Two pictures of a man wrestling on the ground.

Gi vs No-Gi Chokes in BJJ


Gi vs No-Gi Chokes in BJJ

Gi vs No-Gi Chokes in BJJ has some similarities and some differences. Gi and no gi – the choking course of action: When it’s time to choke someone with your upper body (chokes with the legs are quite different) there are options. In no-gi grappling, it will generally be your arms, in particular the biceps on one side and wrist/forearm on the other with the wrist/forearm side doing most of the work. In gi grappling, the preferred method will be with the opponents collar (there are other methods that are very effective). The collar has a thin edge to it that is harder and thinner than the forearm/wrist and thus does a better job of penetrating under the jaw to get to the carotid arteries. The collar mimics very well the superior strangling properties of a strong rope or sash that is the best means of a choke that you can ever use. But which of course is not an option in a Jiu-Jitsu match. There are a few cases where one can use rear naked choke in a gi match, but in the vast majority of cases, the collar will provide a much better choking medium than the arm/wrist. When there are limits of a arm/wrist to penetrate under the jaw in a match or fight,   sometimes you can or will have to perform a mandible strangle over the jaw. Now this is less efficient but still very effective, especially if you are and larger and stronger human being. A gi collar would allow much easier penetration under the jaw in circumstances like this due to its blade like edge. Learning to use the edge of the collar will make you choke with even greater power and precision than you do with the arms. this is something it takes years and a lot of mat time to develop, but when you do, it is really effective. For more BJJ tips, check back tomorrow in the news section of  www.njbjj.comÂ