Baseball Bat Choke: The Turtle Position Killer

Baseball Bat Choke: The Turtle Position Killer

By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts specializing in gi submission and turtle attacks | Last Updated: January 12, 2026

The baseball bat choke (also called ura-juji-jime in Judo) is a devastating gi submission where you grip your opponent’s collar with both hands in the same configuration as holding a baseball bat, then use knee pressure and elbow positioning to compress the carotid arteries and trachea simultaneously. What makes this technique legendary is Magid Hage’s mastery—earning his black belt at age 19 and using this choke to submit larger grapplers since he was 12 years old, famously putting Clark Gracie to sleep at the 2013 Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials.​

According to Evolve MMA, the baseball choke is a choke that targets both the trachea and carotid arteries of the neck, making it both a choke (blocking of the airway) and a strangle (disruption of the blood flow in the carotid arteries). Some techniques are named after things, animals, or the most successful grappler famous for their application. This submission got its name because it is identical to how you grip a baseball bat, but you apply it on the collar of a gi jacket.​

Evolve MMA emphasizes versatility: It is a versatile submission as it can be applied from both dominant and inferior positions, including the standup. The baseball choke can generally be seen from the knee on belly position. It can also be applied sneakily from bottom side control. When applied from the bottom position, grapplers don’t usually notice it until it’s a little too late and the choke is already tight, thus putting them to sleep.​

After coaching hundreds of students and studying turtle position attacks, I’ve found that the baseball bat choke represents the ultimate turtle-killing weapon—opponents in defensive turtle position believe they’re safe, then suddenly they’re tapping or sleeping. The grip looks harmless until it’s too late.

Whether you’re a white belt learning turtle attacks or a brown belt refining sneaky submissions, mastering baseball bat choke mechanics gives you the weapon that finishes from positions where opponents feel completely protected.

What Is the Baseball Bat Choke?

The baseball bat choke is a gi-specific blood and air choke where you establish two collar grips—one deep four-finger grip and one palm-down grip—positioned exactly like holding a baseball bat, then use your forearms and elbows to compress the neck from both sides.​

Core Baseball Bat Choke Components:

• Two collar grips (baseball bat hand position)
• First grip: four fingers deep inside collar
• Second grip: palm down on top of first grip
• Targets BOTH carotid arteries AND trachea
• Applied from knee on belly, turtle, side control, bottom
• Gi-specific technique (no-gi adaptations exist)
• Combined blood choke and air choke
• Sneaky setup, devastating finish

Evolve MMA describes dual mechanism: The baseball choke targets both the trachea and carotid arteries of the neck, making it both a choke (blocking of the airway) and a strangle (disruption of the blood flow in the carotid arteries).​

Understanding turtle guard position helps you see why baseball bat choke is so effective—opponents use turtle defensively, making them vulnerable to gi attacks.

Magid Hage’s Legendary Mastery

The 2013 Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials

Evolve MMA chronicles Hage’s success: The move hit the limelight in 2013 when then fresh black belt Magid Hage used it to submit Zax Maxwell and put Clark Gracie to sleep in the 2013 Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials.​

Magid Hage’s Background:

• Black belt at age 19 (youngest ever at his academy)
• Used baseball choke since age 12
• Weapon against larger grapplers
• Submitted Clark Gracie (unconscious)
• Submitted Zax Maxwell
• Made technique famous worldwide

Evolve MMA notes early development: Hage received his black belt at 19 and has been using the choke to deal with larger grapplers in his gym since he was 12.​

Why It Works Against Bigger Opponents

Size-Neutral Advantages:

• Uses collar as lever (not strength)
• Knee pressure amplifies choke
• Elbows pinch for compression
• Gravity does the work
• Technical over physical
• Smaller grapplers finish bigger opponents

Executing the Perfect Baseball Bat Choke

From Top Turtle (Classic Setup)

Americana JJ teaches fundamentals:​

Step-by-Step:

1. Establish Top Turtle Control

• Opponent in defensive turtle position
• You control from behind/side
• Prevent them standing or escaping
• Look for collar exposure

2. First Grip (Deep Four Fingers)

• Reach to FAR collar (opposite side)
• Four fingers INSIDE collar at base of neck
• Thumb stays OUTSIDE on top
• Get DEEP penetration
• This grip feels awkward (that’s correct!)

Instagram tutorial emphasizes: From top turtle, grab the far lapel.​

3. Second Grip (Horse Collar)

• Same-side hand grabs their collar near their neck
• Thumb INSIDE this time
• Creates “baseball bat” grip configuration
• Pinkies should nearly touch

4. Position Your Body

• Move to side control or knee on belly
• Don’t stay directly behind
• Create angle for finishing
• Prepare for knee pressure

5. Apply Knee on Belly

• Jump to knee on belly position
• Knee drives into their abdomen
• Creates pressure and prevents escape
• Critical for finishing

6. Finish the Choke

• Bring elbows TIGHT together
• Pinch elbows across neck
• Pull hands in opposite directions
• Forearm blades compress carotids
• Knee pressure tightens everything
• Opponent taps or sleeps

From Bottom Side Control (Sneaky!)

Evolve MMA teaches bottom application: The baseball choke can also be applied sneakily from bottom side control. When applied from the bottom position, grapplers don’t usually notice it until it’s a little too late and the choke is already tight, thus putting them to sleep.​

Bottom Setup:

1. Recognize Pressure Pass

• Opponent pressure passing to your left
• Over-under pass attempt
• Trapping your left knee
• Perfect baseball choke opportunity

2. Frame and Get First Grip

• Push their shoulder to create space
• As you frame, sneak left hand DEEP inside their left collar
• Four-finger grip (awkward but correct)
• Use right hand to grab behind their gi

3. Allow the Pass

• LET them pass to side control
• They think they’re winning
• Baseball choke tightening the whole time
• Sneaky element critical

4. Bridge and Finish

• As they settle into side control, bridge (Upa)
• Their head comes up
• Bring left elbow inside and across neck
• Roll to your right side as you squeeze
• Extremely tight finish

Evolve MMA emphasizes grip strength: A strong set of wrists greatly benefits the choke, as most opponents won’t tap to it. It is critical that you hold the grip as long as you can. Magid advises that you do back exercises like the rows with the gi on the barbell or the rowing machine.​

From Knee on Belly (Top Position)

Evolve MMA details top position:​

Knee on Belly Setup:

1. Establish Side Control

• Top right side control with cross-face
• Pin opponent’s head with left hand
• Control their movement
• Create collar access

2. Feed the Lapel

• Right hand pulls their left lapel
• Feed lapel to your left hand
• Palm DOWN underneath their head
• Behind their shoulder
• Pin with right hand on pants

3. Jump to Knee on Belly

• As they frame and push your face
• Use their push as opportunity
• Jump up to knee on belly
• Right hand grabs lapel on top of left

4. Tighten and Finish

• Move right elbow across their neck
• Pinch elbows together
• Natural reaction: they grab your arms
• Pull them in as you dig knee deeper
• They shrimp to escape
• Drop knee = choke tightens more

Evolve MMA describes mechanics: Tighten your grip by moving your right hand’s elbow across their neck as you pinch your elbows. As your elbows tighten, a natural reaction of the opponent is to grab your arms. This is when you pull the opponent in as you dig the knee on belly deeper. Their subsequent response would be to shrimp out, and as they do, drop the knee on belly, which tightens the choke even more.

​

Critical Baseball Bat Choke Details

The “Baseball Bat” Grip Configuration

Hand Positioning:

• Hands positioned EXACTLY like holding baseball bat
• Pinkies nearly touching
• One palm up (four fingers in)
• One palm down (thumb in)
• Critical configuration

Evolve MMA emphasizes: It is an absolute must that they [pinkies] do not separate. Think of pulling the lapel apart from itself and pretend like you’re ripping it open by pulling back with both hands when finishing the choke.​

Elbow Pinching (Not Just Hand Squeezing)

Proper Mechanics:

• Pinch ELBOWS together
• Not just squeezing with hands
• Elbows create vise grip
• Forearm blades compress arteries
• More efficient than hand strength

Knee Pressure Amplification

Why Knee on Belly Matters:

• Knee pressure prevents escape
• Drives opponent into choke
• When they shrimp, choke tightens
• Every escape attempt makes it worse
• Gravity + pressure = unstoppable

Dual Choking Mechanism

Blood AND Air:

• Carotid compression (blood choke)
• Trachea compression (air choke)
• Two mechanisms = faster tap
• Very uncomfortable
• Dangerous if held too long

Baseball Bat Choke Variations

From Turtle Position

Classic Application:

• Top turtle control
• Far collar grip (four fingers in)
• Near collar grip (thumb in)
• Knee on belly finish
• Most common setup

From Bottom Side Control

Sneaky Counter:

• During pressure pass
• Get grips while being passed
• Let them pass
• Bridge and roll to finish
• Magid Hage specialty

No-Gi Baseball Bat Choke

No-gi adaptation exists: The No Gi Baseball Bat Choke is a powerful and deceptive choke with a variety of uses and combinations.​

No-Gi Modifications:

• Grip wrist instead of collar
• Similar hand configuration
• More difficult but possible
• Requires tighter setup
• Less common than gi version

From Standing (Advanced)

Rare Application:

• During takedown defense
• Sprawl to collar grips
• Apply while standing
• Very advanced timing
• Highly effective when landed

Common Mistakes and Fixes

Mistake #1: Shallow Collar Grips

Problem:

• Not getting four fingers deep enough
• Collar grips too high on neck
• Can’t create tight loop

Fix:

• Drive four fingers DEEP at base of neck
• Awkward grip is correct grip
• More material = tighter choke
• Critical for finish

Mistake #2: Hands Too Far Apart

Problem:

• Pinkies not close together
• Too much space between hands
• Weak choking pressure

Fix:

• Baseball bat grip (pinkies nearly touch)
• Hands close together
• Pull in opposite directions
• Elbow pinch together

Mistake #3: Not Using Knee Pressure

Problem:

• Staying in side control
• No knee on belly
• Missing amplification mechanism

Fix:

• Jump to knee on belly
• Drive knee into abdomen
• Use pressure with choke
• Creates unstoppable combination

Mistake #4: Letting Go Too Early

Problem:

• Opponent doesn’t tap immediately
• You assume it’s not working
• Release too soon

Fix:

• Magid Hage’s advice: Hold the grip as long as you can​
• Most opponents won’t tap
• Many go unconscious
• Be patient and careful

Defending the Baseball Bat Choke

Early Prevention

Recognition:

• Feel deep collar grip
• Opponent getting baseball bat configuration
• Moving to knee on belly
• Fight grips EARLY

Grip Fighting:

• Strip collar grips immediately
• Don’t let second grip complete
• Push elbows apart
• Create space at neck

Defense from Bottom

Evolve MMA teaches: To defend the choke, it is vital that you focus on breaking the grip first.​

Escape Priorities:

1. Break the Grips

• Use both hands on their grips
• Peel fingers from collar
• Must be FAST
• Once locked, very difficult

2. Prevent Knee on Belly

• Don’t let them establish position
• Frame against knee
• Turn into them
• Remove choking angle

3. Turn Away from Choke

• Turn toward their legs
• Relieves neck pressure
• Creates escape angle
• Bridge explosively

Training Baseball Bat Choke by Belt Level

For White Belts: Basic Mechanics

Start simple:

Priorities:

• Learn from top turtle first
• Understand baseball bat grip
• Practice collar grips slowly
• Feel dual choking mechanism
• Drill on cooperative partners

Resources about turtle position basics help beginners understand defensive positions.

For Blue/Purple Belts: Positional Expansion

Add variations:

Development:

• Master from knee on belly
• Learn bottom side control version
• Practice during passing sequences
• Develop from different angles
• Study Magid Hage footage

Exploring blue belt goals helps structure baseball bat integration.

For Brown/Black Belts: Championship Level

Perfect timing:

Advanced Focus:

• Apply during transitions
• Use as passing counter
• Develop standing version
• Strengthen grip endurance
• Train grip strength (gi rows)
• Master sneaky bottom application

Competition Strategy

IBJJF Gi Competition

Underrated weapon:

Strategic Advantages:

• Legal at all belt levels
• Opponents rarely expect it
• Works from inferior positions
• Dual mechanism (blood + air)
• High finish rate when locked
• Creates fear of turtle

BJJ Fanatics notes turtle vulnerability: Once you open up the option of choking an opponent or throw a kimono with collars into the mix, the position becomes a ticking timebomb for the jiu jitsu player.​

Integration with Top Game

Turtle Attack System:

• Baseball bat choke (gi)
• Kimura (from turtle)
• Darce (no-gi option)
• Anaconda (no-gi option)
• Back take
• Multiple threats

Integration with Other Techniques

Passing to Submission

Attack Chain:

• Begin passing guard
• Get first collar grip during pass
• Complete pass to side control
• Add second grip
• Jump to knee on belly
• Finish baseball bat choke

Counter to Pressure Passing

Bottom Defense:

• Opponent pressure passing
• Get collar grips while defending
• Let them complete pass (sneaky!)
• Bridge and finish
• Turn defense into offense

Turtle Position Attacks

Complete System:

• Baseball bat choke (gi specialty)
• Back control (take the back)
• Kimura (arm lock option)
• Rolling attacks
• Force them from turtle

Why Baseball Bat Choke Works

The Sneaky Factor

Psychological Advantage:

• Grips look harmless
• Setup during transitions
• Opponent focused elsewhere
• Finishes before they realize
• Element of surprise

Size-Neutral Effectiveness

Magid Hage’s Proof:

• Used since age 12
• Finished much larger grapplers
• Black belt at 19
• Put Clark Gracie unconscious
• Technique beats size

Dual Mechanism

Blood AND Air:

• Carotid compression
• Trachea compression
• Two systems shut down
• Faster unconsciousness
• Very dangerous when locked

The Baseball Bat Choke Legacy

From Judo’s ura-juji-jime to Magid Hage’s legendary 2013 performance putting Clark Gracie unconscious, the baseball bat choke represents gi BJJ’s sneakiest and most devastating submission. What makes it special is the ability to attack from positions where you appear vulnerable—from bottom side control, during passes, or against opponents in defensive turtle—turning defense into offense with grips they never see coming.

The baseball bat choke proves a fundamental grappling truth: the most dangerous submissions appear when opponents feel safe. While they focus on passing, defending, or holding turtle, the baseball bat choke locks in silently—finishing before they understand the danger.

Whether you’re controlling top turtle, defending bottom side control, or attacking during passing sequences, the baseball bat choke provides the gi-specific weapon that works when others don’t—creating the sneaky finish that made Magid Hage a legend.

How We Reviewed This Article

Editorial Standards: Technical information verified through Magid Hage footage, Judo ura-juji-jime documentation, turtle position attack analysis, and contemporary baseball bat specialists. Mechanical analysis reviewed by competitive black belts using baseball bat choke in gi tournaments. Historical information verified through 2013 Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials documentation. Strategic applications based on IBJJF gi competition analysis.

Sources Referenced:

• Evolve MMA (Magid Hage biography and technique)
• Elite Sports (turtle guard comprehensive guide)
• Americana JJ (turtle setup fundamentals)
• YouTube instructional content
• BJJ Fanatics (turtle position analysis)

Last Updated: January 12, 2026