BJJ

BJJ Loop Choke: Drilling Strategies and Classifications

BJJ Loop Choke Drilling Strategies and Classifications

1. Effectiveness of BJJ Loop Chokes

The Loop Choke is a finishing tool inside your BJJ game; it cuts off the blood flow to the brain, choking them out to force them into submission or to take a significant win. Loop chokes are BJJ's most potent submission weapon, and they are precise and observant in both GI and no-GI BJJ competitions.


A loop choke initiates by leveraging and separating one of the opponent's arms while securing the choke using a guard. In most cases, BJJ players handle their opponent's arm underneath the head while moving onto a lapel-driven application from side control.

1.1. Use of Cross-Collar Hold in BJJ

BJJ Loop Choke

1.1.1. Management and Influence

Cross-collar grip: The fighter controls his opponent by grasping his Gi collar on the opposite side. This hold allows one to destroy posture by pulling the head and shoulders forward.


This dominant control of the guard position can save you from your opponent's counter-attacking, and you can keep them under your control.

1.1.2. Catch your competitor off balance

One should always have an adequate grip on the cross collar because it will lead to an effective transition. A sweep and drag across the body into the collar from one solid force to offset even the most formidable opponents, making it easier to execute various techniques from different guards.

1.1.3. Attack strategy

Cross-collar grip is achieved from various submissions and sweeps. For example, the grip allows exact control and power in the cross-collar choke or collar drag. This hold is instrumental in arranging the attacks, such as the triangle choke or armbar, as it lets you place your opponent's head and upper body when the pressure is applied.

2. Types of BJJ Loop Chokes

Types of BJJ Loop Chokes

Loop Choke is a type of BJJ submission hold that manipulates the opponent's Gi collar to create choking pressure in his throat region. They elaborated on various kinds of fundamental main loop choke and their types and analyzed their breakdown mechanism, area of use, and advantages.

2.1. BJJ Loop Choke From Fireman's Carry

The loop choke works against your guard if the opponent is passing. It is the most appropriate moment to retaliate with a fireman's carry-to-the-loop choke. If the opponents are trying to pressure pass, there are times when they are vulnerable to the cross-collar grip, particularly at the start when they are trying to give the pass.


The cross collar grip is the next step, then quickly wrap your hand across their chin and behind their head to block arteries. Make a loop around your head inside rather than placing your other hand behind the opponent's head to apply the choke and submit it.

2.2. BJJ Loop Choke from Closed Guard

If you are applying a choke from a close-guard position, try to control your opponent's posture and then structure the space for your arm with their leg Position. Put one of your arms between the opponent's lapel and his neck and get the nearest lapel with the other hand. Just incorporate the collars into a choking loop for easier submission.


This choke is so subtle that their opponent gets too focused on passing the guard when they use it. At some point during the match, when they are not prepared to defend another type of attack from you while transitioning to other stages, it will be easy to trick your opponent into this technique.


They help you break your opponent's base or posture and apply instant choking pressure. As seen earlier, this is very powerful when our opponent attempts a pass, allowing us to hit with a collar choke while maintaining the closed guard position.

2.3. BJJ Loop Choke from the side control

In side control, you ensure control over one's opponent's arms. Capture the opponent's distant collar with your right hand. Then, slide your left arm across so that it will make an arc to capture the opponent's neck. Then, tuck your right hand into the opponent's near collar and grab the two.


The loop choke from side control puts more pressure on the opponent, making them surrender. Most of the time, they will be unable to control their movements. It is especially effective when switching positions from side control to the dominant Position on top, where the opponent can be submitted.

2.4. BJJ Loop Choke from Mount

BJJ Loop Choke: Drilling Strategies and Classifications

The apply Loop choke from a mount guard positions control over your opponent's upper body. You are getting one of your opponent's arms around his neck and choking him out with the GI collar.


With this collar, pull the collar towards yourself while being able to rein in the mount. This mount provides total control over the opponent, making it almost impossible for them to slip from the choke hold.


This variation of loop choke employs the mount position to complete the choke without much resistance from the opponent. This is optimum when the opponent cannot defend itself or move because it is dominated.

2.5. Back Position in BJJ

The loop choke and the roll-through method can be applied from back control. When the opponent is behind, hook in and reach around the upper part of the body. Place one of your arms around your opponent's neck and grab the far collar. Grab their nearer collar and twist it towards you with your other hand. Back control allows them to submit their opponent without risking total exposure to the back area.

2.6. BJJ Reverse Loop Choke

The reverse loop choke involves wrapping one arm around the bed of the opponent's neck in reverse and grabbing the opponent's collar with the same hand. Pull the collar; in that way, you will be able to choke the opponent even more. It also has an excellent choking effect because a different angle and grip are used.


This variation is invaluable where loop chokes are an option or opponents do not permit regular grips, as they assume you cannot apply a choke from a rear bear hug. It is probably helpful when both the opponent and self are in twist-and-turn modes or the 'scramble' phases.

2.7. Leaning Choke from Knee on Belly

Drilling Techniques for BJJ Loop Choke

From the knee to the belly position , you need to put your knee on the opponent's body to make it exert pressure on it. If you have one hand free, grab your opponent's collar while placing your other arm around their neck and keeping the knee pressed. Pull on the collar to squeeze the opposite side. Combining the Loop choke with knee-on-belly pressure creates uneasiness and hinders the opponent. This variation uses the 'knee-on-belly' Position for the choke and remains on top.

3. Drilling Techniques for BJJ Loop Choke

Drilling Techniques for BJJ Loop Choke

The loop choke is a very flexible and, at the same time, very effective weapon among submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), which can be applied in different situations, such as during guard passes, half-guard, side control, and while countering takedowns.


For practitioners of BJJ, it is necessary to learn a detailed description of how to do it and the reasoning behind this technique to ensure it is safe. The Loop Choke is a versatile and powerful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) submission

3.1. Loop Choke from Different Guards

The Loop Choke is a move in which your arm and perhaps your gi loop over your opponent's neck. It applies pressure to the neck, restricting airflow and blood flow, leading to a submission.


A player should be adaptable and controllable enough to apply the loop choke from various positions. This variation enables the choke to be used effortlessly.

3.1.1. Butterfly Guard:

Use the butterfly hook to maintain a position over your opponent by hooking the foot on the hip. From here, look to reach the collar or sleeves to build the loop choke. Finish the choke while maintaining the hook to keep them in one spot.

3.1.2. Half Guard:

Control your hips with your top leg as you are in half guard while you grip your collar to apply a choke and control post. To begin, it's a good idea to start having a hold of your opponent's collar.


This is because, to set up the loop choke from this position, you will have to readjust your positioning and capture a grip over your opponent's neck area, similar to a guillotine. Besides, the player uses the arm over the head and around to firmly grip the lapel.

3.1.3. Open Guard

For the loop choke to be applied from an open guard's position like a spider or butterfly, you need to hold your opponent's position with your legs wrapped around and not give him any chance of escape.


Grab their collar or sleeve and hook your arm around their neck-just as we do in a close guard position. Pull them closer with your feet as you go for the choke.

3.1.4. Drill Repetition:

Practicing the transition between different guards while maintaining the choke helps in creating variations of loop chokes in various situations and improves the intensity of the choke applied from a different angle.

3.2.Transitioning to Other Submissions

In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the loop choke is one of the submissions every practitioner must master. It has different variations that can be performed in other circumstances. The loop choke is used for closed guard, side control, mount, back control, and knee-on-belly.


Yes, it destroys posture and strangles the neck just right. These variations require their understanding of the proper application, which includes mechanics and attention. For this reason, you need to learn other submissions. Transitioning drills improve wily practices at such times.

3.2.1. Changing the Loop choke to a Triangle Choke

The opponent is about to posture; it's time for a triangle choke. Lock the Position with your legs and put on the choke.

3.2.2. Flipping Loop Choke to Sweep

That is the force, and if you can't attack with the choke, it's time to transition into a sweep. Lead the sweep in command, holding their collar or sleeve.

3.2.3. From Loop Choke to Armbar

Your opponent is trying to clear the choke and posts on his collar or sleeve with hands that you use as a grip control while entering an armbar. Move your body and apply pressure to your arm to complete the Armbar.


Drill these transitions with a partner who is countering the choke. If not downright mastered, then very likely sorely craved. Focus on flowing between sequences and dominate the opponent throughout.

3.3. Conditioning of loop choke in Gi and No Gi Holds in BJJ

 Drilling Techniques and Variation of the Loop Choke in BJJ

Use the GI to increase the impact of the loop choke instead of grabbing the opponent with your hand. You can catch them from their GI sleeves. Instead of hooking your hand around their neck, grab them from their sleeves and create a loop around them.


Loops created using their GI sleeve can increase the pressure of the choke. Start to tighten the choke to provide extreme force on their neck. Your grip should be firm to keep the Gi tight around their neck.


Drge the Go down towards you to complete the choke. The grip should be firm, and the choke is appropriate to make them submit. If you close the guard position, you can use this technique by slightly opening the guard to pull your opponent closer to you. In side control, you can use their body weight to keep them in place.

3.4.No Gi- a variation of loop choke in BJJ

If you do not grab them from their gi, use your arm to maintain a solid grip around their neck, creating the choking effect. This variation would require different gripping, emphasizing arm placement and more concentration on body control.


Drill repetition: This variation needs consistent drilling. Concentrate on the gripping method and how to use Gi to create different looping techniques to enhance the choke's effectiveness. Practice with a resisting partner, where you can manage the grip and increase pressure on the neck while practicing with a partner in a more realistic environment.

3.5. Flow Rolling with BJJ Loop Choke

It helps in combining the loop choke techniques in the BJJ game. Light flow rolling or sparring by combining the loop chokes by switching from one submission move to any other submission and body movement.


Submission Modifications:

Organize the sequence of loop chokes with various other guards or submission moves.

For example, if you start with a guard position, you can attack with a loop choke.


If your opponent gets into a defensive position, shift your submission and move into another, and then turn back to attack from a loop choke if possible. The goal is to develop a natural way of reacting to different submission moves against your opponent, which can only be done if you flow and roll regularly.

4. Conclusion

Both concepts, some setups, and how they are applied by various guards, such as transitions and their implementation in rolling, are considered. Focusing on these areas and incorporating resistance-based training and flow rolling will improve your use of the Loop Choke in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.


This training and the repetition with drilling will eventually create a loop choke to BJJ. Make sure to drill these from different positions as well; setting yourself up and transitioning into these will make it easier to finish your loop chokes accurately under natural conditions. In other words, better grips, body positioning through the choke, and timing to take advantage of your opponent's lapse or attempt wrecking will make this technique even more ubiquitous. Continuously improving methods of practicing and fine-tuning how the loop choke is executed will benefit BJJ practice.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What tactical aspects must be considered when executing transitions in BJJ and the loop choke?

Another issue to consider while developing the loop choke is how to transition when it is defended. While this might seem useless, being aware of such responses makes it less likely that one will roll and not use the openings one recognizes during live rolls.


Q: Are there specifics I can use to apply the Loop choke more effectively? 

To increase the efficiency of the loop choke, you should also concentrate on grip strength training, position fixation, and flying for the right moment to apply the strangulation without sudden movements that can lead to an injury. Furthermore, repeatedly practicing the technique against a resisting partner will improve your skills and, in turn, your effectiveness with the loop choke submission.


Q: What characteristics define the loop choke in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) art?

The loop choke is a submission hold executed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this case, the choke is applied by taking the opponent's back. Several positions, such as closed guard, side control, mount, back control, and knee on the chest, can allow the execution of this submission.

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