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Image:Maldives25a-rear choke.jpg

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A chokehold or stranglehold¹ (in budo referred to as shime-waza, 絞技, "constriction technique"<ref name=ohlenkamp>Ohlenkamp, Neil. Principles of Judo Choking Techniques. judoinfo.com. URL last accessed March 3 2006.</ref>) is a grappling hold that strangles the opponent, and leads to unconsciousness or even death when held for a considerable amount of time. 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.<ref name=jones>Jones, Richard. Asphyxia, Strangulation. www.forensicmed.co.uk. URL last accessed February 26 2006.</ref> 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 how the chokehold is performed, 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).

Contents 1 Air choke 2 Blood choke 3 Use in combat sports 4 Use in law enforcement 5 List of chokeholds 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Further reading

[edit] Air choke

An air choke or tracheal choke specifically refers to a chokehold that compresses the upper airway (trachea, larynx or laryngopharynx), hence interfering with breathing, and leading to asphyxia. Although less effective at inducing unconsciousness than its vascular counterpart, the air choke causes excruciating pain and air hunger,<ref name=jones/> and in combat sports a fighter will usually submit to such a submission hold.<ref name=koiwai2>Koiwai, Karl. How Safe is Choking in Judo?. judoinfo.com. URL last accessed March 3 2006.</ref> Air chokes have been associated with fractures of the larynx or hyoid bone,<ref name=dimaio>DiMaio, Vincent; DiMaio, Dominick (2001). Forensic Pathology, Second Edition. Selected Pages from CHAPTER 8 and from Deaths Occurring Following the Application of Choke or Carotid Holds. www.charlydmiller.com. URL last accessed March 2 2006.</ref> and are considered less safe than blood chokes to practice. The common law-enforcement bar arm choke is an air choke done by placing the forearm across the front of the neck from behind. The free hand grabs the wrist and pulls back the forearm, hence driving the forearm (usually the radius bone) into the front of the neck.<ref name=dimaio/>

Image:Image899-Sleeve choke.jpg

[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.<ref name=koiwai>Koiwai, Karl. Deaths Allegedly Caused by the Use of "Choke Holds" (Shime-Waza). judoinfo.com. URL last accessed March 3 2006.</ref> A well applied blood choke leads to unconsciousness in 8-14 seconds, and if released, the subject regains consciousness spontaneously in 10-20 seconds.<ref name=koiwai2/> Compared to traditional manual strangulation, properly applied blood chokes require little physical strength, and can be applied successfully by a comparatively weak person.<ref name=koiwai2/> Blood chokes are considered safe for practice and application,<ref name=ohlenkamp/> although being a lethal technique when held long enough. In Judo, no deaths have been attributed directly to the usage of blood chokes.<ref name=koiwai2/>

[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 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 competitions, such as Pride FC and UFC, 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 the 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 can quickly turn into an air choke if the person being strangled resists the hold by attempting to turn around.<ref name=dimaio/>

[edit] List of chokeholds

• Rear naked choke — Applied from behind the opponent, by holding their neck in the crook of the elbow and pushing on their head. A simple and effective chokehold, it is a top finishing hold in mixed martial arts competition.<ref name=sherdog>Sherdog.com. Top 20 most common fight endings. www.sherdog.com. URL last accessed February 5 2006.</ref>
• 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.<ref name=sherdog/>
• 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.<ref name=sherdog/>
• Arm triangle choke — Similar to the leg triangle choke except that it is performed from above a grounded opponent using the arms.
• Gogo-plata — Performed by using the one of the legs from the rubber guard, putting ones shin it on the wind pipe of an opponent and pulling the head down.
• Gi-choke — Any choke applied by using the own or the opponents gi (i.e. uniform), most commonly used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
• Anaconda choke — Choke starting from the north-south position using a role and a similar approach as in the guillotine choke except that a roll is involved.
• North/South choke — Applied from the north-south position with opponent facing up. Uses the bicep to cut off blood flow on one side of the neck. Takes longer than most chokeholds to take effect.

[edit] See also

• Choking game
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Judo
• Compression lock
• Joint lock

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Hadakajime - Air or Blood Choke?. Discussion about whether hadakajime can be classified as an air or blood choke.pl:Duszenie (chwyt)

• Choke Holds Information on how choke holds are use in mixed martial arts.