Sleeper / Chokes / NHB Gallery

Strangle holds are different from choke holds in that they do not apply direct and primary pressure against the windpipe, but rather apply pressure TOWARD the carotid arterties. Unconsciousness is not the result of "cutting the blood supply from the brain" by pinching the carotid arteries as many incorrectly believe. The mechanism of strangle holds is to apply pressure to both sides of the neck near the carotid sinus. By exciting the sinus nerve quickly, the vagus nerve center in the brain becomes stimulted thereby exciting the vagus nerve. All of this causes a slowing of the heart that creates a rapid fall in blood pressure, which in turn, causes fainting. (By the way, blood supply to the brain cannot be closed off by carotid artery compression since the vertebral arteries continue to supply blood to the brain).

Although strangle holds are not violent and do not cause physical injury, they are dangerous. Normally, one will wake up within several seconds after lapsing in unconsciousness. However, there are rare instances where proper strangle holds result in a ceasation of breathing. Most traditional jujutsu ryu's train resuscitation methods for this event.

Because of these risks, most jurisdictions consider strangle/chokes deadly force. This is something to consider in applying your self-defense. If you apply one of these techniques, you may find yourself charged with a felony.

Terence

When trying to apply this choke to advanced guys, use the opposite hand you usually choke with first! For example, if you usually slide your right arm underneat, instead, slide your left arm underneath. When he tries to block this, THEN you slide your right arm underneath and continue the choke. This is a little setup/trick to get this on the advanced guys. Beginners you can just go for it.

Choke holds are only really dangerous when you don't know how to do them. If all your choke experience comes from watching an episode of Highlander, then stay away from it.

The last two issues of Inside Kung Fu magazine has a great set of articles on the choke by Rorion Gracie, but here's my condensed version, gleaned from both reading and jiu jitsu experience.

I can attest to the safety of a properly executed choke. I have passed out from chokes probably about six times, and woke up within 20 seconds each time. It's not painful, though it's scary going under the first time -- after all, no blood in the brain is a good enough signal to me to stimulate a panic attack. But, waking up from the experience is actually somewhat pleasant, reminiscent of using Nitrous Oxide at the
dentists office...

A good choke applies pressure on the carotid artery, NOT the jugular vein. Stopping the flow of the jugular would be of very limited practical value. Stopping the carotid ends blood flow to the brain, causing the opponent to pass out, often within six seconds. This isn't something that can be particularly defended against, either. Even the strongest neck muscles would have a hard time resisting the soft pressure of a well-leveraged choke.

To achieve a proper "naked" choke (one of dozens of choke forms), wrap your strong arm around the victim's neck. As mentioned in an earlier post, place the crook of your elbow exactly in front of his windpipe. Place the hand of your strong arm on your biceps, or, if possible, your shoulder. Then place your other arm behind the victim's neck, with your hand against the opponent's head for stability in case he tries a backwards head butt (not to be confused with butt head). Place your head in the gap left by your arms, and keep your eyes protected, because if he hasn't totally freaked out, he WILL try to rip out an eye or two.

If you can, place a knee against his back. Then, while driving the knee in, place gradual pressure on the neck by contracting your arm as in a biceps curl while pressing the weak arm forward into his neck. Note I say gradual. This is not a safety matter, because if you secured the choke correctly, the victim is perfectly safe. You want to squeeze gradually because if you squeeze hard, you might exhaust your arm strength. Rely on leverage, apply gradual pressure, and it's lights out for your friend.

Anyone who has ever watched someone "choked" out knows that people turn red and purple when they are strangled. If you have ever been choked out, you know that the feeling is that your head is going to explode, not at all like a low blood pressure faint. If you notice carefully, the chokee's pulse rate is usually racing from exertion.

Most judo chokes work by applying pressure around the entire cirecumference of the neck as in a sliding lapel choke or by applying fairly direct pressure to the carotid sinuses naked choke. In any case, the veins lie exterior to the arteries and because of simple mechanics, they are compressed more than the arteries. In terms of unconciousness, the lapel chokes are faster because they hit everything all the way around the neck (and you can get fantastic leverage.)

Thus the primary mechanism of unconciousness is stagnatiion of the blood in the brain caused by failure of venous return through the compressed veins.  Obviously the compression of the arteries helps, because it reduces flow into the brain as well which increases stagnation. If vagus nerve stimulation worked faster, it would contribute too.

Stimulation of the vagus nerve is certainly an issue and in judo an unwelcome one because bruising and swelling can cause stimulation to persist after the choke is removed. Substantial swelling can actually impinge on the nerve causing tachycardia (rapid heart beats, 400/min) and heart failure. This can occur minutes later.

As long as we are on the subject, strangulation is only part of the judo choke holds. The pressure on the nerves on the neck and in the carotid sinus is quite painful in itself and is useful for causing pain and panic instantly rather than waiting seconds for the choke to take effect. In reality, these pressure points are what usualy drive the opponent to give up or drive him into a position where the strangle can be locked down and completed. The pressure points are key to strangling very muscular men who can otherwise tense their sternomastoids to the point were they can protect the underlying veins. A fairly pointed jab with a knuckle can sometimes quickly end that tension. Once lost even for an instant, it is difficult to reestablish.  (Small poeple just have to make up by being nasty.)

At the same time, when we are talking about such jabs and nerve attacks, care must be taken not to injure the vagus nerve and considerable restraint should be used on friendlies. This sort of strangle is a major medical event, and though the momentary lack of blood supply to the brain is unlikely to cause major harm, their increased pressure in the head certainly is somewhat dangerous, the vagus stimulations is an issue, and the neck contains lots of fragile structures.

I am surprised that the BJJ types here don't have more first hand experience with chokes. I note that the Judo Guy, Mr Ohlenkamp, knew exactly what it felt like.

Principles of Judo Choking Techniques

For more information, click on the photo below.