Chokehold

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A chokehold or stranglehold¹ (in budo referred to as shime-waza, 絞技, "constriction technique"^[1]) is a grappling hold that strangles the opponent, and leads to unconsciousness or even death. Chokeholds are practiced and used in martial arts, combat sports, self-defense, law-enforcement and in military hand to hand combat application. They are generally considered superior compared to brute-force manual strangling, which usually requires a large disparity in physical strength to be effective.^[2] Instead of simply using the fingers or arms to attempt to crush the neck, chokeholds effectively use leverage such as figure-four holds or collar holds that use the clothes to assist in the strangle. Depending on the reaction of the victim, it may compress the airway, interfere with the flow of blood in the neck, or work as a combination of the two (see the 'General' section in the article on strangling for further detail).

The word also refers to an occupied state where the occupiers severely prevent any kind of civil rights, quelling all opposition and/or resistance.

Contents 1 Blood choke 2 Use in combat sports 3 Use in law enforcement 4 List of chokeholds 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Blood choke

A blood choke or carotid restraint specifically refers to a chokehold that compresses one or both carotid arteries and/or the jugular veins without compressing the airway, hence causing cerebral ischemia and a temporary hypoxic condition in the brain.^[3] Regardless of who the opponent is, a well applied blood choke leads to unconsciousness in 4-10 seconds, and if released, the subject usually regains consciousness in double the time the choke was applied after he/she had blacked out (e.g. Choke applied for 15 seconds after person passed out results in the person regaining consciousness 30 seconds later).^{[citation needed]} Compared to traditional manual strangulation, properly applied blood chokes require little physical strength, and can be applied successfully by a comparatively weak person.^[4] Blood chokes are considered safe for practice and application,^[1] although being a lethal technique when held long enough. In Judo, one death has occurred in the use of the blood choke.^[4]

[edit] Use in combat sports

Most chokeholds featured in combat sports and martial arts are blood chokes, although some air chokes or combinations occur as well. Blood chokes, especially the rear naked choke (mata leão), triangle chokes, or gi chokes, are commonly used as submission holds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In Judo, chokeholds, known as shime-waza, are used but are often subject to restrictions based on age or rank. Chokeholds are not allowed in Sport Sambo but are allowed in Combat Sambo. The chokeholds used in Catch wrestling are the inspiration for the "chokeholds" in modern professional wrestling performances. Due to the effectiveness of chokeholds and their popularity in a wide variety of martial arts, they are often used to force submissions in mixed martial art organizations such as the UFC and WEC, and submission grappling tournaments, such as ADCC.

[edit] Use in law enforcement

The law-enforcement lateral vascular neck restraint (also called sleeper hold) is a widely taught blood choke in law enforcement, and is performed from behind by putting an arm around the neck with the crook of the elbow over the midline of the neck. By pinching the arm together while assisting with the free hand, the carotid arteries and jugular veins are compressed on both sides of the neck. This hold does not put any pressure on the airway, but an improperly applied hold can quickly turn into an air choke if the person being strangled resists the hold by attempting to turn around.^[5]

Due to risks of fatal injuries, law enforcement agencies may discourage, restrict, or forbid its use. The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, prohibited its officers from using the air choke and restricted use of the carotid hold to instances where death or serious bodily injury was threatened in about 1985, after routinely using chokeholds for many years.^[6] The Singapore Police Force does not include any form of chokehold procedures in its unarmed defensive techniques.

[edit] List of chokeholds

• Anaconda choke — Choke starting with attacker facing the opponent on all fours. Attacker passes his leading arm under the neck, and outside past one of the opponents arm while then grabbing his free arms biceps (resulting in similar arm positioning to a rear naked choke). The attacker then arches his back, bending backward to apply the choke. (Not to be confused with a gator roll choke, which involves the roll)
• Arm triangle choke — Similar to the leg triangle choke except that it is performed from above a grounded opponent using the arms.
• Gator Roll Choke — Choke starting with attacker facing the opponent on all fours. Attacker passes his leading arm under the opponents arm, and inside under the opponents neck while then grabbing his free arms biceps (resulting in similar arm positioning to a rear naked choke). The attacker then drops his opponent onto his back, then follows through bridging to create additional pressure. (Not to be confused with an anaconda choke, which does not involve the roll)
• Gi-choke — Any choke applied by using the own or the opponents gi (i.e. uniform), most commonly used in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Example: Ezequiel choke).
• Gogoplata — Variation on the Omoplata shoulder lock. Performed from full guard by using an omoplata setup to trap the top man's arm, then using rubber guard to pull the bottom man's foot past the top man's head, pressing the shin of that leg against the throat. The bottom man then pulls on his oppenents head, cutting off the airflow and forcing him to submit or risk passing out from lack of oxygen.
• Guillotine choke — Applied in front of and above the opponent, holding their neck in the crook of the elbow. A common finishing hold in mixed martial arts.^[7]
• North/South choke — Applied from the north-south position with opponent facing up. Uses the biceps to cut off blood flow on one side of the neck. Takes longer than most chokeholds to take effect.
• Rear naked choke — Applied from behind the opponent, starting by looping one arm around the neck so that the crook of the elbow is under the opponents chin, then placing the hand of that arm on the opposite biceps. The other hand is then placed on the back of the opponents head and pushes the opponents head and neck forward into the crook of the flexed arm. Additional pressure may be applied by pinioning the opponents lower body by locking the legs around the opponents waist(referred to as "hooks") and arching the back to place more force against the neck. A simple and effective chokehold, it is the most common ^[7] finishing hold in mixed martial arts competition.
• Triangle choke — Applied from below, with the opponent's neck trapped in a triangle formed by their own arm and the attacker's thigh and calf. A top finishing hold in mixed martial arts.^[7]

[edit] See also

• Choking game
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Judo
• Compression lock
• Joint lock
• Grapple tackle - used in rugby football

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Hadakajime - Air or Blood Choke?. Discussion about whether hadakajime can be classified as an air or blood choke.