The Collar Choke, also known as the 'Cross Choke', is a popular submission technique used extensively in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). By exerting pressure on the neck and carotid arteries, it effectively cuts off blood flow to the brain, causing an opponent to tap out or lose consciousness. Skilled practitioners can apply this choke from a variety of positions, making it versatile and effective.
From your guard, reach up and establish a deep grip on your opponent's collar, placing your thumb inside the collar and fingers on the outside. Your hand should be as deep as possible, ideally at the base of his or her neck.
Reach across with your other hand and secure a grip on your opponent's other collar. This time, your fingers should go inside the collar with your thumb on the outside. Once you have your grips established, pull your elbows in and lift your hips slightly to apply pressure and execute the choke.
To defend against the Collar Choke, it’s imperative to keep good posture and break the opponent's grips before they can secure the choke. Always be aware of your opponent's hand placements and maintain hand control.
A common counter to the Collar Choke is to maintain posture and hand fight to disrupt the grips. From this position, work your hands in between your neck and your opponent's choking arm, then forcefully break the grip.
The (Cross) Collar Choke is often used in competition because it can be implemented from a variety of positions, including guard, mount, and back control. This gives it an element of surprise, and its efficiency makes it highly effective in both Gi and No-Gi scenarios.
This technique may initially require some trial and error to find the right balance between grip strength and arm positioning. Patience and practice are key to mastering it.
The Collar Choke is a foundational submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, offering a strategic advantage in competition and self-defense scenarios. It applies the basic principle of BJJ: using leverage and technique to defeat strength and size.