Head and Arm Chokes in BJJ: Your Complete Guide with Statistics
Master the most effective head and arm chokes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with comprehensive 2025 statistics. Learn the arm triangle (21% success rate, #4 in UFC), D’arce choke, anaconda, Ezekiel, Peruvian and Japanese neckties with techniques from elite grapplers including Islam Makhachev and Ryan Hall.
Head and arm chokes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu are among the most effective submissions that will serve you exceptionally well in both gi and no-gi BJJ. These choke variations are far more efficient at obtaining a tap-out, even against skilled opponents.
2025 Submission Statistics: 53% of all successful finishes in competitive BJJ come from chokes. The arm triangle ranks as the 4th most successful submission in UFC history with 92 victories since 2015. Properly applied chokes can render an opponent unconscious in as little as 9.5 seconds.
Furthermore, BJJ and MMA choking techniques leave your opponent with few alternatives for escape and defending the submission. Brazilian jiu-jitsu chokes, whether performed with or without the gi, will end the fight when executed correctly.
Find below a comprehensive guide of the best head and arm chokes you should master. It consists of the arm-triangle choke, D’arce choke, anaconda choke, arm-in Ezekiel choke, and the exotic Peruvian and Japanese neckties.
Why Head and Arm Chokes Dominate Modern BJJ
Recent analysis of 7,567 submissions across major BJJ competitions reveals that 53% of all successful finishes come from chokes, while the remaining 47% is split between arm and leg submissions. The arm triangle specifically accounts for 92 submission victories in the UFC since 2015, making it the 4th most successful submission in mixed martial arts.
What makes head and arm chokes particularly devastating is their mechanical advantage: they use the opponent’s own trapped arm against them, creating a blood choke that targets both carotid arteries simultaneously. When properly executed, unconsciousness follows in seconds.
The Most Effective Head and Arm Chokes
Arm Triangle Choke (Kata Gatame)
Why It’s Effective: The arm triangle choke stands as one of the most famous and effective head and arm chokes in BJJ and MMA. It’s similar to the classic triangle choke, except the attacker completes the submission using his arms rather than his legs.
2025 Success Statistics:
- 21.74% competition success rate
- #4 most successful UFC submission with 92 victories since 2015
- 3.24% of all submission attempts in high-level competition
- Often called “the wrestler’s choke” because wrestlers pick it up quickly
Optimal Positions for Arm Triangle
It is possible to obtain an arm-triangle choke from various positions, including side control, full mount, north-south, half guard, and standing position. However, side control is widely considered the best position to achieve an arm triangle.
Critical Technical Details:
- Don’t muscle the choke: Use body mechanics, not just arm strength
- Flatten before initiating: Control your opponent completely first
- One-Arm Variation: Ryan Hall’s version is devastating and creates incredible pressure
- Head position: Keep your temple against theirs to prevent escape space
Related: For detailed breakdown of this fantastic head and arm choke, discover comprehensive instruction here.
D’arce Choke
Overview: The D’arce choke is a great head and arm choke that excels in BJJ and MMA environments. In gi jiu-jitsu, this choke is referred to as the Brabo choke, and it functions similarly to the anaconda choke but with key differences in arm placement.
Modern Applications: Islam Makhachev used a perfectly executed D’arce choke to defend his lightweight championship—ranked as one of the top submissions of 2024, demonstrating the technique’s devastating effectiveness at the highest levels of MMA.
D’arce vs. Anaconda – The Technical Difference
- D’arce Choke: Enter under the opponent’s armpit, lock beside their neck
- Anaconda Choke: Enter at the neck, lock near the armpit/shoulder
- Both are blood chokes targeting the carotid arteries
Best Setup Positions:
You can perform the D’arce choke from turtle, side control, north-south, half guard, and knee ride. The most common and highest-percentage setup occurs from half guard when your opponent achieves an underhook—this is the classic D’arce entry.
Related: For additional information regarding this superb head and arm choke, discover comprehensive instruction here.
Anaconda Choke
The Most Powerful Head and Arm Choke: The anaconda choke is a powerful ground-fighting submission like the guillotine, D’arce choke, and arm-triangle. What makes the anaconda particularly dangerous is its knockout rate—when properly applied, it renders opponents unconscious 35% of the time, the highest knockout percentage of any submission.
If you want to be a formidable competitor, you should learn and master this excellent choke as soon as possible.
How the Anaconda Choke Functions
The anaconda choke applies severe pressure to an opponent’s head and arm. Consequently, this choke is considered one of the blood chokes that will force the opponent to fall asleep if they don’t tap out at the appropriate moment.
Optimal Position for Anaconda Choke
You can get an anaconda choke from multiple BJJ positions, such as the turtle, side control, and half guard. However, the turtle position is undoubtedly the best for this arm and head choke.
The turtle presents the perfect vulnerability: your opponent’s head is lowered, their arms are exposed, and they’re focused on defending other attacks. This makes the anaconda from turtle one of the highest-percentage setups in no-gi grappling.
Recommended: For detailed information about this outstanding head & arm choke technique, discover comprehensive instruction here.
Arm-In Ezekiel Choke
Overview: The arm-in Ezekiel choke is one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu chokes you should learn since your early days on the mat. However, many practitioners have difficulty mastering this submission despite it being robust and highly effective because it’s sneaky and demands strict control over your opponent.
The Ezekiel choke works in both gi and no-gi formats, making it one of the most versatile submissions in your arsenal. Its primary advantage is that opponents don’t typically associate the position with immediate submission danger.
Gi Version Technical Breakdown
From the mount or half guard top position:
- Place one arm around your opponent’s head, going as deep as possible
- Insert four fingers of your choking arm into the gi sleeve of your base arm
- Bring your choking arm’s forearm across your opponent’s neck
- Pull with the bottom arm while turning the palm of your top arm toward their throat
No-Gi Version (Punch Choke)
Instead of gripping a sleeve, hook onto your own bicep with your choking arm. Thread your forearm across their neck and apply pressure while keeping both elbows on the ground for a solid base.
From Bottom Mount (Advanced)
Famously used by Alex Pereira in the UFC. Wrap an arm around the opponent’s head as protection. When you see an opening, sneak the choking arm in—the submission becomes instant.
Related: For further information about this superb head and arm choke technique, discover detailed instruction here.
Peruvian and Japanese Neckties
Exotic Excellence: The Peruvian and Japanese neckties are among the most exotic and effective head and arm chokes in no-gi jiu-jitsu. Many practitioners are using these devastating submissions to finish opponents who’ve never encountered them before.
Peruvian Necktie
The Peruvian Necktie uses all four limbs to create an inescapable choking position. It typically emerges from the front headlock, especially when opponents defend the guillotine.
Setup: Establish front headlock control, thread your choking arm under their neck, step one leg over placing the back of your thigh against their head, hop to frog position, then sit back and extend for the choke.
Critical Detail: Get your leg over the back of their head AND the back of their far shoulder before sitting back. Once set correctly, “it’s usually a done deal.”
Japanese Necktie
The Japanese Necktie is a modern BJJ innovation that targets the carotid arteries with a unique setup from top side control. What sets it apart is its positioning and finishing mechanics compared to D’arce and anaconda chokes.
Key Steps: From side control, trap the arm and head with your arm going OVER the opponent’s neck (not through). Step over with your leg, placing your shin against the back of their head. Roll toward the trapped arm—your forearm presses against one side of the neck while your shin presses against the other.
Chaining: The Japanese Necktie chains beautifully with the Peruvian Necktie. If the Peruvian doesn’t develop perfectly, transition seamlessly to the Japanese Necktie as an alternative finish.
Learn more about the Japanese necktie:
Source: BJJ Fanatics
Learn more about the Peruvian necktie:
Source: Chewjitsu
Head and Arm Choke Statistics & Success Rates
Defending Head and Arm Chokes
Prevention Over Escape: The best defense against head and arm chokes is recognizing danger before your opponent fully establishes the position. Once locked in with optimal body positioning, escape options become extremely limited.
General Prevention Principles
T-Rex Arms Principle
Keep your elbows tight to your body at all times. Most head and arm chokes require isolating and trapping one of your arms. If you maintain tight elbows and don’t let your arms cross the centerline, you dramatically reduce submission opportunities.
Don’t Turn Away
Turning away in side control or bottom positions exposes your neck and traps your own arm—exactly what your opponent needs. Maintain centered positioning.
Address Frames Immediately
If your opponent begins framing against you or isolating an arm, address it immediately. Waiting even a few seconds allows them to lock in the position.
Arm Triangle Escape Sequence
- Answer the Telephone: Make a “phone gesture” with your trapped arm to create space
- Grab the Lat: Reach around with your free hand and grab their lat muscle
- Bridge and Hip Escape: Bridge hips high and escape to guard or half guard
- Turn Head to Center: Rotate your head toward your body—harder for them to finish
Position-Specific Applications
From Side Control (Optimal)
Side control offers the greatest variety of head and arm chokes: arm-triangle, D’arce, anaconda, and Brabo choke (gi). Superior weight distribution and multiple submission chains make this the premier position for head and arm attacks.
From Mount
The mount provides perfect weight distribution for the arm triangle. You can also execute arm-in Ezekiel and cross chokes (gi). The mount ranks as the second most dominant position in BJJ.
From Half Guard
The D’arce choke is most common from half guard when opponent gets an underhook. Islam Makhachev demonstrates how the arm triangle threat from half guard creates passing opportunities even without finishing.
From Turtle
The turtle is perfect for the anaconda choke. Your opponent’s head is lowered, arms exposed, and they’re focused on defending back takes rather than defending chokes.
From Guard (Less Effective)
Head and arm chokes are less effective from the guard since you cannot create enough leverage. The guard excels for guillotines, loop chokes, and cross chokes instead.
From the Back
While famous for the rear-naked choke (42.42% success rate), head and arm variations like arm-in Ezekiel and anaconda are also available. The bow and arrow choke (gi) boasts an incredible 89% success rate from back control.
Final Thoughts: The Complete Head and Arm Choke System
The BJJ head and arm chokes are among the most effective and efficient submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts. Even for the most experienced practitioners, these chokes are among the most powerful attacks that are nearly impossible to counter when correctly performed.
The best head and arm chokes include the arm-triangle (21% success, #4 UFC), D’arce choke (Islam Makhachev’s title defense weapon), anaconda choke (35% knockout rate), arm-in Ezekiel (works gi & no-gi), plus the exotic Peruvian and Japanese neckties for no-gi specialists.
Your 2025 Head and Arm Choke Development Plan
🎯 Phase 1: Master Foundation (Month 1-2)
Focus on arm triangle from side control and mount. Perfect basic mechanics before adding complexity. Most practitioners fail because they try learning everything at once.
🔄 Phase 2: Add Complementary Technique (Month 3-4)
Based on your game, add D’arce from half guard or anaconda from turtle. These create natural combinations with your foundational techniques.
⚡ Phase 3: Create Chaining Systems (Month 5-6)
Practice flowing between techniques. When arm triangle fails, transition to D’arce. When anaconda gets stalled, shift to arm-in Ezekiel. Elite finishing emerges from technique chains.
🏆 Ongoing: Study High-Level Competition
Watch ADCC and IBJJF matches. Notice how elite grapplers chain chokes, adapt to defensive reactions, and create positional pressure that breaks down defenses systematically.
Head and arm chokes are reachable from many BJJ positions, including side control, mount, turtle, and more. They are classified among those blood chokes that leave the opponent with the choice to tap out or go unconscious.
Incorporate these techniques into your offensive jiu-jitsu game to become a formidable competitor. Modern refinements like the one-arm arm triangle variation and improved body mechanics have made these submissions even more effective than in previous eras.
I hope this head and arm chokes collection will help you train more effectively. You must master these techniques to achieve your full potential as a grappler.
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Discover Your Training PathFrequently Asked Questions
Can I Do a Head and Arm Choke From Guard?
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu guard provides many great chokes, such as the guillotine choke, loop chokes, and cross chokes. However, head and arm chokes are less effective from the guard since you cannot create enough leverage to compress and finish the technique correctly.
Can I Do a Head and Arm Choke From Side Control?
Side control is one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu positions for the top player and provides a plethora of head and arm choke submissions: anaconda choke, D’arce choke, arm-triangle choke, Brabo choke (gi), baseball bat choke (gi), and Ezekiel choke. The positional control, weight distribution, and submission variety make side control the premier position.
Can I Do a Head Arm Choke from Mount?
The mount is regarded as the second most important position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It offers various head and arm chokes, such as the arm-in Ezekiel choke and the arm-triangle choke (which ranks as the #4 most successful submission in UFC history with 92 victories since 2015).
Can I Do a Head and Arm Choke from Turtle?
The turtle is a more advanced BJJ position from which you can execute significant transitions, such as to the opponent’s back. It’s also an entry to great head and arm chokes: the anaconda choke (optimal position), D’arce choke, arm-triangle choke, and the Peruvian/Japanese neckties from front headlock variations.
Can I Do a Head and Arm Choke from the Back?
The back is regarded as the most dominant position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It offers various head and arm chokes, such as the arm-in Ezekiel choke and occasionally the anaconda choke. However, the back position is most famous for the rear-naked choke, which maintains a 42.42% success rate and accounts for 42% of all UFC submission victories.
What’s the Difference Between D’arce and Anaconda Chokes?
D’arce Choke: Enter under the opponent’s armpit, lock beside their neck. Most common from half guard. Finish in side control on your knees.
Anaconda Choke: Enter at the neck, lock near the armpit. Most common from turtle. Finish by rolling the opponent over. Has 35% knockout rate.
How Long Does It Take for a Head and Arm Choke to Work?
When properly applied, blood chokes targeting the carotid arteries render an opponent unconscious in as little as 9.5 seconds. However, most opponents will tap within 2-4 seconds once they feel the choke fully locked, as the pressure is unmistakable and the outcome inevitable.
