If you’ve just started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu then the amount of rules and regulations may be a bit overwhelming. What may seem perfectly fine may actually be illegal, and what may seem rude may be perfectly legal. This is where it’s good to brush up on the rules so you don’t do anything out of line in your gym.
Similarly, if you plan on competing it’s good to make sure you understand the basics to avoid getting a disqualification. Today we shall focus entirely on chokes to see what is and isn’t legal. For the record, we shall be looking at this through IBJJF rules as this is what most gyms and competitions use for their ruleset. Obviously, different competition settings have different rules.
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What chokes are allowed in BJJ?
For the most part, the majority of blood chokes and trachea chokes are legal in BJJ. This means if you pull someone’s gi collar across their neck then it may cut off blood to their brain which is perfectly legal. Similarly, if you get someone in a guillotine and close their air via a trachea choke, then is legal (although a good guillotine should be a blood choke).
Thinking about it, BJJ probably has the most amount of chokes compared to any other martial art. The closest competitors are probably MMA but this doesn’t use the gi. Next is Judo, where many nogi chokes are banned.
Basically, most of what you see in BJJ regarding chokes will be legal and you’ll have a lot to choose from. Due to the sheer amount of legal chokes in BJJ, it’s probably easier to list the number of chokes that aren‘t legal instead. These rare exceptions will be listed below.
What chokes aren’t allowed in BJJ?
Smothering
Smothering is when you put your hand over the opponents mouth and nose and suffocate them. This is because suffocating chokes aren’t legal in IBJJF. A classic example of a smother choke is by Vagner Rocha. Here, Rocha has won various matches using this method when it’s allowed. Otherwise, it’s not legal and may annoy your training partners.
Throttling
Throttling is when you put both hands around your opponents neck and compress inwards. You’ll often seen this attack shown in self defense demonstrations where someone is being throttled from mount. Alternatively, you may see someone getting throttled whilst pinned against a wall standing up.
The reason for banning this technique is that it could potentially crush the trachea. Generally, trachea chokes are frowned upon for this reason. However, if done by a typical choke such as a guillotine, it is legal. Nonetheless, if you try throttling someone in most rulesets you will get disqualified.
Using the belt to choke
This is a bit of a technicality as far as rules go. Basically, it’s legal to choke someone with your belt as long as it’s still wrapped around your body. However, if you remove the belt then it becomes illegal. The same rules apply to the opponent’s belt too. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘hitman‘ choke as it’s like a move from the video game. The reason for banning this technique is probably that it violates tradition rather than for health and safety measures.
Certain chokes that move into neck crank territory
Like certain trachea crushes, the rules here are vague. Firstly, if you crank the neck during a rear naked choke position then it’s perfectly legal. However, other neck cranks that are obvious and more dangerous like the Twister are illegal.
One choke that some people believe to be legal is the infamous Dragon Sleeper. This is basically a guillotine from the back but it also puts immense pressure on the neck. In other words, even if your did a Dragon Sleeper that was the cleanest choke in the world, it would still result in disqualification. This is in the name of safety as it could break the neck.
Conclusion
When it comes to training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there is a huge number of completely legal chokes to chose from. This means you shouldn’t have to rely on any of the illegal techniques that are listed above. Of course, if you’re still confused then it doesn’t hurt to ask your teacher either.
Remember as well, if you’re on the receiving end of a deep choke to tap out if there is no escape. In the long run it’s best to admit defeat and stay healthy rather than getting choked unconscious or hurting your neck. For more information on what chokes are allowed in IBJJF BJJ – check out their guidelines and rules here.
If you want to learn more about chokes and how to improve your choking technique, check out this book for more information.
