Anaconda Choke: Complete BJJ & MMA Guide

Anaconda Choke: The Front Headlock Constrictor

By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts specializing in front headlock systems | Last Updated: January 12, 2026

The Anaconda Choke is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA’s most powerful arm-triangle variation from the front headlock position. Named after the snake that constricts and strangles its prey, this submission traps your opponent’s head and arm while you roll them over (the “gator roll”), using their own shoulder to compress the carotid arteries and force unconsciousness in seconds.

According to Evolve MMA’s Anaconda guide, the anaconda choke is an arm-triangle choke variation where an opponent’s arm is trapped with the head in a front headlock position. This submission is applied by placing your arm under the opponent’s neck as you connect it to your bicep on the other arm. The exit point of your arm is on the outside of the opponent’s armpit.

BJJ Fanatics emphasizes that the fundamental difference is that the wrapping arm goes under the neck and all the way through under the armpit and is locked up with a rear-naked choke grip just like the darce is. The anaconda seems a lot more like an arm-in guillotine than a darce choke. I usually attack the anaconda choke in a lot of the same ways I set up guillotines as well.

After coaching hundreds of students and using anaconda in no-gi and MMA competition, I’ve found it’s the crushing submission—when locked properly, opponents have almost no defense because their own shoulder creates the choking pressure. The anaconda proves that sometimes the most powerful techniques use your opponent’s body against them.

Whether you’re a blue belt building front headlock attacks or a brown belt refining championship strategies, mastering anaconda mechanics gives you the arm-triangle variation that complements guillotine and darce perfectly—completing your front headlock system.

What Is the Anaconda Choke?

The anaconda choke is a blood choke where you trap your opponent’s head and arm together from front headlock, threading your arm under their neck and exiting through their armpit, then rolling them over to finish.

Core Anaconda Components:

Front headlock position established
Arm threads UNDER opponent’s neck
Exits OUTSIDE their armpit (key difference from darce)
Hands locked with RNC-style grip
Gator roll finishes on your side
Their shoulder compresses carotid arteries
Blood choke targeting brain
Works gi and no-gi

Evolve MMA explains: It is named the anaconda choke because it works similarly to how an anaconda constricts and strangles its prey. Once this choke is locked in, you interrupt the opponent’s blood flow to the neck with the help of their trapped shoulder as you apply pressure by squeezing with your arms.

Understanding what is guard in BJJ helps you see why anaconda is so valuable—it works during scrambles and takedown defense when traditional submissions aren’t available.

The Anaconda Choke History

Milton Vieira’s Creation

Evolve MMA describes: Even though the origin of this choke is uncertain, many sources point to the respected Brazilian fighter named Milton Vieira.

Historical Timeline:

Creator: Milton Vieira (BJJ black belt, former luta livre fighter, UFC veteran)
Specialty: Master of different head and arm chokes
Legacy: Trainer of legendary Nogueira brothers
Humble Claim: Stated he may not be only creator (grapplers constantly figured out submissions)
Modern Era: No one else claimed creation
Current Use: Championship-proven across BJJ and MMA

Milton Vieira’s mastery of head and arm variations revolutionized front headlock submissions.

Why “Anaconda”?

The Name Explained:

Snake Behavior: Anacondas constrict prey until unconscious
Choking Mechanism: Squeeze tighter as opponent struggles
Relentless: Once locked, nearly impossible to escape
Predatory: Opportunistic attack when head goes down

Perfect name for this crushing submission.

Anaconda vs. Darce vs. Guillotine

Reddit users explain perfectly: “The anaconda bites the neck first”.

The Critical Differences

Evolve MMA clarifies: The easiest way to differentiate the three chokes is in the way you lock the submission relative to the positioning of the head and arm of the opponent.

Technique	Arm Path	Lock Position	Finish
Guillotine	Under chin only	Beside neck	Standing or guard
Darce	Under armpit → exits at neck	Beside neck	On your side
Anaconda	Under neck → exits through armpit	Outside armpit	Gator roll to side

Reddit mnemonic devices:

“Anaconda begins at the neck with the action of applying aftershave”
“Darce starts at the arm…like putting on deodorant”
“The anaconda bites the neck first”

Visual Memory Aid

Reddit user explains: In an anaconda choke, your bicep makes contact with the neck and then exits through the armpit for the hand lock. On the other hand, with a darce choke, the sequence is reversed; your bicep first touches the armpit, and the hand lock is secured at the neck.

Simple Rule:

Anaconda: Neck FIRST, then armpit
Darce: Armpit FIRST, then neck

Executing the Perfect Anaconda

Setup from Snap Down

Evolve MMA teaches: The first one is by performing a snap down to drag the opponent’s head and body down to the mat.

Snap Down Sequence:

1. Collar Tie

Apply collar tie to opponent
Control their head
Prepare for snap

2. Snap Down

Snap opponent’s head down
Transition to chinstrap
Control their tricep
Apply pressure

3. Force Turtle

Opponent forced down
Goes to turtle position
Opens submission opportunities

4. Thread the Arm

Use arm controlling tricep
Push closer to their head
Shoot chinstrap hand past neck
Exit OUTSIDE opponent’s armpit
Lock with bicep of other arm

5. Lock and Roll

Hand goes all the way to their back
Post foot on side of trapped shoulder
Roll on opponent’s trapped arm (gator roll)
Hook opponent’s near leg
Squeeze and tighten grip
Pull with hooked leg for pressure

Setup from Sprawl

Evolve MMA describes defense scenario: The second is typically done as a defense when an opponent shoots for a takedown.

Takedown Defense to Anaconda:

1. Sprawl

Opponent shoots takedown
Timed sprawl
Get knees to floor
Drop your weight

2. Force Turtle

Opponent forced to turtle
Front headlock applied
Remember: front headlock starts anaconda, darce, and guillotine

3. Apply Anaconda

Trap head and arm with figure-four latch
Post foot on side of trapped shoulder
Roll to same side
Hook opponent’s leg
Finish

Key Detail:
Always think offensive once you grab the head in front headlock.

Critical Anaconda Details

The Gator Roll

Finishing Mechanics:

Roll over opponent’s trapped arm
Both you and opponent on your sides
Parallel but you’re above them
Unique finishing position
Essential for proper pressure

BJJ Fanatics notes challenge: The main issue people have with the anaconda choke is with the finishing position and the finishing squeeze. In order to finish the choke, the defender has to be on their side while the attacker is also on their side, parallel, but above the defender, which is kind of weird.

Keeping the Elbow Tight

BJJ Fanatics warns: Another problem people have with the anaconda choke is that the defender can open the elbow their trapped arm rather easily and make the choke obsolete.

Rafael Mendes Method:

Bring legs over the elbow
Trap their arm with your leg
Prevents opening elbow
Increases choke pressure
Essential detail for finish

Reddit advice: I use the Rafa Mendes style of using my leg to trap their arm, which helps.

Hooking the Leg

Reddit finishing tip: Are you hooking one of his legs with your legs? I almost always do against bigger guys.

Benefits:

Force them into fetal position
Adds compressive element
Makes it terrible for them
Essential against larger opponents

Driving Chin to Chest

Reddit advanced detail: Don’t think about simply walking in. Focus on really driving their chin towards their chest.

Advanced Leverage:

Scissor your legs
Pop up tripoding with your head
Go into mount
Continue crunching chin to chest
Can even roll into full guard
All while maintaining choke

Common Mistakes

Wrong Arm Path

The Problem:

Threading arm through armpit first (that’s darce)
Not exiting outside armpit
Confusing with darce mechanics

The Solution:

Remember: “anaconda bites neck first”
Arm goes UNDER neck
Exits OUTSIDE armpit
Opposite of darce

Not Completing the Roll

The Issue:

Trying to finish without rolling
Staying on top
Insufficient pressure
Won’t get tap

The Fix:

Gator roll essential
Roll over trapped arm
End on your side
Creates proper compression

Letting Elbow Open

The Problem:

Not controlling trapped arm
Elbow opens
Choke becomes ineffective
Easy escape

The Solution:

Use Rafael Mendes leg trap
Bring leg over elbow
Keep it locked tight
Essential for finish

Training Anaconda by Belt Level

For Blue/Purple Belts: Building Foundations

Start with fundamentals:

Priorities:

Master front headlock control
Learn proper arm threading (under neck first)
Understand gator roll mechanics
Practice Rafael Mendes leg trap
Develop snap down timing

Resources about first BJJ class expectations help beginners understand progression.

For Brown/Black Belts: Championship Application

Perfect crushing pressure:

Advanced Focus:

Study Milton Vieira footage
Master all entry positions
Perfect gator roll timing
Develop invisible setups
Create front headlock system (guillotine + darce + anaconda)

Exploring blue belt development goals helps structure integration.

Competition Strategy

MMA and No-Gi Grappling

Extremely effective:

Strategic Advantages:

Works during scrambles
Takedown defense creates opportunities
Blood choke (legal everywhere)
No-gi specific advantage
Crushing pressure

IBJJF and Submission Grappling

Competition Applications:

Works gi and no-gi
Legal at all levels
High percentage when setup practiced
Creates from snap downs

Integration with Front Headlock System

Complete Front Headlock Arsenal:

Guillotine Choke: Arm-out version
Darce Choke: Arm-in (armpit first)
Anaconda Choke: Arm-in (neck first)

BJJ Fanatics notes: The guillotine is quite a simple submission, but its defenses often lead to transitions to the anaconda or darce.

Flow between all three creates unstoppable front headlock game.

The Anaconda Legacy

From Milton Vieira’s luta livre background and training of the Nogueira brothers to modern championship application across BJJ and MMA, the anaconda choke represents the crushing power of arm-triangle variations. What makes it special is using your opponent’s own shoulder to create the choking pressure—the harder they resist, the tighter it gets, just like the snake it’s named after.

The anaconda proves a fundamental grappling truth: the most powerful submissions often use the opponent’s body against them. By trapping their arm with their head, you turn their shoulder into the choking weapon.

Whether you’re sprawling on takedowns, snap downing from standing, or attacking from half guard, the anaconda provides the arm-triangle finish that completes your front headlock system—working seamlessly with guillotine and darce to create unstoppable combinations.

How We Reviewed This Article

Editorial Standards: Technical information verified through Milton Vieira instructional content, Rafael Mendes gator roll techniques, and contemporary anaconda specialists. Mechanical analysis reviewed by competitive black belts using anaconda in tournament and MMA settings. Historical information verified through documentation of Milton Vieira’s luta livre background and Nogueira brothers training. Strategic applications based on UFC, ADCC, and submission grappling analysis (2000s-2025).

Sources Referenced:

Evolve MMA anaconda choke guide
BJJ Fanatics front headlock distinctions
Reddit community technical discussions
Milton Vieira techniques
Rafael Mendes finishing mechanics
MMA and competition footage

Last Updated: January 12, 2026