I’m still fairly new to rolling with a Gi (been doing non-Gi BJJ for a year). Tonight I was rolling with a guy who had 70 pounds on me. I was able to hold my own but a couple of times when I was in his guard he locked me in a collar choke.
What’s the best way to defend that choke? I jammed my forearm into his neck when he went for it again and that seemed to distract him a bit as I was able to posture up, but would like to know other ways to defend it.
Being aware the choke exists is a good start. Since you’re new to wearing a gi, did it catch you by surprise or did you already know that can happen?
When the guy takes ahold of your gi is when you want to “bump and roll” to get into the guard. I assume you were mounted at the time the choke took place. That’s why the Gracies always left their gi’s on (well, probably not the only reason). The opponent would try and grab it and then would get dismounted.
Since you said you put your forearm into him, you might have been in the mount/guard already. You could try sitting up. If the guy still kept ahold of you, that’s when you could try the armbar.
Depends on which collar choke he has and where his hands are, but if a hand and wrist are accessible(his), try a wrist lock. It is kind of hard to explain in writing, ask around, someone will know a wrist lock or two.
[quote]TYR wrote:
Being aware the choke exists is a good start. Since you’re new to wearing a gi, did it catch you by surprise or did you already know that can happen?
When the guy takes ahold of your gi is when you want to “bump and roll” to get into the guard. I assume you were mounted at the time the choke took place. That’s why the Gracies always left their gi’s on (well, probably not the only reason). The opponent would try and grab it and then would get dismounted.
Since you said you put your forearm into him, you might have been in the mount/guard already. You could try sitting up. If the guy still kept ahold of you, that’s when you could try the armbar.[/quote]
I was aware that collar chokes existed, it’s just something I haven’t had a chance to work on yet.
Funny thing is, I was on top in the guy’s guard. He had a good 5 inches on me and 70 pounds, so he was able to use his height and size to his advantage. I’ve never had anyone else even attempt that choke from the bottom on me before, so I was caught completely off guard.
It’s not really very unusual for someone to use a collar choke from the guard–I have a couple different ones that I like to throw in quick succession, especially to help set up an armlock or a triangle choke.
The best defense is good posture, first and foremost. If your head is up and you’re sitting back like you should be, it’s next to impossible to get caught in a collar choke. When your head drops forward and you lose that tight posture, it’s much easier to get caught.
as a second line of defense, just bring one or both of your forearms over top of his arms and use your weight to force his arms to bend at the elbow, as though you were trying to drive his elbows into his stomach. This prevents him from being able to pull effectively to finish the choke. Wrist locks are occasionally useful, but very low-percentage.
I guess I missed this the first time. Giving up 70lbs, especially to someone who knows what they’re doing, might just make it downright impossible to defend against anything. As you saw, it was from a strange position, that normally someone your own size wouldn’t have the leverage for, and he was able to apply it.
So, even when you learn to defend it, you may not be able to against this guy.
Chalk that one up against ppl who think 140lb kung-fu “experts” can beat anyone. (crap, did I just open the Bruce Lee posts now?) 
Thanks for the replies, guys. The guy I was rolling with last night definitely isn’t a crowd favorite. He’s super aggressive and as I stated, much larger than everyone else in the class. He also has a tendency to hold onto submissions a few seconds after people tap.
Our instructor isn’t a big fan of him, either, and will from time to time invite one of his buddies who’s the same size to mop the mat with him.
I don’t mind being tapped out but when you’ve got 70 pounds on me and keep going for the same choke when it’s clear that with the size differential I’m having a difficult time defending it, I’m not a big fan of that.
Later in that same class I rolled with a purple belt who did tap me once, but also worked with me and gave me pointers when I’d do something good or missed a submission attempt. I appreciated that because I learned something from the rolling session…with the other guy, I was just scrapping to stay alive.
Damn, dude, some of these replies make me wonder if people answering even do BJJ. I’m not even good, but I’ve been training long enough to know that a collar choke from the guard is a very common attack, especially among beginners. It can also be used as a set-up for an arm bar. (When you use your arm to block the other hand for the choke, you are often vulnerable to an arm bar.)
In any event, assuming it’s the standard collar choke, once the guy gets a grip, you have to break that grip. If he’s too strong for you, then you just have to keep posture and immediately work to pass his guard BEFORE he gets a grip. If you’re staying active trying to pass guard, it’ll give him something other than a collar choke to work on.
Get good as passing guard from standing up. That way, when you get into his guard, get your posture and get on your feet immediately. If you try passing from your knees when going with a bigger guy, you’re going to have your posture broken down much more often and you’re going to get caught in chokes.
[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
Damn, dude, some of these replies make me wonder if people answering even do BJJ. I’m not even good, but I’ve been training long enough to know that a collar choke from the guard is a very common attack, especially among beginners. It can also be used as a set-up for an arm bar. (When you use your arm to block the other hand for the choke, you are often vulnerable to an arm bar.)
In any event, assuming it’s the standard collar choke, once the guy gets a grip, you have to break that grip. If he’s too strong for you, then you just have to keep posture and immediately work to pass his guard BEFORE he gets a grip. If you’re staying active trying to pass guard, it’ll give him something other than a collar choke to work on.
Get good as passing guard from standing up. That way, when you get into his guard, get your posture and get on your feet immediately. If you try passing from your knees when going with a bigger guy, you’re going to have your posture broken down much more often and you’re going to get caught in chokes.[/quote]
I did notice when I postured up, he wasn’t able to sink in the choke, even though he had a strong hold of the collar. I was able to pass his guard once and nearly caught him in a choke.
Thanks for the tip on breaking the grip. He’s super strong, but if I roll with him again, it’s another tactic I can use.
you just pull your collar apart fella. no collar, no collar choke. sorry im drunk but thats how i remember defending it
OK, so it’s been 5 days since my last class and I’m still feeling some effects from those chokes. My neck is sore, as is my left shoulder and my head hurts from time to time as well. Is this a normal feeling after being choked out several times?
chin down, choke blocked.
i once blacked out after a triangle choke made my neck crack all the way up and down. i had a hard time keeping my balance for the day, but it was gone the next. my occasional neck problems i attribute to that day.
Keeping the chin down with a gi collar choke really isn’t going to prevent it, the gi is going to cut off the carotid blood flow. My advice is posture up and if he has one hand in your gi already secure his other sleeve and attempt to pass his guard.
If the choke is happening from inside his guard you need to be aware of his hands. Don’t forget, since this is gi the pace moves slower and you have ALOT more to grab a hold of. Grab a hold of sleeves and lapels all day long.
We worked on collar chokes today in class and while we didn’t work defenses today, I did figure out some ways to prevent the choke from talking with guys in class.
Posturing up definitely works best. Breaking the grip also helps, but as Ca. Law said, it does leave you open to an armbar or triangle. I also found posturing up while at the same time controlling the opponent’s hips with my hands helped give me extra leverage, making the grip of the opponent a bit weaker as he has to extend his arms further.
I actually rolled with the big dude again and this time things went much better. He was sloppy with his second arm, so I trapped it and quickly broke his guard before he could armbar/triangle. As I went to pass we somehow wound up on our sides, each with a hold of the other’s leg. I quickly locked in an ankle lock and scored the tap! It was a great feeling, especially after getting my ass kicked last week.
i’ve never had a collar choke sunk on me with my chin down. of course i have an 18.5" neck thats like 2" long and a big dome. when down my jaw pretty much makes contact with my neck impossible, painfull on the jaw but not a submisssion.
i suppose if i sat there and let you try and get it you might eventually, but i’m not gonna be chillin. i like to use one hand between the “vise” for added security. you can grip your own collar between the leverage point with your palm in to relieve pressure on your artery. this is a pretty vulnerable position to be in and you want to be out of it quickly.
you can see a collar choke coming from a mile away, the best advise is not to be put into one. posture up, but if it’s too late chin down and hand in the middle. when he goes for something else you know it’s probably an arm bar or triangle, be ready for it and move on.