The loop choke is a one-handed collar choke: you grip the collar, pull the head through the loop of that arm and roll or sit through to finish. In Brazil it is often called the rodado, the rolled one.
- In BJJ: taken from the knees in front of a partner, from butterfly or half guard as they drive in, and against the turtle.
- Name: BJJ Heroes mentions that okuri-eri-jime is sometimes used in judo circles to describe the loop choke (rodado).
- Needs: a gi collar; the no-gi cousin from the same position is the guillotine.
What is the loop choke?
The loop is your collar-gripping arm: once their head passes under it, the collar runs across the front of the neck and your forearm sits behind it. The second arm goes behind the head to close the gap, and the finish comes from turning your body, often with a roll that pulls the collar tight. It catches people who drive their head forward and down, which is exactly what guard passers do.
How do you do the loop choke?
- Grip the collar. Facing your partner on the knees, grip their far collar with your right hand, four fingers inside, palm facing you, at the side of the neck.
- Pull the head down. Snap their head down and toward your right hip so it passes under your right arm.
- Close the loop. Let your right elbow drop over the back of their head so the collar runs across the throat and your forearm sits behind the neck.
- Add the second arm. Reach your left arm over and behind their head and press the back of the head down, or grab your own right forearm.
- Roll to finish. Sit through to your left hip and roll onto your left shoulder, pulling the collar grip toward your chest slowly until they tap.
The common mistake is pulling the collar before the head is through the loop; the choke then becomes a face crank and they posture out. Head first, then elbow over, then the roll. Because the roll adds speed to the finish, roll slowly and let go at the tap.
Is the loop choke legal?
In BJJ the IBJJF Rules Book's table of illegal moves does not list it; for children under 16 the table bans chokes combined with a spinal lock. In judo, collar chokes are legal and a tap scores ippon; the IJF Sport and Organisation Rules penalise with shido a choke made with the belt, the bottom of the jacket or the fingers alone.
Where does loop choke fit in a game?
The loop choke lives in the same moment as the guillotine: a head that comes down toward you. In the gi, with a collar to hold, the loop choke is the stronger option because the grip cannot slip on sweat. Train both. Gis and rash guards are in our BJJ training gear.
Sources
- BJJ Heroes mentions, BJJ Heroes
- IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation
- IBJJF Rules Book, IBJJF
Related terms
Guillotine, Turtle, Butterfly guard, Half guard, Chokes, Gi.