D'Arce Choke
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The D'Arce is an arm-in blood choke from in front of or beside the opponent. Your choking arm goes under their armpit first and then around the back of their neck, you lock a figure-four on your other biceps, and their own shoulder closes the neck as you squeeze. In the gi the same choke is often called the brabo, sometimes using the lapel.
Threading and finishing
For the D'Arce, thread the armpit first, then the neck.
- Thread under the arm
- With their head and one arm in front of you, slide your arm under their armpit and across the back of their neck until your biceps is against the far side.
- Lock the figure-four
- Your choking hand grips your other biceps and the back hand goes on their back or behind your own head.
- Close the space
- Walk toward their head or sprawl your hips down so their shoulder is pushed into their own neck. From a seated position, fall to your side with them on top of you.
D'Arce vs anaconda
Both are arm-in chokes from the front headlock, locked with a figure-four. The D'Arce goes under the armpit first, then the neck. The anaconda goes under the neck first, then out under the armpit, and usually finishes with a gator roll.
Where it comes from
Look for it whenever their head and one arm are in front of you.
- Front headlock
- When they shoot or turtle with an arm reaching forward.
- Turtle
- When they post a hand or try to sit through.
- Half guard, top
- When the bottom player takes an underhook and drives their head under you, their arm is already in place.
- Passing
- When they turn in to stop a knee cut and expose the near arm.
How to defend the D'Arce
Keep your elbow tight to your body so the arm can't be threaded, and don't reach for a single leg with your head on the outside. If they get the arm through, turn toward the side of the choke and get your shoulders flat on the mat before they finish; once you are on your side facing away with the figure-four locked, tap.
D'Arce rules
IBJJF treats the D'Arce as part of the arm triangle family, which is illegal until 16. ADCC and NAGA allow it in adult no-gi. Teen rules vary by event.
Check head and arm chokes by age, belt and ruleset →Frequently asked questions
What is the gator roll?
The roll that finishes the anaconda: with the choke locked from the front headlock, you roll under toward their trapped arm so they end up on their back with the choke tight.
What is a D'Arce choke?
An arm-in blood choke where your arm goes under the opponent's armpit and around the back of their neck, locked with a figure-four. Their own shoulder closes one side of the neck.
What is the difference between a D'Arce and an anaconda?
The order of the thread. The D'Arce goes under the armpit first and then around the neck; the anaconda goes under the neck first and then out under the armpit, and usually finishes with a roll.
What is the brabo choke?
Another name for the D'Arce, used mostly in the gi. Gi versions can also use the lapel to make the choke.
Who is the D'Arce named after?
Joe D'Arce, a Renzo Gracie black belt who used it in competition. The same choke was known in Brazil as the brabo before the name caught on.
Is the D'Arce a blood choke?
Yes. Their shoulder and your biceps squeeze the two sides of the neck, the same principle as the arm triangle.
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