09/10/2015 - Teaching | Mount | Single Arm Cross Choke

Teaching #402
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 09/10/2015

I'm not sure if this has a common name, as I've only seen it as the Saulo choke over on BJJ Library, demonstrated by Saulo himself. In the interests of being descriptive, single arm cross choke seems to work.

From high mount, you start by feeding your hand into the opposite collar, an initial step common to most chokes from mount. For this one, insert your thumb so your hand is palm down. Drive your knuckles right to the floor, then bring your elbow down, pressing your forearm into the side of their neck. You need to turn their head a bit, in order to expose the side of the neck properly.

At this point, you can also lower your head to the mat, making sure you stay on the same side as your palm down grip. The more you bring your head to the other side, the easier it is for them to roll you over. To finish, bring your other hand underneath your own stomach, gripping low on their other collar. To finish, pull on that collar and twist your body away.
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Teaching Notes: It's a fairly simple choke, perhaps even something I could add into the high mount lesson. Alternatively, it might be good to use this lesson as a way of practicing how to keep your base when you've got one hand in the collar. It's very common to get rolled when you put one hand in, so if I can develop a way to make people confident about doing that, it should be a big help to landing more chokes.

I added a drill at the start where you put one hand in then just try to keep your balance. Something I think I'll do myself when I next get the chance, maybe at open mat. I'm too timid with attacks, as I don't like losing position. Need to take more risks! :)