Two-on-One Defense
Defense · Back Control
Keeps a rear choke from locking when you are under back control and buys time for the escape. The moment is when he slides an arm under your chin. Grab the choking wrist with both hands, palms over it, as close to his hand as you can, pull it down off the neck to your chest and tuck your chin hard so the forearm cannot reach the throat. Keep your elbows tight so his second hand finds no gap to help the grip or get behind your head. Two hands beat one arm, but holding alone only tires you: keep the wrist while you slide your shoulders to the mat and clear a hook. With the choke blocked and his hooks still in, go straight into the slide down to guard.
How to do it
- Grab the choking arm at the wrist with both hands: both palms over the wrist, fingers and thumbs on the same side, as close to their hand as you can.
- Pull it down off the neck toward your chest and tuck your chin hard to your chest, so the forearm cannot get under the chin onto the throat.
- Keep the elbows close to your body so the other arm cannot help: their second hand has no gap to grab the wrist or reach behind your head.
- Keep the arm trapped while you slide your back to the mat, walking your hips away so your shoulders reach the floor.
- Once your back is on the mat, clear the hook and turn to face them, still holding the wrist until you are out.
Key details
- Two hands against one arm: you are stronger, so the choking arm can be held off as long as both hands stay on it.
- Grip the wrist, not the forearm: the wrist is the end of the lever, and controlling it stops the arm from sliding in.
- Chin tucked the whole time: the chin is the last barrier between their forearm and your throat.
- Escape while you defend, do not just hold: holding alone tires you and lets them start another attack.
Common mistakes
- Holding the forearm, not the wrist. — On the forearm your grip slides, and they feed the arm in anyway. — Grip the wrist with both hands and pull it down.
- Chin up. — With the chin up, the forearm slides under it onto the throat. — Tuck the chin to your chest.
- Staying in place and only holding. — Defending in place gives them time to switch to another attack. — Slide your back to the mat while you hold the arm.
If they defend
- They attack the armbar. → Turn toward the arm and stack them.
- They switch the choking arm. → Move the two-on-one to the new arm.
How to drill it
Hand fighting from the back, 1-minute rounds; the bottom partner scores by reaching the mat.
What comes next
Where it comes from