Caught in a guillotine

Position · Closed Guard

His arm is around your neck from the front, the forearm under your chin, often from guard or standing. Before the lock closes, turn your chin toward his elbow and pull down on his wrist with your hands, keeping your shoulder pressed into his throat side. If the neck is not locked yet, step to the side of his choking arm, press your shoulder into him and pull the head out for the Guillotine Defense; if he closes guard, stay heavy and keep his back on the mat. His goals are to lock the hands, close guard and pull his elbow up. The detail beginners miss is pulling backward: that only tightens the choke.

How to do it

  1. Pull the choking arm down with both hands at the wrist and forearm, taking it off your windpipe.
  2. Tuck your chin and turn it towards the arm, so the forearm cannot slide deeper under your throat.
  3. Walk to the side of the arm over your neck, in short steps, keeping the arm pulled down. There your neck lines up with your body and the choke loses its angle.
  4. Drive your shoulder into their jaw and your chest down onto them, pushing their head away from their arm.
  5. When the grip opens, pull the head out and pass, chest staying on theirs.

Key details

  • Hands on the arm, not their face: the forearm makes the choke.
  • The right side is towards the arm over the neck: there the forearm loses its angle.
  • Stay out of their closed guard: with legs around you they push your hips away and stretch the choke.

Common mistakes

  • Pulling the head back. — It tightens the choke on the throat. — Pull the arm down and walk around.
  • Walking the wrong way. — Every step makes the choke tighter. — Go to the side of the arm over the neck.
  • Waiting with the choke deep. — A locked guillotine chokes fast. — Tap if it is deep.

If they defend

  • They pull guard. → Shoulder pressure and walk around.
  • They switch to arm-in. → Turn into them and pass.

How to drill it

Partner sets a loose guillotine, 8 escapes each side.

Safety

Tap early: guillotines choke fast and load the neck.

What comes next

  • Guillotine Defense
  • Guillotine Roll-Out
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  • PositionA mat with two athletes on it: where you are, before anything moves.
  • SweepAn arc over the mat: the opponent is lifted and turned, the bottom player ends on top.
  • PassAn arrow curving around two legs: the guard is cleared.
  • TakedownA standing line falling along an arc to the mat.
  • TransitionSteps up with an arrow: climbing to a better position.
  • EscapeAn arrow leaving a bracket: out of the trap.
  • Arm lockA lever: a straight arm over a pivot, pressure at the hand.
  • ChokeThe neck squeezed from both sides.
  • Leg lockShin and foot with a twist around the ankle.

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