How to Escape a Rear Naked Choke: A Proactive Approach

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Finding yourself caught in a rear naked choke can be terrifying, especially if the attacker is starting to lock it in. However, when the choke hasn’t been fully applied, there’s a window of opportunity to escape. In this blog, we’ll go over a proactive method for defending against this dangerous situation, giving you the steps to break free before it’s too late.

1. Proactive Defense: Catching the Choke Early

The key to this method is acting before the attacker fully locks in the choke. A rear naked choke, or carotid choke, cuts off blood flow to your brain, and once it’s tight, escaping becomes much more difficult. The proactive defense focuses on recognizing the choke early and stopping it while you still have some space. By moving swiftly at this stage, you’re working against the choke before it fully takes effect, giving you a better chance of breaking free.

2. The Double Hand Pluck: Your First Line of Defense

The first thing you need to do is a double hand pluck. Both hands come up to grab the attacker’s arm that’s wrapping around your neck. The goal here is to pull down hard on the arm to relieve some of the pressure and prevent the choke from tightening. At the same time, you want to drop your weight and lower your center of gravity, making it harder for the attacker to control your movement. This double hand pluck is crucial for creating that small but essential gap between you and the attacker’s choke.

3. Step to the Side: Create Space for the Counter

Once you’ve relieved some of the pressure with the pluck, it’s time to step off to the side. This movement shifts your body out of the attacker’s direct line, disrupting their positioning and giving you a better angle to counter. The side step is important because it not only helps you get out of the choke, but it also sets you up for the next move: a counterstrike. Creating space in this moment is essential to turn the tables on your attacker and give you the upper hand.

4. Rear Elbow Strike: The Perfect Follow-Up

Now that you’ve stepped to the side, you can follow up with a rear elbow strike. As you step, reach out with one hand as if you’re going to shake someone’s hand, and then swing your rear elbow back to strike the attacker. This elbow strike can be targeted at the torso or the head, depending on the position of the attacker. The purpose of this strike is to further break their grip and create an opening for more aggressive follow-up actions. It’s a quick, powerful move that puts you back in control.

5. Close Quarters Follow-Up: Keep the Momentum

After landing the elbow strike, you’ll find yourself in close quarters with the attacker. From here, there are several options to follow up. You could throw knee strikes, hammer fists, or any other close-range techniques that allow you to continue the defense. The goal is to stay aggressive and take advantage of the space you’ve created, preventing the attacker from reapplying the choke or launching another attack. Close quarters combat is all about using your body efficiently, and this sequence puts you in a prime position to continue your defense.

6. Proactive vs. Reactive Defense: Timing is Key

This method of escaping a rear naked choke is considered proactive because it relies on acting before the choke is fully locked in. If the attacker manages to secure the choke completely, a different, more reactive defense is required. The difference lies in timing—by recognizing the choke early and responding quickly, you can execute this proactive defense and avoid the dangers of a fully locked choke.

Understanding these steps and practicing them can make a big difference if you ever face this kind of threat. By staying alert and using a proactive approach, you give yourself the best chance to escape and regain control.

Sifu Matt Numrich