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Guillotine Choke

Quick Introduction​

The guillotine is a front headlock choke that can be applied standing, from guard, or during scrambles. It's a fundamental submission that punishes opponents who lower their head, making it essential for both offense and takedown defense. The guillotine is one of the most versatile submissions in BJJ.

Technique Overview​

Type: Choke (can be air or blood choke depending on application and angle)

Station: Submissions - Universal application (standing, guard, transitions)

Available from: Standing (primary), closed guard, half guard, butterfly guard, turtle, scrambles

Finish: Arm around neck, pulling up while hips drive forward

Leads to: Guard positions, sweeps, back takes

Guillotine Variations (3 Main Applications)​

🎯 Standard Guillotine (Pull Guard)​

Setup Position

Standing or scramble position with opponent's head lowered (shooting, passing, etc.)

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Opponent lowers their head (shooting takedown, passing, scrambling)
  2. Immediately wrap arm deep around their neck
  3. Your hand reaches to your opposite hip area
  4. Lock hands with gable grip (palm to palm)
  5. Pull guard (closed or half guard preferred)
  6. Arch your back while pulling up on their neck
  7. Drive hips forward into them
  8. Squeeze chest and crunch until tap

Critical Details

  • Catch them immediately when head is down (timing critical)
  • Get arm very deep - crook of elbow on their throat, not wrist
  • Lock hands before pulling guard
  • Closed guard gives best control
  • Arch back while lifting up AND driving hips forward
  • Two-directional pressure (up and forward)

Tactical Advantage

Fast finish; punishes poor posture; works gi and no-gi; can finish standing; excellent takedown defense; high percentage when timed correctly

⚔️ High Elbow Guillotine (Arm-In)​

Setup Position

Guard position with guillotine grip established with opponent's arm trapped inside

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Have guillotine grip with their arm trapped inside the lock
  2. Pull your choking elbow high toward ceiling (key detail)
  3. Extend your body long (straighten out)
  4. Create angle with your hips (slight turn)
  5. Shrug shoulder on choking side
  6. Squeeze chest while maintaining high elbow
  7. Extend and squeeze until tap

Critical Details

  • Elbow must point to ceiling (high elbow position)
  • Extend your body long, don't curl up
  • Shrug shoulder toward choking side
  • Their arm being inside completely changes mechanics
  • More technical than standard guillotine
  • Works when standard version is defended

Tactical Advantage

Higher percentage when arm is trapped inside; more control; modern evolution of technique; works even when they defend standard version; less strength required

🔄 Ten Finger Guillotine (Simple Version)​

Setup Position

Similar to standard but with all fingers interlaced

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Get guillotine position with arm around neck
  2. Instead of gable or arm-in grip, interlace all 10 fingers
  3. Pull up on neck while driving hips forward
  4. Crunch and squeeze chest
  5. Maintain two-directional pressure

Critical Details

  • All fingers interlaced together
  • Creates more surface area for squeeze
  • Very popular in no-gi
  • Good for beginners learning mechanics
  • Simple and effective

Tactical Advantage

Easier to finish for beginners; great grip security; simple mechanics; no-gi friendly; hard to break the grip

Important Observations (General Rules)​

Core Principles​

  1. 🎯 Catch the lowered head - Timing is critical when they drop head
  2. 💪 Crook of elbow on throat - Not wrist or forearm
  3. ⏱️ Pull up, drive hips forward - Two directions of pressure simultaneously
  4. 🔄 Guard or standing - Can finish from both positions
  5. 🎮 Variation selection - Choose based on situation:
    • Standard → When their head drops, fastest setup
    • High Elbow → When they defend standard or arm is trapped
    • Ten Finger → For no-gi or when learning mechanics

Connection to Theories​

Applying core principles:

  • Timing: Catch them during transitions and attacks
  • Two-Direction Pressure: Up and forward simultaneously creates choke
  • Position Versatility: Can finish from guard or standing
  • Leverage: Body movement not arm strength
  • Space Management: Close all space around neck

Applying body reading concepts:

  • Neck Control: Controlling central line of their body
  • Hip Pressure: Forward drive isolates their head
  • Posture Breaking: Exploit their broken posture

Common Mistakes​

⚠️ Wrist on throat - Ineffective and easy to defend, must be crook of elbow

⚠️ Only pulling up - Must also drive hips forward (two directions)

⚠️ Chasing it standing too long - Better to pull guard and secure position

⚠️ Wrong hand placement - Hand must reach deep (opposite hip area)

⚠️ Not arching back - Reduces effectiveness dramatically

⚠️ Catching too late - Must get it immediately as they drop head

⚠️ Wrong guard choice - Closed or half guard much better than open

🎓 Training Progressions​

Solo Drills​

  1. Guillotine Grip Practice (5 minutes)

    • Practice wrapping motion on heavy bag or dummy
    • Focus on deep hand placement
    • Build familiarity with different grips
    • Practice the arching motion

  2. Hip Drive Drill (10 reps)

    • Lie on back in guillotine position
    • Practice arching back while driving hips up
    • Feel the two-directional pressure
    • Build muscle memory for finish mechanics

Partner Drills​

Level 1: Cooperative (No Resistance)

  • Partner gives you front headlock position
  • Practice full sequence 10 times
  • Focus: Deep hand placement, proper lock, finish mechanics
  • Stop at light pressure (safety)

Level 2: Light Resistance (25%)

  • Partner shoots slow takedown
  • Catch guillotine and pull guard
  • Practice timing the catch
  • Focus: Speed of setup

Level 3: Positional Sparring (50%)

  • Start standing or from knees
  • Partner actively shoots and scrambles
  • Hunt for guillotine opportunities
  • Focus: Timing and recognition

Level 4: Live Application (100%)

  • Full rolling from standing
  • Attempt guillotine on real shots
  • Focus: Defense and counter-attack use
  • Apply safely

Common Setup Drills​

Drill 1: Shot Defense to Guillotine

  1. Partner shoots single or double leg
  2. Sprawl and catch front headlock
  3. Lock guillotine grip
  4. Pull guard (closed)
  5. Finish choke
  6. 10 reps alternating shooter

Drill 2: Guard Pull Guillotine

  1. Standing position
  2. Fake level change to make them react
  3. When they lower head, catch guillotine
  4. Pull to closed guard
  5. Finish
  6. Flow for 3 minutes

Drill 3: High Elbow vs Standard

  1. Partner in your guard with guillotine locked
  2. Attempt standard finish
  3. If defended, switch to high elbow
  4. Flow between both for 5 minutes
  5. Learn to recognize which works when

See closed guard applications

Progression Timeline​

Following training methods:

  • Week 1-2: Learn standard guillotine from guard, no resistance
  • Week 3-4: Add standing catch timing, light resistance
  • Week 5-8: Positional drilling against shots
  • Month 3-6: Live application, high elbow variation
  • Month 6+: Advanced setups, teaching others

🔧 Troubleshooting Guide​

Problem: Can't Finish the Choke​

Solutions:

  1. Check hand is deep enough (crook of elbow on throat)
  2. Ensure you're pulling up AND driving hips forward
  3. Arch your back more
  4. Squeeze chest together
  5. Try high elbow variation if standard not working

Problem: They Pull Their Head Out​

Solutions:

  1. Catch it earlier when head first drops
  2. Get deeper hand placement initially
  3. Lock hands before they posture back up
  4. Pull guard faster to secure position
  5. Use collar tie to prevent them posturing

Problem: Losing Position in Guard​

Solutions:

  1. Close guard tightly
  2. Don't let them posture up
  3. Keep constant upward pressure
  4. Switch to high elbow if they're defending
  5. Maintain hip drive forward

Problem: Wrong Type of Pressure​

Solutions:

  1. Remember: pull UP and drive hips FORWARD
  2. Practice the arch back motion
  3. Don't just curl into ball
  4. Extend body while squeezing
  5. Think about making them "tall"

🔄 Attack Chains & Combinations​

Guillotine → Sweep​

When they defend guillotine from guard:

  1. They posture up hard to defend
  2. Use their posture to sweep
  3. Come to top position
  4. Maintain guillotine grip
  5. Finish from top or transition

Guillotine → Arm Drag → Back Take​

From butterfly guard:

  1. Threaten guillotine
  2. They defend by pulling head out
  3. Arm drag their defending arm
  4. Take back mount
  5. Finish with rear naked choke

Failed Shot → Guillotine → Guard​

Takedown defense sequence:

  1. They shoot takedown
  2. Sprawl and catch front headlock
  3. Lock guillotine immediately
  4. Pull to closed guard
  5. Finish choke or sweep

Guillotine → Anaconda/D'Arce​

Advanced transitions:

  1. Setup guillotine
  2. They defend by pulling head back
  3. Switch to anaconda or d'arce choke
  4. Use their defense to setup different attack
  5. Continuous front headlock pressure

💡 Advanced Concepts​

Guard Selection for Guillotine​

Closed Guard (Best)

  • Maximum control
  • Prevents them standing
  • Best for finishing
  • Learn this first

Half Guard (Good)

  • Natural from sprawl
  • Still good control
  • Common in competition
  • Allows some mobility

Butterfly Guard (Advanced)

  • Dynamic option
  • Allows arm drags
  • Less secure
  • For experienced players

Standing Finish (Opportunistic)

  • If they're exhausted
  • Quick finish possible
  • Higher risk of losing it
  • Requires perfect setup

Grip Variations​

Gable Grip (Beginners)

  • Palm to palm
  • Simple and effective
  • Good starting point

Arm-In Grip (Intermediate)

  • Hand to bicep
  • For high elbow version
  • More technical

Ten Finger (No-Gi)

  • All fingers interlaced
  • Great grip security
  • Popular in MMA

Marcelotine (Advanced)

  • Named after Marcelo Garcia
  • Arm across, hand to opposite shoulder
  • High elbow position
  • Very effective

Guillotine as Takedown Defense​

Philosophy:

  • Offensive defense
  • Punish bad shots
  • Creates respect for your guard

Application:

  1. Opponent shoots
  2. Sprawl immediately
  3. Wrap guillotine as you sprawl
  4. Pull guard or finish standing
  5. Either way, you're safe and offensive

Benefits:

  • Stops takedowns
  • Creates submission threat
  • Pulls them into your guard
  • Mental advantage

No-Gi Specialization​

Key Differences:

  • More common in no-gi (sweaty, no collar)
  • Faster application needed
  • Grip selection critical
  • Head control more important

Adjustments:

  • Ten finger or arm-in grip preferred
  • Get very deep initially
  • Apply faster
  • High elbow works well
  • Expect them to be more slippery

🎯 Belt-Level Expectations​

White Belt Goals​

Referenced in Beginner's Journey:

  • Understand basic guillotine mechanics
  • Catch it on obvious shots (Month 4-5)
  • Execute from closed guard
  • Use as takedown defense
  • Safe application

Blue Belt Development​

Referenced in Skill Progression:

  • Guillotine from multiple guards
  • High elbow variation
  • Standing and guard finishes
  • Combination with sweeps
  • Consistent takedown defense tool

Purple Belt Mastery​

  • Guillotine becomes primary weapon
  • Advanced grip variations
  • Setup from any scramble
  • Teaching ability
  • No-gi specialization
  • Chain to other attacks

🎯 Next Steps​

After understanding guillotine fundamentals:

  1. Master the timing → Drill catching lowered heads repeatedly
  2. Learn closed guard finish first → Most secure position
  3. Add high elbow → Modern, technical variation
  4. Practice on shots → Use for takedown defense
  5. Develop feel → Know when to pull guard vs finish standing
  6. Study grip options → Find what works for your body

🔗 Related Resources​

Position Prerequisites​

Combination Techniques​

Theoretical Foundation​

Progress Tracking​