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The BJJ Anaconda Choke: A Comprehensive Guide to Finishing from Front Headlock
The Anaconda Choke is a highly effective no-gi and gi submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, renowned for its tight head-and-arm control. It's a close cousin to the D'Arce Choke, but with a crucial difference in arm placement, creating immense pressure on the opponent's carotid arteries.
Technique Map
graph LR
Choke["Choke"]:::catNode
Choke --> Anaconda_Choke
Anaconda_Choke["Anaconda Choke"]:::currentNode
Anaconda_Choke -.-> Rear_Naked_Choke["Rear Naked Choke"]:::relNode
Anaconda_Choke -.-> Triangle_Choke["Triangle Choke"]:::relNode
Anaconda_Choke -.-> Guillotine_Choke["Guillotine Choke"]:::relNode
Anaconda_Choke -.-> Bow_and_Arrow_Choke["Bow and Arrow Choke"]:::relNode
Anaconda_Choke -.-> Ezekiel_Choke["Ezekiel Choke"]:::relNode
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classDef relNode fill:#141926,stroke:#1f2840,color:#a78bfa
classDef catNode fill:#1f2840,stroke:#7c6af7,color:#7c6af7,font-style:italic
Contents
How to Execute
1
Secure Head & Arm Control: From a front headlock position, reach one arm deep under your opponent's neck and through their far armpit. Ensure your bicep is tight against their neck.
2
Thread the Second Arm: Bring your other arm over your opponent's back, threading it under their far armpit, and grasp your own bicep of the first arm.
3
Complete the Grip: Connect your hands by grabbing your own bicep with one hand and your wrist with the other, forming a figure-four grip. Your opponent's head must be trapped tightly by your bicep and chest.
4
Roll and Tighten: Sprawl out to flatten your opponent, then initiate a forward roll over your shoulder (the same side as the arm under their head). As you roll, pull your opponent's head and arm tightly into your chest.
5
Finish the Choke: Continue the roll, often ending in a dominant position like side control or mount. Squeeze your elbows together, arch your back slightly, and drive your chest into their head and arm to apply the finishing pressure.
Key Details & Tips
1
Head Position is Crucial: Your bicep must be tight against their neck, trapping their head, not just their arm, for effective compression.
2
Deep Arm Thread: The arm going under the neck and through the far armpit needs to be very deep to ensure maximum leverage and a secure choke.
3
Rolling Direction: Always roll over the shoulder of the arm that is under their head. This specific roll creates the necessary angle and compression for the submission.
4
Figure-Four Grip: A strong figure-four grip (bicep-to-wrist) is essential to prevent slipping and maximize your squeezing power for the finish.
Variations
1
Anaconda from Turtle: Initiating the choke when the opponent is in a defensive turtle position, often after sprawling on a shot.
2
Anaconda from Guard Pass: Catching an opponent attempting to pass your guard, transitioning from a front headlock as they try to clear your legs.
3
Related: D'Arce Choke: A similar head-and-arm choke, but the choking arm goes *over* the opponent's near shoulder, not under the far armpit, before threading.
When to Use
1
Front Headlock Scenarios: Excellent when an opponent is turtling, trying to escape a takedown, or after a failed shot, giving you immediate head and arm control.
2
Scrambles and Transitions: Highly effective during dynamic scrambles and transitions where you can quickly secure the necessary control and initiate the roll.
3
No-Gi Dominance: Particularly potent in no-gi grappling due to the direct skin-on-skin pressure and the lack of gi material that could interfere with the tight squeeze.
Counters & Defenses
1
Prevent the Roll: If caught early, sprawl out aggressively and maintain a strong base to prevent your opponent from completing the critical rolling motion.
2
Posture Up and Pull Free: Before the grip is fully secured, try to posture up and pull your head and arm free to break the initial control.
3
Defend the Grip: Fight the figure-four grip early by prying at their hands or creating space with your free arm to prevent them from locking it in tightly.
Video Timestamps
How To Do An Anaconda Choke Without Neck Cranking
Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu
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Q: What is the main difference between the Anaconda Choke and the D'Arce Choke?
The primary difference lies in which arm goes *under* the opponent's armpit and which goes *over* the shoulder. For the Anaconda, the choking arm threads *under* the opponent's far armpit. For the D'Arce, the choking arm threads *over* the opponent's near shoulder, creating a slightly different angle of attack.
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