Guillotine Choke

The guillotine choke is a versatile submission that attacks the opponent’s neck by wrapping the arms around their head and applying pressure to the carotid arteries or airway. It can be executed from multiple positions, including standing, guard, or during scrambles, making it one of the most widely used chokes in both gi and no-gi BJJ. The choke’s effectiveness relies on proper grip, body positioning, and the ability to control the opponent’s posture to prevent escape.

From guard, the guillotine can be combined with hip movement to tighten the choke, while from top positions it often serves as a counter to opponent takedowns. Advanced practitioners use variations like the high-elbow or Marcelotine to increase leverage, making it difficult to defend even for seasoned athletes. Its adaptability also makes it a staple in MMA, where transitions from takedown defense to submission are common.

In competitive grappling, the guillotine is both an offensive and defensive tool. Competitors often threaten the choke to force opponents to open their guard, creating opportunities for sweeps, passes, or transitions into other submissions such as the arm-in guillotine or D’Arce choke. Its combination of efficiency and versatility keeps it among the most fundamental submissions in BJJ.