This is a question that is often asked by many BJJ students throughout gyms across the world. It is also met with equally confusing answers. The truth is quite simple and we will breakdown each submission below. In short, all three submissions are very similar but have different intricacies. One way of remembering this is that they are all from the same family but all have slight variations. In this case, the family of chokes is using your arms to create a triangle based choke, with that being said, each choke is unique.
Table of Contents
The Darce choke
The Darce is probably the most commonly used submission out of the three, certainly the most common in MMA. Typically this move is used in Nogi but can also be used in the Gi. Generally speaking, it is easier in Nogi as the Gi provides friction which can slow the entry down.
The Darce was popularised by Robert Drysdale who used it to win his 2007 ADCC gold medal in the Absolute bracket. Here he submitted the legendary Marcelo Garcia which made the move instantly famous. Recently Edwin Najmi has also adopted the Darce which is probably his best attack and is often used against world class opponents.
Entries include side control, passing the guard, turtle, top half guard and knee on belly. All these have one thing in common; the opponent must be on their side. The reason being is that to finish the darce it is much easier with the opponent on their side. Here you fit your fist through the opponent’s armpit and thread it behind their head, blocking their artery.
The other arm connects with the choking arm at the back of the head with a rear naked choke grip. Then you can choose to sprawl or create a leg entanglement to finish the submission. Next, you clamp your elbows together which tightens the gap and closes the choke into your partner. This creates a triangle against the opponent and cuts off the blood from both neck arteries.
The Brabo choke
The Brabo is slightly different but is also very similar. Unlike the Darce, the Brabo is a move that involves the opponent’s Gi so it differs but the mechanics are the same. For example, in top half guard instead of using your fist to go through the armpit, you use the opponent’s Gi.
This involves loosening their Gi and placing the tail under their armpit. Like the Darce it follows through to the back of their head by passing the artery. At this point, you can hug the opponent’s top arm and pull the Gi. Although this is part Gi choke, it operates in the same way as the Darce by cutting the blood from both arteries.
The Brabo is also unique in being applicable from the bottom position. Unlike the Darce and Anaconda choke, it can be used from closed guard. Here you can do the same as above, by unwrapping the opponent’s Gi under their arm and threading it past their neck.
This time you will need to snake out to the side of their shoulder and hug their head into the shoulder. Whilst pulling the Gi, this creates the same blood choke and finish. Remember to cut the angle by snaking to block their elbow, as this effectively attacks the choke from the side which is vital to make it work.
The Anaconda choke
Like the Darce, the Anaconda is mostly a Nogi move but again can be used in the Gi. This move was popularised by the Mendes brothers who successfully used it in many competitions. Imagine trying the Darce against an opponent in turtle. However, the opponent can sense danger and so they block the fist from entering under their armpit. A counter would be to use your other arm and enter from the head to the armpit. This is the opposite entry of the Darce which goes from the armpit to the head.
Like the Darce, the Anaconda uses the same rear naked grip. From here the finish is slightly different, involving a gator roll underneath the opponent. This is not needed from the entry via half guard but is used against the turtle position. Both entries finish with a leg entanglement whilst crushing the opponent’s head into your chest. This creates an image similar to an Anaconda squeezing the life out of its prey. Once more, the mechanics are the same as the previous chokes, again creating a triangle finish with the arms around the carotid arteries.
Summary
All of the above chokes are similar. They have the same DNA as a triangle choke and use the arms to cut off blood supply to the brain. Whilst the Darce enters via armpit-to-head, the Anaconda enters via head-to-armpit. The Brabo is similar to the Darce but instead of using an arm under the armpit, it uses the opponent’s Gi instead.
Overall these are subtle but key differences. If a student knows one of these moves then it is good, but knowing all three and chaining them together will create a multitude of attacks that will raise the game of the practitioner massively.
