BJJ Move #2: Guillotine Choke from Guard

Like I said before, I'm posting BJJ moves every day or so from the "technique library" I've been making as I train.

You can't experience the joy of making someone "tap out" at the office, but maybe with some imagination and this post you can picture it, and smile.

In the last BJJ Move post I described the "closed guard" position; now I'm describe a very effective and easy to apply strangle from that position. This move is easy to learn, works against much stronger opponents, and even advanced people use it and are caught in it.

WARNING! These techniques could result in serious injury or death if practiced incorrectly or even if performed correctly. They should only be practiced with the supervision of an experienced instructor.

Guillotine Choke from Guard:
-Submission
-Basic

You have your opponent in your guard and you're holding his body / head close to yours.
You can’t do this move easily if you have to reach over your own head to grab your opponent’s neck-—it helps to scoot your butt back on the ground before wrapping your arm over his head so you have enough room (this is why there’s a good opportunity when attempting an up-and-over sweep).

A good setup:
· Post both hands on your opponent’s left shoulder and scoot your hips to your left to create space.
· Sit up and post your arms behind you.
· Scoot your butt back so your opponent can’t drive into you and lay you flat.

Wrap your right arm over his head (from his right ear, to behind his head, back around his left ear, to under his jaw and around his throat) and make a fist. You have to grab deep or this won’t work—really try to get his head into your armpit.
You want your elbow-crook under his chin, with your biceps and forearm blocking his carotid arteries on either side for a strangle—you don’t want your radius across his trachea like a choke.
Grab your own right wrist your left hand.
Close your guard (if you’ve opened it, as in the setup above) and fall to your back.
Scoot your hips to the left (the side opposite his head).
Drive the biceps of your right arm downwards and pull your right wrist up toward your own sternum with your left hand, lifting your left elbow way up as if to go past your head.
Push your locked feet against his hips and arch your back (this holds his spine down at the back), squeeze your right elbow against your ribs, pull up on your right forearm against his throat by lifting your left arm (motion like zipping up your jacket).
Turn your head/neck/back to look over your own left shoulder (this makes this much stronger, utilizing your back instead of just your arms) if he’s looking to your right, or over your right shoulder if he’s looking to your left. The technique can end up as a neck crank or a strangle.

Guillotine Opportunity:
From the guard, if your opponent ever puts his hand (in this example, his left) on the ground below one of your arms, trap it with your right arm into your right armpit (overhook).
Now, with your left hand, try to push his head down into your right armpit too, and go for the guillotine or neck crank.