2. Posture to Neutralize the Pressure

If your opponent begins to secure a guillotine choke, immediately focus on your posture. In standing situations, lift your head and align your spine upward to create space and reduce the choke’s pressure. In guard, posture up while controlling their wrists to limit their ability to apply full force. The quicker you address the choke, the less likely it is to become a threat.

3. Hand Fighting to Break the Grip

Once the choke is locked in, breaking the opponent’s grip becomes essential. Use your free hand to peel away their choking hand. If their arm is around your neck, control their wrist and pull it down while simultaneously creating space with your other hand. Hand-fighting is particularly effective when paired with posture adjustments, as it prevents your opponent from tightening the submission.

4. Angle Adjustment to Create Space

When caught in a guillotine, angling your body can reduce the choke’s effectiveness. Rotate your head and body toward the side of your opponent’s choking arm. This angle reduces the pressure on your neck and gives you more room to maneuver. If you’re in the guard, shifting your body to the side can also create openings for escapes.

5. Use the “Von Flue Escape” Against a Persistent Opponent

In situations where your opponent refuses to release the guillotine, transitioning to the Von Flue choke can turn their submission attempt into your counterattack. This technique involves applying pressure on their neck and trapping their choking arm while posturing up, forcing them to let go or risk being submitted themselves.

6. Guard Passing Opportunities

In guard scenarios, once you’ve neutralized the choke’s pressure, use the opportunity to pass their guard. After peeling their grip, transition into a knee slide or over-under pass. This not only escapes the choke but also puts you in a dominant position to counter-attack or control the opponent.

7. Standing Guillotine Specific Defense

For standing guillotine chokes, maintaining a low base and strong posture is crucial. Push against their hips to prevent them from pulling guard while keeping your chin tucked. If the choke persists, lift them slightly and rotate your body to destabilize their grip and force a release. This motion can also lead to takedown opportunities.

8. Stay Calm and Breathe

Panicking in a guillotine choke often leads to mistakes and energy depletion. Stay composed, control your breathing, and systematically address the choke. Practicing situational drills where you defend against a locked-in guillotine during training will help build confidence and resilience.

Why Mastering Guillotine Defense Matters

Defending against the guillotine choke not only helps you avoid submissions but also opens doors for counters and dominant positions. By focusing on early prevention, proper posture, and effective escapes, you can neutralize one of the most popular and versatile submissions in BJJ. Incorporate these strategies into your training to elevate your defensive game and turn your opponent’s attacks into opportunities for control.

The Guillotine Choke in Competition

The guillotine choke has cemented its place as one of the most effective and versatile submissions in competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), MMA, and grappling tournaments. Its adaptability across positions—standing, guard, or scrambles—makes it a favored weapon for many elite practitioners. In competition, where seconds can make the difference between victory and defeat, the guillotine choke’s ability to finish matches quickly is unmatched.

Marcelo Garcia’s Mastery in Grappling

Marcelo Garcia, one of the greatest submission grapplers of all time, has showcased the guillotine choke in multiple high-stakes matches. Garcia’s unique approach to the front headlock position allowed him to apply the guillotine choke with unparalleled precision and speed. His ability to transition seamlessly from takedowns or scrambles to the guillotine choke has been studied and emulated by practitioners worldwide.

Dustin Poirier’s Standing Guillotine in MMA

Dustin Poirier, a renowned UFC fighter, has effectively utilized the guillotine choke in his MMA career, most notably against opponents attempting takedowns. His standing guillotine choke victory against Anthony Pettis at UFC Fight Night 120 is a prime example of this submission’s utility in mixed martial arts. By leveraging his balance and angling his body, Poirier demonstrated how the guillotine choke can be a powerful counter to aggressive takedown attempts. Explore this incredible submission in Dustin Poirier’s Standing Guillotine:

IBJJF Competitions and Guillotine Variations

In IBJJF tournaments, the guillotine choke consistently ranks among the top five submissions in both gi and no-gi divisions. Athletes often use variations like the arm-in guillotine to adapt to their opponent’s defenses. The guillotine’s flexibility allows it to be employed during scrambles, guard play, or even as a counter-submission to guard passes. A notable example can be seen in the match between Garry Tonon and Davi Ramos, where Tonon executed a slick guillotine transition. Watch this incredible setup here: Garry Tonon’s Guillotine Finish.

Why the Guillotine Choke Excels in Competition

The guillotine choke thrives in competition due to its ability to be set up from numerous positions and its capacity to finish fights quickly. Whether used as a primary submission or a counter to aggressive grappling, it forces opponents to be cautious during transitions, ultimately shaping the flow of a match. Its effectiveness across different disciplines—BJJ, submission grappling, and MMA—cements its reputation as a game-changing technique.

By studying these competitive examples and incorporating key techniques into your training, you can elevate your guillotine choke game to match the level of these elite athletes.

Conclusion

The guillotine choke is a must-have in every BJJ practitioner’s arsenal. Its adaptability, ease of learning, and effectiveness make it a cornerstone technique for beginners and advanced players alike. Whether you’re looking to refine your execution, defend against it, or understand its applications in competition, the guillotine choke offers endless opportunities for growth.

Whether you’re an experienced grappler or just starting out, the Darce choke offers endless opportunities to grow your game. Start drilling, stay consistent, and share your progress on the mats. For more expert breakdowns, check out related articles and other advanced submission techniques on BJJ Nature and take your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the next level!

1. Source: bjjblog ↩︎
2. Source: bjjee ↩︎
3. Source: grapplinginsider ↩︎