In gi-based Jiu Jitsu the lapels are a crucial part of the sport. When attacking a stalling or tightly compacted opponent, the lapels of both their and your own gi can help unlock a submission from almost any position. Whilst lapel chokes are most efficiently used from standard offensive BJJ positions such as side control and mount, they can also be attacked from turtle and guard with good finishing percentages.
When performed correctly, a lapel based choke should be no more or less efficient than a no-gi choke. The lapels offer a diverse variety of chokes compared with no-gi, as it adds another dimension to the equation. For example, a deep hand in the collar is extremely dangerous in gi, where as a hand in the same position in no-gi could be threatening but is far less worrying.
Table of Contents
Lapel Chokes From Mount
Cross Collar Choke
A very basic choke which will take a very long time to perfect. Arguably Roger Gracies’ most famous choke. The cross collar choke requires getting one hand (usually palm up) in to the opponents collar as deep as possible. Then you must bring your other hand over the top of their head and grip as deep as you can inside (usually with your thumb and palm face down). Once these grips are secure you’re all set and can apply the pressure to your opponent’s neck. This will cause them to tap since it blocks both coratid arteries.
Modified Ezekiel Choke
There are many versions of the Ezekiel choke in BJJ. Almost all of them involve gripping inside your own gi sleeve, from here the other hand usually ends up being punched into the opponent’s neck. There are various modifications and variations to this such as grabbing the opponent’s lapel. There isn’t a “wrong” or “right” way to do any of these, it’s just best to pick whichever variation has the best results for yourself.
Wing Choke
Most commonly used in an attacking sequence. The wing choke isn’t usually a first choice move (although is very high percentage) since it is difficult to set up. More often than not, the opponent will “give it” to you when they turn on to their side. The opponent will turn on to their side for a variety of reasons, usually to defend a submission. When they do this, you are able to get your hand deep into their collar and put your other arm behind their head. Usually, this choke will be set up from a failed americana or a tightly defended armbar.
Lapel Chokes From Side Control
Baseball Choke
The baseball bat choke is an oldschool classic in gi jiu-jitsu. It can often be set up from either passing, side control, or a knee on belly position. The setup is quite similar to a cross collar except you will not go across your opponent’s neck. Once you have established very deep grips you should bring your hands and elbows together tightening the grip around the arteries. There are numerous ways to finish the choke, although it is almost always advisable to stay in the top position and use your weight to push downwards into the opponent’s neck.
Brabo Choke
The brabo choke is pretty much a D’arce choke whilst exploiting the fact that your opponent is wearing a gi. Your opponent’s lapel will be bought from their back to underneath their neck. Once you have switched hands and have a palm-up grip, you will now be able to control them very easily by pulling on the lapel. Whilst this may be uncomfortable and controlling for them – it will not choke them. You are able to finish easily by reaching over the top and grabbing the lining of their gi (from the same lapel you are using). From here you can bring your arm down and finish in a similar way you would a cross collar choke.
Breadcutter Choke
Also known as the paper cutter choke. The breadcutter is almost like a reverse baseball choke. Your first hand will go across the far side of the opponent’s neck and into the collar. As soon as your elbow is closed across the throat, you can now reach underneath your opponent’s shoulder to grab their collar from your nearside. From here you must finish with similar mechanics to the baseball choke. By doing this you will put pressure on both carotid arteries and force the tap.
Stepover Choke (Canto Choke)
Perhaps the most basic BJJ choke on the entire list. The canto choke is extremely easy to pull off – even for beginners. In an ideal scenario, this should always be a 100% choke, although often if the leg is too low this will be a nasty crank and still cause your opponent to tap. The mechanics of the choke are simply placing your nearside thumb into the opponent’s collar and then simply stepping over their head with the same side leg. Your opponent’s neck should now be stuck between your arm and leg, putting extreme pressure on both carotid arteries and getting the tap.
Lapel Chokes From The Back
Bow & Arrow Choke
The bow & arrow choke is aptly named based on its finishing motion. Once you have a deep collar grip across your opponent’s throat. You are then able to swing around to one side either underhooking the leg or grabbing the gi pants. You are then able to arch your back and thrust your hips into the opponent’s body to apply maximum pressure. The leverage is extremely brutal on this choke and it can come on very fast. One point to remember is you must always close your choking elbow to your body, this way the opponent cannot escape by pulling it down over their head.
Roger Gracie Choke (Less Risky Bow & Arrow Variation)
Once again, another of Roger Gracie’s signature finishes. This choke is also very easy to learn for beginners, but somewhat difficult to master. Here you will grab a deep grip inside your opponent’s collar and slide your arm across their throat. Using your other hand you will grab the opposite lapel and pull downwards – as if you were turning on a bathroom light.
From this point, you can sit off a little to the side, similar to a bow and arrow, but not as angled. People often make a mistake at this point by pulling as hard as they can. When in reality you can simply rotate your wrists downwards which will put just as much pressure on the neck, but spend a lot less energy in case anything goes wrong.
Lapel Chokes From Turtle
Peruvian Necktie
One of the sneakiest submissions in BJJ, the Peruvian necktie is performed using your own lapel. The idea is to pass your own lapel underneath the opponent’s armpit and then under their neck. Since they often will be expecting you to try and get back mount, this won’t be quite as tricky as the setup sounds, since it has the element of surprise.
From this position you can bring your same side leg over the back of the opponent’s head, forcing their neck downwards into the lapel. Your other leg should be bought over the back of the opponent to stop them rolling out of the choke by increasing the pressure on their body.
Clock Choke
A quite brutal choke, most famously used by Wallid Ismail to submit Royce Gracie. The clock choke, like many BJJ chokes has its origins in Judo. You’re probably tired of hearing this, but it once again requires a deep grip in your opponent’s collar going under their chin. From here you’re able to control their far arm or leg and sprawl your entire weight on the opponent’s upper back. They will not be able to move and their head will be forced downwards into the choke.
Note that the Tornado clock choke uses the leg to go over the back of the opponents head and was popularised by the Mendes brothers.
Crucifix Choke
Still lacking in IBJJF competitions due to it awarding 0 points. The choke from crucifix is extremely high percentage if you can get there. Popularised by the legendary Baret Yoshida, the crucifix offers incredible control once you have trapped the opponent’s arm with your legs. From here you can grip the opponent’s wrist in a 1 on 1 battle with your lower arm. Your upper arm is then free in a 1v1 against the neck, it shouldn’t be surprising to know that the neck will not win this battle.
Lapel Chokes From The Guard
Loop Choke
Finishing someone with a loop choke is relatively low percentage. This may sound surprising, but it is also very low risk, so even with a low finishing rate, it’s definitely worth learning. Loop Chokes are a sneak attack when the opponent either forgets or ignores you have a cross collar grip inside their gi. From here you can either wait for them to drop your head or go over the back of their head putting them in a headlock position (whilst still maintaining the grip).
After this, the finish is relatively easy by sliding your arm underneath your choking elbow and pushing down. Or finishing like Alexandre Vieira underneath the opponent’s leg in a fireman’s carry for added pressure.
Guillotine Using Gi
There are a lot of different variations of guillotines in the gi. We will often see guillotines performed in no gi, however, they are no exclusive to gi-less BJJ. Perhaps most commonly, you will see this move done from either the closed or butterfly guard. It can however be finished from a variety of positions such as half guard, sprawling from a front headlock position, as well as many others. There are also options for armless or arm-in guillotines, depending on how your opponent reacts.
Chokes From Gubber Guard
There are multiple lapel chokes from gubber guard. As soon as your gubber guard is set up, the lapel is already quite high over your own shin/ankle and ready to use on your opponent’s neck. If you’re able to pass your hand to control your own lapel underneath the opponent’s throat, you already essentially have the equivalent of a deep cross collar grip. From here you’re able to grab the other side of the opponent’s gi and finish similar to a cross collar choke. This is not the only choke from here, however, the position is still relatively new and still being explored.
