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The History of Ezekiel Choke The Ezekiel choke is a popular submission technique widely used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This choke is named after the famous judoka, Ezequiel Paraguassu, who first used it in competition. Ezequiel Paraguassu was a black belt in Judo and a student of the famous Carlson Gracie. He is credited with modifying the loop choke, a popular submission technique in Judo, to create the Ezekiel choke. The first documented use of the Ezekiel choke was in the 1980s when Ezequiel Paraguassu used it to win a Judo competition. Soon after, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners began using the technique in their matches, and it became a staple of the sport. The technique involves using the sleeves of the Jiu Jitsu gi to apply pressure on the opponent's neck. The choke can be performed either from the top or bottom position and is considered a blood choke, which means that it cuts off the blood flow to the brain and causes the opponent to lose consciousness if applied correctly. Over time, the choke has evolved, and several variations have become popular, including the sleeve wheel constriction, the arrow choke, and the paper cutter choke. Today, the Ezekiel choke is considered one of the most effective submission techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is widely used in competition. Numerous high-level competitors, such as Roger Gracie, Aleksei Oleinik, and Viktor Pesta, have used the choke to win matches. Benefits of the Ezekiel Choke The Ezekiel choke is one of the most popular submission techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and for good reason. This choke offers numerous benefits for both training and competition. First and foremost, the choke is a highly effective submission technique. Because it is a blood choke, it is a reliable option for ending a match quickly and efficiently. However, the effectiveness of the Ezekiel choke goes beyond just its ability to end matches. The technique also helps to improve a practitioner's overall grappling skills. The choke involves using the sleeves of the Jiu Jitsu gi to apply pressure on the opponent's neck, which requires precise positioning and timing. By practicing the choke, practitioners can improve their technique and better understand how to apply pressure in various positions. Moreover, the Ezekiel choke can also be used as a training tool to improve endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Because the choke involves holding a tight grip for an extended period, it can help to build grip strength and endurance. It also requires a significant amount of upper body strength to apply the choke, which can help to build overall strength and muscle tone. The Ezekiel choke is an effective submission technique and a valuable tool for improving overall grappling skills, developing endurance and strength, and adapting to various situations. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner, incorporating the Ezekiel choke into your training regimen can help you reach your full potential. How To Perform The Ezekiel Choke 1. Start by gripping your opponent's Gi sleeve with one hand and securing it to your bicep with the other. 2. Use your other arm to apply pressure to your opponent's neck while pushing them away from you. 3. Keep pushing with your arm until you can feel a tight grip on their throat, then squeeze your arms together slowly. 4. As you squeeze, your opponent will become unable to breathe, and the choke will become more effective. 5. Continue to apply pressure until they tap out or lose consciousness. To successfully apply the Ezekiel choke, it is important to understand grip placement and body positioning well. When gripping the sleeve, it is essential to ensure that your hand is firmly in place and that you are not allowing any slack in the fabric. This will ensure your opponent cannot easily slip out of the grip. Additionally, it is vital to maintain a strong posture during the choke and to use your body weight to apply pressure. With practice, you should be able to master the Ezekiel choke and become a more effective grappler in competition. Countering the Ezekiel Choke While the Ezekiel choke may be a highly effective submission technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it is by no means unbeatable. With the proper knowledge and training, you can counter the Ezekiel choke and turn the tide in your favor. One effective counter to the Ezekiel choke is to quickly push your opponent's choking arm across your body as you turn into them. This will shift the pressure away from your neck and allow you to escape the choke. Alternatively, you can try to pry your opponent's grip off your collar or sleeve by using your other hand to create space and loosen their hold. Another key aspect to countering the Ezekiel choke is to stay calm and focused. Many people panic when they feel themselves being choked, which only makes the situation worse. Instead, remain calm and keep your head clear. This will give you a better chance of finding a way out of the choke. It's also important to be aware of your opponent's movements and body positioning. If you feel that they are about to apply the choke, try to quickly change your position or shift your weight to throw them off balance. By being proactive instead of reactive, you can disrupt your opponent's game plan and gain the upper hand. Training to Improve Your Execution of the Ezekiel Choke If you want to improve your execution of the Ezekiel choke, you can use several training methods to hone your skills. Here are some tips to help you improve your Ezekiel choke: 1. Learn the fundamentals Before attempting any advanced techniques, it's important to master the basics of the Ezekiel choke. Make sure you understand the choke's mechanics and clearly understand where to place your arms and how to apply the pressure. This will help you execute the choke effectively and avoid mistakes that can cost you the match. 2. Practice with a partner One of the best ways to improve your Ezekiel choke is by practicing with a training partner. Start by drilling the technique slowly, focusing on proper form and positioning. As you become more confident, increase the intensity of your training to simulate real-life jiu-jitsu scenarios. 3. Experiment with different positions The Ezekiel choke can be executed from numerous positions, including closed guard, mount, side control, etc. Experiment with different positions to find the best ones for your body type and fighting style. This will help you develop a versatile game plan and adapt to different opponents. 4. Strengthen your grip The key to executing a successful Ezekiel choke is a strong grip. To improve your grip strength, try incorporating exercises like kettlebell swings, farmer's walks, and grip trainers into your training routine. This will help you maintain a tight grip on your opponent's collar and finish the choke with ease. 5. Seek guidance from a skilled coach Finally, if you're serious about improving your Ezekiel choke, don't hesitate to seek guidance from a skilled coach. A good coach can help you refine your technique, identify areas for improvement, and provide personalized feedback to help you reach your full potential. In conclusion, the Ezekiel choke is an effective submission technique that requires proper training and practice to execute correctly. By following these tips and investing in your training, you can improve your execution of the Ezekiel choke and become a more effective jiu-jitsu practitioner. If you're interested in learning about jiu jitsu chokes, including the Ezekiel, head over to Granite Bay Jiu Jitsu. You can sign up for a free 7 day pass on our site!

Every match in BJJ and MMA begins on the feet. Athletes trade throws and takedowns, punctuated by sprawls. When one athlete senses the end, BJJ submissions come to the fore either ending the fight or resulting in a concatenation of other submissions.  White belt or black belt, BJJ practitioners will agree — BJJ submissions can be the toughest aspect of the sport to master. It’s the part of Jiu-Jitsu that will make average onlookers tilt their heads and squint. Some BJJ submissions are hard. Others seem to favor only a select group of grapplers. Requiring dexterity, rubber-like mobility, and anatomical advantage, these are the most difficult jiu jitsu moves in the sport’s labyrinthine fight-ending arsenal: 1. Omoplata The best way to imagine an Omoplata is envisioning a Kimura — but with the leg instead of the hands. The Omoplata is a shoulder lock where the practitioner uses the inner thigh to trap an opponent’s arm. The resulting position is the opponent’s arm and shoulder being underneath. Anyone performing the Omoplata correctly can place pressure on the opponent’s shoulder and eliminate chances of an escape. In MMA, the finishing position allows a fighter to rain down hammerfists while the opponent struggles under the pressure of the lock. There are many ways to perform the Omoplata, as shown by Clark Gracie time and time again. The most common way to perform the hold is from the guard. How To Perform the Omoplata To perform the Omoplata from the guard, the grappler must grip one of the opponent’s wrists. From here, the athlete must push the opponent’s head farther while maintaining the grip. As the grappler creates more space, the grappler opens the guard, angles out, and throws the leg on the same side of the wrist over the opponent. The grappler must continue to move to the side as the leg continues to sweep over the opponent’s head. The move finishes as soon as the opponent is face-first on the mat with their shoulder touching it. To prevent the opponent from rolling forward, the grappler also needs to have one hand on the opponent’s hips. The grappler can let go of the wrist or sleeve once the opponent is already facing the mat. The grappler can then secure the waist with this hand. The grappler exerts pressure shifting weight forward, twisting the opponent's arm farther. This pressures the shoulder, causing the opponent to tap. What Makes the Omoplata Difficult One of the obstacles when performing the Omoplata is the number of steps required to perform it. For this reason, it isn’t a move many BJJ practitioners or athletes will attempt. The position from which the grappler attempts the move is also what makes the Omoplata difficult. From the bottom of the guard, the opponent will likely be upright, avoiding BJJ submissions like a guillotine choke. Because of this, attempting the Omoplata requires breaking the opponent’s posture, which can be a battle in and of itself.   The Omoplata can also be more difficult during a no-gi situation. With a gi, a grappler would have an easier time maintaining a grip of the wrist. If the opponent doesn’t have a gi, the opponent can resist, causing the grappler to either establish a tighter grip or switch to a different move. 2. Gogoplata The Gogoplata is one of the least used BJJ moves in MMA and BJJ high-level competitions. Compared to submissions like the armbar, RNC, and guillotine, the Gogoplata has a low success ratio in high-level competitions. This alone is proof of how difficult it can be to finish even within the confines of an academy. The Gogoplata is a choke. Grapplers normally attempt this move from guard position. However, grapplers like Shinya Aoki have attempted the Gogoplata from less-common positions like mount. What makes the Gogoplata effective at causing a quick submission is that it’s a pain choke. Unlike other chokes like the triangle and Anaconda, the choke puts pressure on the trachea instead of the carotid. With the instep or shin on the trachea, the opponent loses the ability to breathe and experiences pain. This causes a quick tap. How To Execute the Gogoplata From guard position, the grappler needs to break the opponent’s posture. Once the grappler has done this, they need to secure one arm in an overhook. The grappler then releases from closed to open guard. Following this, the leg on the same side of the opponent’s secured arm must move higher up the opponent’s back. When the foot is within reach, the grappler must pull it over the opponent’s face. Their shin or the instep needs to be on the opponent’s throat. From here, the grappler adds pressure by pulling the opponent’s head. This places pressure on the throat, causing the opponent to tap. Why the Gogoplata Is One of the Toughest BJJ Submissions For its high success rate, the Gogoplata has a steep learning curve and relies on a grappler’s physical attributes. In particular, the grappler needs to have immense flexibility in the hips, knees, and ankles to perform this move. Many who try the Gogoplata for the first time will get tripped up at the move’s critical point. This point is where the foot needs to go over the opponent. Most BJJ practitioners will express discomfort with their ankles and knees during the pullover. Even if the knees and ankles are mobile, the Gogoplata still demands flexibility in the hips. The flexibility on the hip abductors and adductors needs to be equal. It’s not easy being equally flexible in these areas. Hence, only the most flexible of BJJ athletes like Eddie Bravo, Shinya Aoki, and the Diaz brothers pull off this BJJ submission in competitions and fights. 3. Darce Choke The Darce choke seems easy to perform. However, attempting it will expose the nuances of the choke, making it one of the more advanced Jiu-Jitsu moves anyone can attempt. The choke mimics the Anaconda choke in several ways. As a blood choke, it involves trapping one of the opponent’s arms. Using the opponent’s arms, a grappler finishes the choke by squeezing and moving towards the opponent's body. How To Execute the Darce Choke The Darce choke uses a hand position similar to the one done in the RNC and arm triangle. To perform this choke, the grappler can attempt this after a sprawl or from side mount. The most common position for the Darce choke to be successful is from the sprawl. Once the grappler sprawls on the opponent’s takedown, the grappler needs to stay on top. The grappler then loops one arm under the opponent’s armpit and chin. Their hand must pass the opponent’s head. Otherwise, the grappler will have nothing to grip on to complete the choke. Once the hand makes it past the opponent’s chin, the grappler takes the other arm. This arm locks the hand in the same way as one would an RNC. Squeezing, the grappler falls on his or her side and moves the feet closer to the opponent’s body. This will elicit a cranking sensation, with the choke being tighter as the feet move closer to the body. The grappler can also use one foot to hook a leg, so the opponent does not escape. What Makes the Darce Choke Deceptively Difficult? Two things about the move cause pain for many grapplers. Unlike most BJJ submissions, the Darce choke seems to favor grapplers with long and relatively slim arms. A grappler with shorter and thicker forearms will struggle to loop an arm under an opponent’s armpit and chin. Longer arms allow grapplers to set up chokes like the Brabo, Darce, and Anaconda without much repositioning and angling. Also, the slimmer arms allow long-limbed grapplers to sneak the hand in to complete the hold. This is why fighters like Tony Ferguson and Kendall Grove use this move well and finish fights. Grapplers like the Ruotolo brothers dominate other BJJ athletes in various ADCC competitions with slick Darce choke setups and their lengthy and slim arms. Upgrade Your Submission Game BJJ moves like submissions take time and effort to master. Different grapplers will find different moves challenging. Whatever challenges you, you should remember two things. First, there’s an entire universe of BJJ submissions beyond the Omoplata, Gogoplata, and Darce choke. Train consistently, and you’ll open yourself up to more moves you’ll be able to master. Second, the Jiu-Jitsu moves just mentioned used to be difficult for the fighters that specialize in them. One action led them to mastery — repetition in their training. After all, it’s as Bruce Lee said: “Fear not the man who knows 10,000 kicks. Fear the man who has done one kick 10,000 times.” If you need a place to drill, repeat, apply, and improve your submission game, look no further than Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu. Try out a free week and set yourself on the path towards submission mastery.