Rolling Loop Choke

Student Objectives:

  1. The student will perform a Rolling Loop Choke against a compliant partner, starting from the Turtle Top position with good technique.
  2. The student will analyze the value of the Loop Choke as a one armed choke and understand the correct hand placement on the collar to create a strong choke.

Teaching Cues:

  • Bicep on the neck
  • Cross Grip
  • Open the Door
  • Head in the Hole and Roll

Lesson: Rolling Loop Choke

The assisting student will get into the Turtle Position with their head pointed towards the practicing student.  The practicing student will kneel in front of the assisting student and place their bicep on the back of his/her head.  While keeping the bicep on the back of the head, the practicing student will get a cross grip on the lapel using the arm with the bicep that is on the back of the neck.  It will be helpful for the practicing student to use the free hand to open and feed the assisting student’s lapel to their choking hand.  Please note that the bicep placement on the head will vary from near the shoulder, to near the elbow throughout the development of the choke, the practicing student should just make sure that the neck remains covered by part of the bicep throughout the completion of the choke.  

Once the head and lapel are controlled, the practicing student will use the non choking arm and place their hand on the closest elbow of the assisting student.  The elbow should then be pulled away from the assisting student’s body by dragging across the floor.  This should open the space behind the assisting student’s armpit and leave enough space for the practicing student to place their head.  

The practicing student will now create a choking pressure by a modified roll/fall onto their back.  This transition is initiated by first leading with the hand, and then immediately followed by the practicing student’s head. Invision trying to look at your partner's face when entering into the back of the armpit.  The hand leads this transition by first going into the armpit, then behind the assisting student’s head.  The desired entry, when done correctly will often lead the practicing student to fall perpendicularly to the assisting student.  

If the hand/arm goes behind the assisting student’s head and the practicing student falls perpendicularly while rotating their head/face towards the assisting partner this will create a lot of pressure on the cervical.  Very commonly this is enough pressure and force to roll the assisting student and they may fall directly on their side.    

When the assisting student falls on the side, the practicing student should walk their hips and maintain the perpendicular orientation of the bodies.  The choke can/may be finished at any time during the entry or in the ending position, but to create extra pressure the hand should be kept behind the head and the hips pressed forward into the practicing student’s own arm.  

Possible Extensions:

  • Have the practicing student start standing with a Cross Collar grip and a Sleeve Grip.  The Loop Choke can be applied in combination with a Snap Down. Have the practicing  student step back and snap down with the hand and collar grip.  A good training partner will allow their posture to be compromised.  As the assisting student’s head moves forward, the practicing student should allow the bicep of the Cross Collar grip to cover the back of the assisting student’s neck.  Once in place, make sure that the assisting student transitions to Turtle before the practicing rolls.
  • The Loop Choke can be a great option against an opponent that bellies down while escaping Side Control.  Have the assisting student execute the Hand Spear to Belly down, and when they get to the Turtle position the practicing student can set up the Loop Choke exactly as taught above.

Possible Refinements:

  • The practicing student’s non-choking arm has a unique pathway behind the armpit to the back of the head.  This pathway becomes possible with a correct body angle while commiting to the entry.  This will take some practice to understand and even with watching the video may need extra drill time.
  • Very commonly the practicing student will take a grip that is too deep on the collar and it will create a binding feeling on their wrist while also crushing the windpipe of the assisting student.  
  • Make sure the practicing student is allowing the fabric to loop around the front of the neck to create the strangle. Make sure the practicing student is placing the bicep on the back of the neck and then exaggerating the dropping of the shoulder.  Ideally the shoulder would be slightly lower than the elbow to keep the head trapped.
  • On the entry for the Loop choke, make sure the wrist and forearm are flat against the chest so that the jaw is not trapped by the collar.  There is a distinct feeling associated with the collar slipping under the jaw and the practicing student should not roll unless there is a clean loop.

Reference materials:

Teaching Reflections:

  • How did I do teaching?
  • What could I do better next time?
  • Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?

‍