Rear Naked Choke: Complete BJJ Technique Guide

# Rear Naked Choke: Complete BJJ Technique Guide

## What is the Rear Naked Choke?

The Rear Naked Choke is a fundamental Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique that every practitioner should master. Whether you're a white belt just starting out or an experienced grappler refining your game, understanding the mechanics and timing of this technique will elevate your BJJ.

## How to Perform the Rear Naked Choke

Here's a detailed breakdown based on expert instruction:

# Rear Naked Choke

All right, guys, let's talk a bit about the rear naked choke, okay? Why rear naked

choke? Because basically, I can do with naked arms. I don't need the ghee to choke,

okay? And I believe it's one of the most powerful chokes, okay? The rear naked

choke I must be on my opponent's back.

And I go around his neck, all right?

the line of my elbow should be on the line of his chin. Okay? Don't do a short

movement here. That would be called it a straight choke. A rear naked choke, you

have your arm very deep, all right? On a very basic way in the first time that

you're learning, it's okay you end up holding your biceps and then the back of your

hand behind his head. Remember, use the back of your hand behind his head,

all right? And now once I have these, I have to use my whole body as one piece.

So basically, I have to flex my back muscles. I have to open my chest.

Also, I have to compress with my arm and biceps and forearms. So basically I'm

using my whole body as one piece to pressure, to pressure his neck and close the

blood flow, right? So once I'm here, I just start squeezing like so.

What is the mistake? A lot of people do this, do on the rear naked choke. So

basically, a lot of people think that once I have the arm inside, I actually have

to push the head with this arm and pull with the other arm.

And this is wrong, because these I rely too much in the strength of my arms.

I'm not using my body effectively, okay? You should use your whole body to actually

choke your opponent. So once you go around, you hold your biceps and Then go behind

his head, and you start compressing. Imagine you're using your whole body to

compress, right? So this is the easiest way, the beginning way to learn. What is

the mistake on this? Once I get around his neck, once I do this, he maybe hold my

arm, and then I'm not able to lock it. How can I improve

Quando eu diga a minha arma ao seu dedo, a minha m‹o vai atr‡s de aqui e ele n‹o

even v que eu estou lendo. Isso faz sentido? Em Brasil,

n—s chamamos as pessoas que fazem isso e isso para trocar, n—s chamamos de macarena

dana, porque voc est‡ fazendo errado, voc n‹o precisa fazer isso. Ent‹o voc vai

l‡ e depois You go from behind here, behind,

you slide the palm of your hand above this hand.

Important as well, close this hand as a fist. Why? Because if you leave your

fingers open, maybe the aggressor can hold your fingers trying to remove. So it's

important you close your hand as well. And then you just compress and you're going

to choke your opponent, okay so small tips for the rear naked choke okay for me is

the best joke is the most powerful choke once you're in somebody someone's back and

you'll lock that i'm sure you're gonna put the guy to sleep see you next lesson

guys

## Key Points to Remember

When drilling the Rear Naked Choke, focus on these essential details:

1. **Positioning** — Your body position determines your success rate

2. **Timing** — Wait for the right moment, don't force it

3. **Grip** — Secure proper grips before committing to the technique

4. **Finish** — Follow through completely once you initiate

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many practitioners struggle with the Rear Naked Choke because they:

- Rush the technique without proper setup

- Neglect the importance of base and balance

- Forget to control their opponent's reactions

- Don't drill both sides equally

## When to Use the Rear Naked Choke

The Rear Naked Choke works best when:

- Your opponent's weight distribution creates an opening

- You've set up the technique with proper grips

- You can commit fully to the movement

- You have a follow-up ready if the initial attempt fails

## Track Your Rear Naked Choke Progress

The fastest way to improve any BJJ technique is tracking your training. JitsAI helps you:

- **Log every session** in 30 seconds with voice notes

- **Identify patterns** in what's working and what isn't

- **Get AI analysis** of your game after just 3 sessions

- **See your progress** over time with data you can trust

**Stop guessing. Start tracking.**

[Download JitsAI — Free for 7 Days](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jitsai-level-up-your-bjj/id6749017903)

---

*This technique guide is based on instruction from Professor Henrique, covering the Rear Naked Choke as part of the JitsAI Fundamentals Course.*