26/09/2016 - Teaching | Side Control | Breadcutter Choke (Polmans variation)

Teaching #565
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 26/09/2016

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Sep 27, 2016 at 8:39am PDT

The breadcutter choke can be set up in various ways. The way I first learned was moving towards north-south from side control. They will then often reach past your hip, which leaves a space for you to reach under their armpit and clamp it to your side. That means their arm is stuck between your side and your arm. Move back to side control, then with the hand of that clamping arm, grab behind their neck, gripping in the middle of the collar.

Kenny Polmans does it different. He doesn't move to north-south: instead, he uses his cross-face to roll them onto their side, anchoring his hand by their shoulder. As soon as you have that space, jam your knee in to prevent them bringing their back to the mat. Your arm nearest their legs reaches under their arm, digging until you get it where you want it. Reach through for the usual grip.

You can then loop your shoulder-arm over their neck, bringing your elbow down while you also pull on your collar grip. If you need more leverage, you can lean into that shoulder arm, adding more pressure into the side of their neck.
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Teaching & Sparring Notes: Getting them up onto their side with that initial roll isn't easy, which might be a matter of reaching further to their shoulder to get your arm tight enough to the head for that to be effective. Getting under their arm can be tricky too, especially if they're familiar with this choke, but digging around under the arm seems to eventually work. I like that the way this puts them on their side makes it easier to get the pressure on the side of their neck properly (though you need to be careful of how their turn their head, as that can transfer it to a windpipe choke, which you don't want in class).

In sparring, I was just trying to stay tight: as I forgot my gumshield I was being extra careful. I tried to get that grip from Kev's class a few times, but couldn't get it very secure. Perhaps I need more of a bend? Underneath guard, I was fiddling for wristlocks and pressing armbars a few times, but again I didn't have it locked in properly. One thing I did get in nicely was a bow and arrow type grip as somebody was turning away from me in side control, finishing it off with knee pressure. I think that gets called the crossbow choke, not sure.