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SubmissionFundamentalGiNo-Gi

Arm triangle choke

Also called Head and arm choke, Kata gatame

A head-and-arm choke from the top. You pin one of their arms against their neck and use it, with your own arm, to squeeze the neck from both sides.

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Key steps

  1. Shove one of their elbows past their nose and clamp the arm in place with your head.
  2. Feed your head-side arm behind their neck and clasp your hands.
  3. Dismount toward your head side, away from the trapped arm.
  4. Get your hips down on the mat and let your shoulder weight settle into their neck as your elbows close to finish.

Key details

  • Keep your head tight to theirs so the trapped arm can't slip back out.
  • Do the squeezing only after you've come off to the side; from on top the choke has little power.
  • Their shoulder must stay across the neck; if it drops, the choke loosens.