Loop
Choke
The guard puller’s secret weapon. Use the gi collar as a noose and close the loop with your hand behind their head.
Close The Loop.
Break The Posture.
The loop choke uses their gi as a weapon against them. Deep collar grip + hand behind head creates a closing loop. Pull their head down and the gi does the rest.
Deep Collar Grip
Reach across their neck and grip DEEP into the far collar. Four fingers inside, thumb out. Your forearm should be pressing against their neck.
Hand Behind Head
Your other hand goes behind their head—palm on the back of their skull. This hand will PULL their head down into the choke.
Pull And Curl
Pull their head DOWN while curling your body UP. The collar tightens on one side, your forearm on the other. The loop closes.
3 Setups.
Same Loop.
The loop choke appears in transitions—guard pulls, pass attempts, scrambles. Learn to recognize the moment.
Guard Pull
Loop
As you pull guard, establish the collar grip first. When they follow you down, the hand behind head is already in position. Instant choke.
Pass Defense
Loop
They’re passing your guard and driving forward. Use their momentum—get the collar grip as they come in, hand behind head, close the loop.
Turtle
Loop
From turtle or when you’re being broken down, the loop choke can catch them when they lean over you. Use their weight against them.
The
Collar
Grip
The loop choke only works in the gi—you need that lapel. The deeper your grip, the tighter the choke. Don’t be shallow.
-
Grip The Far Collar
Reach across their neck and grab their far lapel. Fingers inside, thumb out. Go DEEP—past their neck.
-
Cup The Head
Other hand behind their head—palm on skull. This hand pulls them INTO the choke. Essential.
-
Crunch Together
Pull head down, curl your body up. The loop tightens. Keep your elbows close, squeeze everything together.
3 Mistakes
That Kill Your Loop Choke
Shallow Collar Grip
If your grip isn’t deep enough, the gi won’t cinch their neck. Reach ACROSS their neck, grab far and deep. Four fingers all the way in.
No Head Control
Without the hand behind the head, they just posture up and escape. The head control is what CLOSES the loop. Don’t skip it.
Letting Them Posture
If they get their head up, the choke is lost. Pull them DOWN immediately. Their posture must be broken for the loop to work.
4 Entry
Windows
The loop choke lives in transitions. Catch them when they’re moving forward into you.
Guard Pull
Get collar grip standing. Pull guard. They follow you down—loop is ready.
Guard Pass Attempt
They drive forward to pass. Use momentum—collar grip + head control = loop.
Half Guard Bottom
They’re smashing you in half guard. Frame, get collar, loop as they pressure.
Failed Takedown
They shoot and you sprawl. As they come up, loop is there waiting.
Related Techniques
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Guard Choke System
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