The guillotine choke is a popular submission hold in mixed martial arts (MMA) that can be used in both grappling and striking situations. The technique involves trapping an opponent’s neck between the attacker’s arm and body, applying pressure to the sides and front of the neck in order to cut off blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

Learning the guillotine choke is essential for any MMA fighter, as it is a versatile and effective submission technique that can be used in a variety of situations, including from the top or bottom position, against the cage, or even in transition.

In this article, we will break down the guillotine choke into its various techniques and variations, discussing the key points to remember and common mistakes to avoid. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of the guillotine choke and how to use it effectively in your MMA fights.

Basic Guillotine Choke Technique

The basic guillotine choke is one of the most fundamental and widely used variations of the guillotine choke. It involves wrapping your arm around your opponent’s neck and using your other arm to pull down on their head, creating pressure on the sides and front of their neck.

To set up the basic guillotine choke, follow these steps:

  1. From a standing or kneeling position, position yourself behind your opponent and wrap your arm around their neck, placing your bicep against one side of their neck and your forearm against the other side. Your hand should grip your bicep, creating a tight seal around their neck.
  2. Use your other arm to grip the back of their head, pulling their head down towards your chest to increase pressure on their neck.
  3. Tighten your grip on your opponent’s neck, using your chest and back muscles to apply pressure to the sides and front of their neck.

Some key points to remember when executing the basic guillotine choke include:

  • Keep your elbows tight to your body to create a tight seal around your opponent’s neck.
  • Use your chest and back muscles to apply pressure to your opponent’s neck, not just your arms.
  • Keep your opponent’s head pulled down towards your chest to maximize pressure on their neck.

Common mistakes to avoid when executing the basic guillotine choke include:

  • Failing to create a tight seal around your opponent’s neck with your arm, which can allow them to escape the choke.
  • Not pulling your opponent’s head down towards your chest, which reduces the pressure on their neck and makes it easier for them to escape.
  • Focusing too much on squeezing with your arms, which can tire out your muscles quickly and make the choke less effective.

By mastering the basic guillotine choke, you will have a powerful submission technique at your disposal that can be used in a variety of situations in MMA.

Arm-In Guillotine Choke Technique

The arm-in guillotine choke is a variation of the basic guillotine choke that involves trapping your opponent’s arm between their neck and your body. This variation can be particularly effective against opponents who are trying to defend the basic guillotine choke by grabbing onto your leg or hip.

To execute the arm-in guillotine choke, follow these steps:

  1. From a standing or kneeling position, wrap your arm around your opponent’s neck as you would for the basic guillotine choke.
  2. Instead of gripping your own bicep with your choking arm, slide your arm through the space between your opponent’s neck and their trapped arm, so that your forearm is across their throat and your bicep is under their arm.
  3. Use your other arm to grip your choking arm at the wrist and pull up, increasing the pressure on your opponent’s neck.
  4. As you apply pressure with your choking arm, use your other arm to lift your opponent’s trapped arm up and over your head, further increasing the pressure on their neck.

Some key points to remember when executing the arm-in guillotine choke include:

  • Use your forearm to apply pressure across your opponent’s throat, not just their windpipe, which can be less effective and potentially dangerous.
  • Use your other arm to pull up on your choking arm, increasing the pressure on your opponent’s neck.
  • Lift your opponent’s trapped arm up and over your head to further increase the pressure on their neck.

Common mistakes to avoid when executing the arm-in guillotine choke include:

  • Not sliding your arm through the space between your opponent’s neck and their trapped arm, which can make the choke less effective.
  • Failing to lift your opponent’s trapped arm up and over your head, which reduces the pressure on their neck and makes the choke easier to escape.
  • Applying pressure with just your arms, instead of using your chest and back muscles to apply maximum pressure to your opponent’s neck.

By mastering the arm-in guillotine choke, you will have a powerful variation of the guillotine choke at your disposal that can be used to catch opponents off guard and submit them quickly.

Standing Guillotine Choke Technique

The standing guillotine choke is a variation of the guillotine choke that is particularly effective against opponents who are trying to take you down or against the cage. This technique involves wrapping your arm around your opponent’s neck while standing, and using your other arm to pull down on their head to increase pressure on their neck.

To execute the standing guillotine choke, follow these steps:

  1. As your opponent attempts to take you down or pushes you up against the cage, wrap one arm around their neck, placing your bicep against one side of their neck and your forearm against the other side.
  2. Use your other arm to grip the back of their head, pulling their head down towards your chest to increase pressure on their neck.
  3. As your opponent continues to try to take you down or push you against the cage, use your body weight and core strength to apply pressure to your opponent’s neck, tightening your grip on their neck and squeezing with your chest and back muscles.

Some key points to remember when executing the standing guillotine choke include:

  • Use your body weight and core strength to apply pressure to your opponent’s neck, not just your arms.
  • Keep your elbows tight to your body to create a tight seal around your opponent’s neck.
  • Keep your opponent’s head pulled down towards your chest to maximize pressure on their neck.

Common mistakes to avoid when executing the standing guillotine choke include:

  • Not creating a tight seal around your opponent’s neck with your arm, which can allow them to escape the choke.
  • Failing to pull your opponent’s head down towards your chest, which reduces the pressure on their neck and makes it easier for them to escape.
  • Focusing too much on squeezing with your arms, which can tire out your muscles quickly and make the choke less effective.

By mastering the standing guillotine choke, you will have a powerful submission technique at your disposal that can be used to defend against takedowns and win fights from a dominant position.

Defense Against the Guillotine Choke

Defending against the guillotine choke is crucial for any MMA fighter, as it is a common submission technique used by many fighters. There are several ways to defend against the guillotine choke, depending on the position you are in and the type of guillotine choke your opponent is attempting.

Some effective ways to defend against the guillotine choke include:

  1. Tuck your chin: If your opponent is attempting to apply the basic guillotine choke, tucking your chin down towards your chest can help prevent them from getting a tight grip on your neck. This makes it more difficult for your opponent to apply pressure and finish the choke.
  2. Grab your opponent’s wrist: If your opponent is attempting the arm-in guillotine choke, try to grab their wrist with your trapped arm and pull it down towards your stomach. This will help relieve some of the pressure on your neck and make it more difficult for your opponent to apply the choke.
  3. Posture up: If you are in the standing position and your opponent is attempting the standing guillotine choke, try to posture up by straightening your back and extending your legs. This will create space between your neck and your opponent’s arms, making it more difficult for them to apply the choke.
  4. Circle away: If your opponent has your head and neck trapped in the guillotine choke, try to circle away from their choking arm. This will create an angle that makes it more difficult for them to apply pressure and finish the choke.
  5. Use the fence: If you are up against the cage and your opponent is attempting the guillotine choke, use the fence to your advantage. You can use the cage to push off of and create space between your neck and your opponent’s arms, or you can use the cage to help spin out of the choke and take your opponent down.

Some common mistakes to avoid when defending against the guillotine choke include:

  • Trying to pull your head out of the choke by brute force, which can make the choke tighter and more difficult to escape.
  • Focusing too much on one defense, such as tucking your chin or grabbing your opponent’s wrist, and not using other defenses that may be more effective in the situation.
  • Panicking and not staying calm and focused, which can make it more difficult to escape the choke.

By mastering the techniques for defending against the guillotine choke, you can better protect yourself in a fight and avoid being submitted by this common submission technique.

Conclusion

The guillotine choke is a versatile and effective submission technique that can be used in a variety of situations in mixed martial arts. By mastering the basic guillotine choke and its variations, including the arm-in guillotine choke and the standing guillotine choke, fighters can catch their opponents off guard and submit them quickly. However, it is important to remember the key points and avoid common mistakes to ensure that the technique is executed properly and safely. By understanding and practicing the guillotine choke, fighters can add a powerful tool to their arsenal and increase their chances of success in the octagon.