While we all may like to think that we’re the ones putting our opponents in bad situations and not having to be defensive very much, the fact remains that being skillful at defending yourself against strangles and chokes is an important aspect of any form of grappling. If you want to be a complete grappler, you need a good defense. Being able to stay in the fight and being well versed in keeping your opponent from tapping you out means that you are competitive and doing what is necessary to try to turn the tables on your opponent. Just like John Saylor said; “Staying out of trouble keeps you in the fight.” As long as you’re in the fight, there’s the possibility that you will win
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Without a doubt, the best advice I ever heard about defense against chokes or strangles was from my first coach, Jerry Swett. Jerry’s advice was simple and to the point; “Keep your chin tucked, eyes open and hands working to keep your opponent from choking you.” I’ve also found that if you position yourself so that you can have a better shot at working out of a bad situation, you have a better chance of not getting choked. Don’t just lay there on your face in the chicken position. Actively try to work to a better, more stable position to get out of trouble from your opponent’s choke or strangle, all the while following Jerry’s advice. Sometimes, you will have to assume a purely defensive position to protect yourself. But don’t just lay there and hide, hoping your opponent will give up on the choke. As I said before, actively work for a better position, keep your chin tucked and look for an opening to get further out of trouble or for a counter technique. I’ve always told my athletes to “make your neck small.” What I mean is that if you can tuck your chin in tight enough and hunch your shoulders up high enough, you will give your opponent a smaller (and more difficult) target to choke. Another bit of advice is to work on your defense in the weight room. If you develop the muscles in the neck, shoulders and upper trapezius, they will be stronger and thicker, which makes them less susceptible to being strangled.
Study the various defenses against strangles and chokes, work and drill on them in practice and use them in your practice grappling or randori sessions. The skills presented here are the ones I believe work best and are most realistic. I don’t have all the answers for defending yourself against chokes and strangles, but these skills have worked for my athletes and me for a long time. As with any technique, don’t hesitate to adapt them to suit your needs or invent new ways to defend against strangles and chokes.
Keep Your Chin Tucked
Keep your chin tucked in as tight as possible . This is pretty basic advice, but advice that should be heeded by everyone!
Winged Defense
Tuck in your chin, shrug your shoulders as high as they will go and place your hands on each side of your opponent's neck. By having keeping your palms out, you can slap or push your opponent's hands away or grab them as necessary to prevent the choke.
Make Your Neck Small
Tuck your chin in tight and shrug your shoulders up as high as possible in an attempt to make the choking area as small as possible. Your can also cross your arms and grab your lapels with your hands to provide another barrier against your opponent's hands.
1 Hand Pull Away Defense
If your opponent has been able to grasp your left lapel with his right hand, grab his right hand with your right just under the thumb making sure to grab all of the fingers for better control. Pull your opponent’s hand down and in to shuck off the attacking hand. If you need to, you can assist your right hand with your left hand by pulling down and in on the opponent's right wrist.
2 on 1 Hand Pull Away Defense
Similar to above, your opponent has reached in front of your throat with his right hand. To defend, pull down and out on your opponent’s hand with both of your hands. Keep your chin tucked in tightly as possible the whole time.
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