Rear Naked Choke
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The rear naked choke (RNC, mata leão) is a blood choke from back control. Your choking arm wraps the neck with the elbow under their chin, your other hand locks the grip behind their head or on your own wrist, and squeezing your elbows together closes both carotid arteries. It's legal at every belt and age under IBJJF, ADCC and NAGA rules.
How the finish works
Your forearm and biceps squeeze the sides of the neck. You don't need to pull the head back or crush the windpipe, and once it's set the squeeze is small.
- Choking arm
- Elbow directly under their chin, biceps on one side of the neck, forearm on the other. If your forearm is across the throat it becomes a slow, painful air choke.
- Locking hand
- In the classic figure-four your choking hand grips your other biceps and the back hand goes behind their head. The palm-to-palm grip locks your hands together instead and is the usual answer when they stop the back hand.
- Head position
- Your head goes beside theirs on the choking-arm side, ear to ear, so they cannot turn their chin into the crook of your elbow.
- The squeeze
- Pull your elbows toward each other and puff your chest forward. Hooks or a body triangle keep their hips in place while you do it.
Winning the hand fight
Against anyone decent you'll hold the back for a while before the choke lands, and that time is hand fighting. Watch their hands.
- If they two-on-one the choking wrist
- Trap one of their arms with your legs or your free hand, or switch sides and let the other arm choke. Two hands on one wrist leaves the other side open.
- If they tuck the chin
- Slide the blade of your wrist under the jaw a little at a time, or take the arm trap and wait. Cranking over the jaw hurts but rarely finishes.
- If they turn toward the mat
- Follow with your chest and keep the top hook. If they square up to you, take mount instead of fighting to keep the back.
- If they peel the back hand
- Go to palm-to-palm or hide the back hand behind their shoulder, then rebuild the figure-four once the choking arm is deep.
How to defend the rear naked choke
Defend the hands, then the position. Get two hands on the choking wrist and pull it down off the neck, keep your chin tucked, and only then work your shoulders to the mat on the side of their bottom hook. Turning to the wrong side, toward the top hook, puts you back in their lap.
Where it comes from
Almost always back control: from the back take off a turtle, a failed escape from side control or mount, the crab ride and berimbolo, or a takedown where you end up behind them. The seatbelt you use to hold the back is already half the choke, so the back and the RNC are usually taught together.
Frequently asked questions
Is the rear naked choke a blood choke?
Yes. Done right, the biceps and forearm squeeze the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, so it finishes in seconds. With the forearm across the throat it turns into an air choke, which is slower and easier to survive.
Why is it called a rear naked choke?
Rear because you are behind them, naked because it uses no gi, belt, or other equipment. In Brazil it is called mata leão, the lion killer.
Is the rear naked choke legal for kids?
Yes. The rear naked choke is legal at every age and belt under IBJJF rules, and in ADCC and NAGA youth divisions. The frontal guillotine and the arm triangle are illegal at IBJJF until 16.
What is the difference between the figure-four and palm-to-palm RNC?
In the figure-four your choking hand grips your other biceps and the back hand pushes behind their head. Palm-to-palm locks your hands together with no hand behind the head. Palm-to-palm is quicker to lock when they are fighting the back hand; the figure-four is tighter once it is in.
How long does a rear naked choke take to put someone out?
A clean blood choke can cause unconsciousness in a few seconds. Tap early, and let go the moment your partner taps.
Is the RNC the most common submission in MMA?
Yes. Across MMA records it's the most common submission finish. Fighters end up on the back a lot after scrambles and takedowns.
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