Learn The Guillotine Choke For Mixed Martial Arts

The guillotine choke is a submission hold that you have undoubtedly seen before if you have spent any time training mixed martial arts or Brazilian Jujitsu. You most likely have seen it in many televised MMA events also. In fact, it’s one of the most common submissions you will see when you tune in to watch a MMA event, such as the UFC, on the old boobtube.

So why is it that you constantly see it? Well, it basically comes down to the fact that during the course of a mixed martial arts fight most MMA fighters will put themselves into a position to be guillotined many times throughout a fight. Every time someone goes for a takedown and places their head to the outside of the opponents body they put themselves right into position. So if you are going to be stepping into the ring with someone that will most likely be putting themselves into position for a certain technique many time through out a fight, don’t you think it would be a good idea to learn it? Good, then let’s get started.

The guillotine is a choke hold that can cause the tap by being either a blood choke or air choke depending on how it is performed. If the pressure from the forearm is placed against the wind pipe then of course you are going to get an air choke but if the pressure is on the arteries of the neck then you will get a blood choke.

In addition to there being two ways that this submission hold can cause the tap. There are also two primary positions that it can be applied from. Standing and on the ground. when applying it in the most commonly see way, on the ground from the guard, you should try to get the opponent into your full guard. If not it will be very hard to finish the choke and get him to tap.

As for instructions, I will leave it up to these well done videos by a couple of the BJJ elite.

Renzo Gracie Demonstrates the Guillotine Choke

Rafa Mendes Giving Details on the Guillotine Choke

An added bonus of learning how to apply this submission is that you are going to get a better idea of how to defend it also. And if you will be putting yourself in position to be guillotined every time you go for a takedown with the head on the outside, then it would be a good idea to get used to defending it.

  1. Joey September 22, 2007 at 6:57 pm

    hey guys, thanx for the video, me and my friends spar alot and i could never get that properly. that video helped me out. if you guys have any other sumbmission videos you can send me i would like it greatly.

  2. admin September 23, 2007 at 1:11 am

    Glad to hear that the video helped you Joey. If you are looking for more you can check out this page http://www.mma-training.com/mma-submission-holds/ it has links to all our submission pages and most of those have videos on them. Enjoy.

  3. Bryan September 30, 2007 at 4:43 pm

    I recently joined a wrestling team but I could never grasp how to preform this move. The videos and text helped me understand this move, I can’t even begin to list how many times it has helped.

  4. Brad October 29, 2007 at 2:18 pm

    hey, i trying to find a good place to train and learn more mma around where i live, but i can’t find any good ones? i live in ohio. Can anyone help me out?

  5. bobby November 26, 2007 at 9:36 pm

    gotta love theese chokes:P how long does it take before the other guy pass out when the Guillotine is applied?

  6. Bo November 27, 2007 at 10:32 pm

    hey strange question… im a varsity wrestler on LI, NY… its pretty tough competition… im a small guy for my weight class and not overly strong… i used to do some Muay Tai and american kickboxing… are there any particular holds and submissions that could be beneficial against an opponent who is probably stronger than me?

  7. Kelainefes February 6, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Armbar, heel-hook, kimura (from the side mount position), triangle choke, side choke if you can perform it from side mount and rotate clockwise if your right arm is encircling the neck, counter-clockwise if it’s the left.
    If you are a few minutes into the match and you’re sweating a lot the rear naked choke is way easier to slip under the chin; but against a stronger (or skilled) opponent watch for kimura sweeps (Kazuhi Sakuraba style) expecially if you are not slippery from the sweat.

  8. tracy April 19, 2008 at 4:32 am

    im looking for jiu jitsu training or submissions i live in upper michigan if theres anyone up here or if you know anyone from my area let me know im in iron mountain michighan.

  9. Derek April 26, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    Me and my friends do little MMA fights 1 or two times a month. My friend can normally lock in a guillotine and hold me in it for a long time, I only get out because time ends in a 5 minute match. What are some of the best ways to get out and at the same time get into a good postion of my own?

  10. Nick June 11, 2008 at 7:51 pm

    This has to be my most favorite move. I don’t do any actual wrestling but when my friends and I mess around I always get them in this and they tap out within seconds.

  11. Andrew June 13, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    I wrestle, so I get a lot of combat in, but when I have to really defend myself, this ends fights real quick. Thanks.

  12. Adonis Jackson August 14, 2008 at 9:19 am

    Hey guys I’m a security guard for a large casino company. On July 27 I had the unfortunate opportunity to utilize the guillotine choke on a very combative patron. It was very useful in restraining the party. I have to thank you for the video and proper usage of this move. It changed the way we now handle grappling and subdueing combative patrons.

  13. Shaggy September 8, 2008 at 10:55 am

    I spar frequently with friends and one friend weighs 280 lbs compared to my 130 lbs, but a quickly applied guillotine when an opponent shoots will end a match in seconds. An easy defense against the choke is to move your body to the opposite side of your opponents lead arm when the choke is applied to relieve pressure.

  14. Anthony September 14, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    I don’t think it’s a good idea to wear those t-shirts. If you’re in a fight, someone can read the back of yours in a clinch and apply the guillotine on you.

  15. Mark Levine September 18, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    A friend had shown me your website and I’m very impressed. I look forward to making regular visits here to learn about submission holds and more. From what I have viewed so far, this site will help a great deal.

  16. MMA Training October 18, 2008 at 1:40 pm

    Guillotine choke is a sweet submission but you have to be pretty sloppy to get caught in it and not be able to escape.

  17. Jimmy October 26, 2008 at 7:12 am

    Thanks for this instructions, I’ve tried it and learned it to a friend so I can undergo it. I blacked out in 3 sec. Very effective move, thank you very much !!

  18. uzzy November 30, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    wow the gracie insider explanation of the guilotine chokes was realy well done i had my brother demonstrate the move on me a couple of times and when i tried it i could never do it sufficiently and couldnt quite understand the choke myself but that explanation was great . i wonder if i can get one of those t-shirts 😛