To advanced practitioners, this question may sound stupid. However, to newcomers of the art, it is a valid question. In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, we often feel things may be stupid or wrong but remember, when you’re brand new – things aren’t as simple. Further, the answer to this question may not be as simple as you think either. For the record, we shall be using IBJJF rules to determine whether belt chokes are legal in BJJ. Seeing as IBJJF is the main rule set that is followed in the gi, this makes sense.
You can choke someone with your own belt, on one condition…
This condition is that your belt is tied around your waist whilst doing the choke. With this said, there are very few ways in which this can actually be done. Basically, what this is saying is that you can’t take off your belt and choke someone with it like a garotte wire. In short, your belt must be worn at all times to be used as a choke.
So, is this possible? Well, technically it is possible. However, pulling this off in competition would be incredibly difficult and not easy. One way to do this would be from side control with the knot. If you had a particularly big knot that stuck out, you could force this into a carotid artery. If you managed to dig this deep enough, then it could act similar to a shoulder pressure choke. Of course, doing this in reality is much harder than it sounds.
For one, shoulder pressure chokes aren’t easy, however the angle to use your belt knot would be far harder. Lastly, you would need to pin the opponent down perfectly whilst sprawling into their neck, which requires a lot of hip flexibility. In general, this would be very tough to do…especially in a competition or against a tough opponent.
Here is a video showing a white belt using his belt to choke in a competition. To the dismay of his coaches, he is disqualified after.
Can you choke someone using their own belt?
The answer to this is no. The IBJJF rules are quite clear in stating that you can’t choke someone by using their own belt. Perhaps it’s impossible to physically choke someone with their own belt whilst being worn…however even if it is possible then it doesn’t matter. Unlike the previous rule that involves your own belt, this is simply off limits in every available possibility.
Hopefully this clears up any lingering questions about belt chokes. The last thing you would like to do is pay money and go to a competition and use a belt to choke someone, only to get disqualified. Having said this, it is perfectly legal in a gym setting, as long as it’s talked about beforehand. Even then, it would be a bit weird using a belt to choke, unless used jokingly of course.
