
Rear Naked Choke Addition by Lachlan Giles
The rear naked choke is one of the oldest submissions used in all forms of grappling. It is so common that is probably that most often submission you might see in the latest action movie, although somehow the movies always make it seem like it kills everyone, which isn’t really true.
Learn from Craig Jones, master of all things submissions and grappling!
Unlike many other submissions and positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the rear naked choke seems to be stagnant in its evolution overtime. This is because it is so effective. Just like the old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, just because the choke hasn’t changed much over the years doesn’t mean it’s defense hasn’t changed either.
It seems that we went from an age where if someone got to the back, they will get the choke and eventually escape. These days, though, every detail of that attack must be done perfectly or else the defender will escape, which is a shame if we are able to get to the back.
One recent innovation, if you want to call it that, of the rear naked choke is something John Danaher’s students like Gordon Ryan, Nicky Ryan, and Garry Tonon. It used to be that to get the rear naked choke, you have to be under the chin, but these elite grapplers have illustrated that with the proper mechanics, you can get the tap while over the chin.
Another important avenue to innovate in isn’t necessarily the squeeze, but how we get to the point where we can apply the squeeze. This is where must people get there escapes, not after you’ve locked it in, but while you are putting the choke in place.
Lachlan Giles is an elite BJJ black belt out of Australia. He teaches at Absolute MMA and trains some of the best grapplers on the scene like Craig Jones. Lachlan is always looking for unique ways to improve various techniques, even one that people think are great the way they are.
In Lachlan’s latest innovation, he describes a better way of ensuring the defender can’t escape while you are setting up your rear naked choke. Watch his explanation of it in the video below:
His approach is simple, and makes sense. After watching it, your execution from the Z-Guard will dramatically change for the better.

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