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Guillotine Choke BJJ: Setups, Grips & Variations
The guillotine punishes one of the most common mistakes in grappling: a exposed neck on a failed takedown. Here is how to finish it correctly.
What the Guillotine Choke Is
The guillotine is a front choke. You wrap your opponent's neck as they shoot in for a takedown or leave their head exposed. It's one of the most common submissions in both BJJ and MMA, since it punishes a mistake almost every grappler makes at some point.
Blood Choke vs Air Choke
There are two versions. A high, tight grip across the carotid arteries creates a blood choke. It works fast and needs less strength. A lower grip on the windpipe creates an air choke. It's slower and more uncomfortable for both people. Aim for the blood choke whenever you can.
The Arm-In Variation
Marcelo Garcia popularized the arm-in guillotine. You trap one of your opponent's arms inside the choke along with their neck. This removes one of their main defensive tools and makes the choke far harder to escape.
Setting It Up From Guard
- Wrap one arm around your opponent's neck as they posture down.
- Grab your own wrist or bicep to lock the grip.
- Pull your elbow tight to your body while lifting your hips.
- Squeeze your knees to prevent them from stepping over and passing.
Common Mistakes
- Grabbing too low, catching the windpipe instead of the sides of the neck.
- Leaving the grip loose, giving your opponent room to posture out.
- Forgetting to close your guard, which lets them step around the choke.
Defending the Guillotine
The instant your neck gets caught, turn your head toward your opponent's choking arm and drive forward. Posting your hands on the mat and stepping around the choke removes most of the danger before it fully locks in — but keep moving once you do. A defense that stops at the posted-head stage can walk straight into a Von Flue choke instead.
For more chokes that thrive on top pressure, see our rear naked choke guide and north-south choke guide.
Tagged with:#guillotine choke#submissions#mma
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a blood choke and air choke guillotine?
A blood choke grips high across the carotid arteries and works quickly with less strength. An air choke grips lower on the windpipe and is slower and more uncomfortable to apply and receive.
What is the arm-in guillotine?
A variation popularized by Marcelo Garcia where you trap one of your opponent's arms inside the choke along with their neck, removing a key defensive option.
How do you defend the guillotine choke?
The instant your neck gets caught, turn your head toward the choking arm and drive forward. Post your hands on the mat and step around the choke before it fully tightens.
Is the guillotine choke legal at white belt?
Yes. It is a blood choke rather than a joint lock, so it is legal at every belt level under IBJJF rules.
Sources & Further Reading
About the Author
Mohsin AyubBJJ practitioner, 6 years — Gracie Barra
Founder & Editor, BJJ Sportswear
Mohsin has trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for six years at Gracie Barra and has competed at IBJJF-affiliated tournaments. He writes about competition, gear, and athlete careers, and founded BJJ Sportswear to help grapplers find equipment and information they can trust.
- Six years training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Barra
- Competed at IBJJF-affiliated tournaments
- Writes on BJJ competition, gear testing, and athlete careers
This article was last reviewed and updated on 2026-08-01.