Step Over Choke

Student Objectives:

  1. The student will explore the effectiveness of using the legs to apply a choking technique.
  2. The student will build an effective pathway between Side Control and North/South by learning how to step over the head from Kesa Gatame.

Teaching Cues:

  • Thumb in Collar
  • Shrimp
  • Don’t kick your partner in the face
  • Base and Pull

Lesson: Step Over Choke

The assisting student will start in a Side Control bottom position with their legs gently bent and Home Alone Hands.  The practicing student will start in top Side Control with a loose Crossface and a loose Underhook.  Once in position the arm that is in the Crossface position will retract until the hand is located just behind the head of the assisting student.  The hand will then grab the collar with the thumb taking a firm grip directly behind the neck.  This should leave enough space for the assisting student to shrimp and make some space.  

Make sure to emphasize that this move only works well if their training partner is on their side.  There is a bit of timing and transfer of weight on this movement and that is why the starting position starts flat on their back and the shrimp is added as a cue to start the submission.    

Once the assisting student has shrimped to get on their side, the practicing student will transfer to a modified Kesa Gatame with their belly button facing the same direction as the head.  The posted leg will then step over the head of the assisting student, and the calf muscle will scoop under the head head of the assisting student.  If done correctly, the position ends with the assisting student’s head cupped in the knee pit of the practicing student.  Once this transition is complete, the practicing student bases their head on the far side of the body and makes a pulling motion with the arm that has the hand in the collar.  The Hamstring can tighten for added pressure, but should not be completely straightened as it will lose control of the head.  

Possible Extensions:

  • Add in the forearm wedge for advanced students to have more control over their partner before stepping over the head.  Realize that the space is going to be crowded and it will take practice to have the spacing to step over the head while maintaining control with the modified underhook.
  • After successfully completing the Step Over Choke have the student transition into another submission that originates from the North/South Position.

Possible Refinements:

  • Wrist orientation is important for this choke.  Make sure the bony part of the wrist is connected to the artery.
  • It is possible for the thumb in the collar grip to be too deep.  Make sure that when the assisting student shrimps that the wrist is directly over the artery.  
  • If the Practicing student is having trouble with flexibility, then have them move their hips back - towards their partner’s legs.  Pay careful attention to the spacing; the student should keep weight on their partner without pulling the partner up by the thumb in collar grip.

Reference materials:

Teaching Reflections:

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

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