Rear Naked Choke: The King of Submissions

Rear Naked Choke: The King of Submissions

By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts specializing in back control submissions | Last Updated: January 12, 2026

The Rear Naked Choke (RNC), also known as mata leão (“lion killer”) or hadaka jime in Judo, is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most effective and feared submission. Applied from back control, this blood choke uses your arms to compress the carotid arteries on both sides of your opponent’s neck, cutting blood flow to the brain and forcing unconsciousness in 5-10 seconds if they don’t tap.​

According to Evolve MMA’s RNC guide, the rear naked choke is one of BJJ’s signature techniques. It requires little strength to apply, and is effective on opponents of all sizes, making it a great submission for smaller grapplers. Once a rear naked choke is fully locked in, there is virtually no way to defend it.​

Elite Sports emphasizes that unlike other types of submissions like an armbar, which a fighter can withstand, once the rear naked choke is applied and locked in, the fighter cannot escape from it. It is a destructive choke that is simple to execute after taking the position of the back mount, and you can finish a fight very rapidly if you are able to apply that technique successfully.​

After coaching hundreds of students and using RNC in gi, no-gi, and MMA competition, I’ve found it’s the ultimate finishing technique—the submission every grappler works toward from back control. The RNC proves that position before submission wins fights: achieve back control, maintain it, then finish.

Whether you’re a white belt learning your first choke or a brown belt refining championship strategies, mastering RNC mechanics gives you the highest-percentage submission in all grappling sports.

What Is the Rear Naked Choke?

The rear naked choke is a blood choke submission where you wrap your arm around your opponent’s neck from behind and compress the carotid arteries on both sides, cutting blood flow to the brain.​

Core RNC Components:

• Applied from back control position
• Choking arm under opponent’s chin
• Elbow aligned with their chin/Adam’s apple
• Hand grips bicep of opposite arm
• Non-choking hand behind opponent’s head
• Squeezing motion compresses carotids
• Blood choke (not air choke)
• Forces tap or unconsciousness in 5-10 seconds

Elite Sports explains: The aim of a rear naked choke is not to strangle the opponent by wrapping the arms around the neck. The target is to halt the circulation of blood to the brain. It usually takes five to ten seconds to cut the blood supply to the brain for one to lose consciousness.​

Understanding what is guard in BJJ helps you see why RNC is so valuable—you’ve passed their guard, taken their back, and now finish the fight.

The Rear Naked Choke History

Origins and Development

Elite Sports describes: The mata leão choke is one of the oldest techniques in grappling combat.​

Historical Timeline:

• Judo Origins: Known as “hadaka jime” (naked strangle)
• “Naked” Meaning: Doesn’t require gi to apply
• Catch Wrestling: Used extensively in catch wrestling
• BJJ Integration: Gracie family introduced as fundamental submission
• MMA Dominance: Most common MMA finish
• Modern Era: Championship-proven across all grappling arts

Elite Sports notes: In the context of Judo, hadaka jime can be made to refer to the mata leão and also the back short choke using palm-to-palm entanglement to strangle the opponent. Royce and Rickson Gracie have played a fundamental role in the awareness of the rear naked choke in BJJ.​

Why “Rear Naked” Choke?

The Name Explained:

• Rear: Applied from behind (back control)
• Naked: No gi required (works without grips on clothing)
• Choke: Compression technique

This distinguishes it from gi-specific chokes like collar chokes or bow and arrow.

Why the RNC Is Unstoppable

Anatomical Mismatch

Evolve MMA explains: As is the case with all effective submissions, the rear naked choke creates an anatomical mismatch. Specifically, it pits one person’s arms against another person’s neck.​

The Vulnerability:

• Your arms vs. their neck
• Neck uniquely vulnerable to attack
• Can’t use strength to defend (unlike armbar)
• No gripping hands together to resist
• Once locked in, virtually no defense

Evolve MMA emphasizes: An opponent can, for example, resist an armbar attempt by gripping his hands together and using strength to fight the attack. A rear naked choke, however, offers no such options.​

Back Mount Advantage

Evolve MMA describes: Its effectiveness stems from the position from which it is applied. Specifically, the rear naked choke is applied from the back mount, which is widely considered the strongest position in BJJ.​

Back Control Advantages:

• Opponent can’t see you
• Launch attacks without fear of retribution
• Control their movement completely
• They have limited escape options
• Worth 4 points in IBJJF competition

Study complete back control guide for positional mastery.

Blood Choke Mechanics

Elite Sports explains: It is the blood choke that stops the blood flow from going towards the brain.​

How It Works:

• Bicep on one side of neck
• Forearm bone on other side
• Both compress carotid arteries
• Blocks oxygen to brain
• 5-10 seconds to unconsciousness
• Air choke takes several minutes
• Blood choke is far more effective

This is why proper positioning matters—you’re targeting arteries, not trachea.

Executing the Perfect RNC

Step 1: Achieve Back Control

Evolve MMA emphasizes: A popular saying in BJJ is “position before submission”.​

Taking the Back:

• From closed guard (crawl around body)
• From mount (opponent turns)
• Arm drag technique (Marcelo Garcia favorite)
• From turtle position
• During scrambles

Study back control for detailed entries.

Step 2: Maintain Back Control

Evolve MMA teaches: To successfully apply a rear naked choke, it is necessary to obtain and maintain the back mount.​

Control Requirements:

Upper Body Control:

• Seatbelt grip (one arm over shoulder, one under armpit)
• Grip and squeeze around torso
• Maintains upper body control
• Prevents turning to face you

Lower Body Control:

• Press calves against front of thighs
• Heels into their legs
• Hooks control hips and lower body
• Extremely difficult to escape
• Complete body control

Choose Attack Side:

• Fall to side of choking arm
• Establishes attacking position
• Better leverage for finish

Step 3: Insert Choking Arm

Evolve MMA describes: From the back mount, use your top hand to grip your opponent’s opposite shoulder.​

Initial Setup:

• Top hand grips opposite shoulder
• Arm passes under opponent’s neck
• Creates initial control
• Palm-to-palm grip with bottom hand
• Bottom arm still under armpit

Step 4: Address Hand Fighting

Evolve MMA teaches critical detail: At this point, your opponent will likely attempt to remove the choking arm.​

Counter Their Defense:

• Unclasp hands when they grab choking arm
• Reestablish grip on shoulder
• Simultaneously shoot opposite hand forward
• Remove their hand from your forearm
• Rapid motion catches them off-guard
• Limits ability to block choke

Elite Sports notes: One of the most common mistakes is leaving the arm unattended, which creates the opportunity for the fellow fighter to get out of the entanglement.​

Step 5: Lock the Choke

Evolve MMA details: After removing your opponent’s defending hand, reestablish a palm-to-palm grip.​

Final Position:

• Very little space around neck
• Their hand removed from your forearm
• Lack of space prevents reestablishing grip
• Now ready for final lock

Step 6: Finish the Submission

Evolve MMA teaches: Position your non-choking hand behind your opponent’s neck and lock it into place.​

Finishing Mechanics:

• Non-choking hand behind neck
• Choking hand grips your bicep
• Squeeze arms together
• Lean slightly forward
• Create pressure from every direction
• Focus on squeezing, not pulling

Elite Sports describes: Move the under-neck hand in the backward direction, whereas moving the backward hand in the forward direction will create intense pressure in the neck area.​

Additional Pressure

Evolve MMA teaches advanced detail: To make the choke even more powerful, you may stretch your opponent’s body out by extending your legs and arching your back.​

Stretching Technique:

• Extend your legs
• Arch your back
• Stretches opponent’s body
• Combined with arm pressure
• Creates extraordinary neck pressure
• Virtually impossible to defend

Common RNC Mistakes

Leaving Space at the Neck

Elite Sports warns: Most of the fighters leave the space at the front or the back of the neck.​

The Problem:

• Space allows opponent to get chin down
• Can defend with hands
• Delays or prevents finish
• Gives escape opportunity

The Solution:

• Eliminate all space before locking
• Palm-to-palm grip removes space
• Tight to neck throughout
• No gaps for defense

Wrong Elbow Position

Elite Sports emphasizes: Keeping the forearm or the hand in front of the neck creates direct contact with the throat.​

Proper Positioning:

• Elbow aligns with Adam’s apple/chin
• Not forearm across trachea
• Elbow position targets carotids
• Forearm position causes pain not submission
• Align properly for blood choke

Jiu Jitsu Brotherhood notes: Care should be taken to ensure the elbow of the choking arm is in line with the laryngeal prominence, also known as the “Adam’s apple”.​

Not Tucking the Hand

Elite Sports warns: The next most common mistake is not to tuck the hooking hand.​

The Fix:

• Tuck hand behind head properly
• Hand on back of head (not top)
• Creates proper angle
• Prevents escape
• Locks position

Losing Back Control

Evolve MMA reminds: You must first learn how to establish and maintain the back mount.​

Maintain Position:

• Keep hooks in throughout
• Maintain seatbelt grip
• Don’t sacrifice position for submission
• Back control more valuable than rushed attempt
• Position before submission always

Defending the Rear Naked Choke

Prevention Is Key

Stephan Kesting teaches: The best defense against a choke is to prevent the choke!​

Defense Priorities:

1. Don’t Turn Your Back

• Allowing attacker behind you gives them choices
• If someone tries spinning you, keep spinning
• Front position is safer
• Prevention beats defense

2. Pull the Arm and Drop Weight

• Getting choking arm off neck is crucial
• Add bodyweight by bending knees
• Crunch forward
• Pull arm with full body

3. Get Your Chin Down

• RNC targets sides of neck
• Chin down doesn’t stop choke completely
• Might buy extra second or two
• Do it anyway
• Pressure on chin hurts but keeps you awake

4. Grab Fingers

• Whether hand on top or behind head
• Grabbing fingers worth trying
• Peel off arm
• Pin under your arm
• Desperation technique

Stephan Kesting warns: Because the rear naked choke targets the SIDES of the neck, dropping your chin doesn’t really stop the choke… but it might buy you an extra second or two.​

Last Resort Defenses

Stephan Kesting notes: If you get arched back, you might be able to run backwards and slam the attacker into a wall or crash down to the ground on top of him.​

Desperate Measures:

• Run backwards into wall
• Crash down on top
• Might shake choke loose
• Might not work
• Low percentage but worth trying

Reality: once fully locked, RNC is nearly indefensible.

Training RNC by Belt Level

For White Belts: Building Foundations

Start with basics:

Priorities:

• Master back control first
• Learn seatbelt grip
• Practice inserting arm under chin
• Understand hand fighting sequence
• Develop proper elbow position

Resources about first BJJ class expectations help beginners understand progression.

For Blue/Purple Belts: Refining Details

Perfect mechanics:

Development:

• Practice against resisting opponents
• Master hand fighting exchanges
• Perfect finishing squeeze
• Study Marcelo Garcia back takes
• Develop invisible adjustments

Exploring blue belt development goals helps structure RNC integration.

For Brown/Black Belts: Championship Application

System mastery:

Advanced Focus:

• Develop signature back takes
• Perfect invisible RNC entries
• Master all finishing variations
• Study championship footage
• Teach progressions effectively

Competition Strategy

IBJJF Gi and No-Gi

Most effective submission:

Strategic Advantages:

• Ends match immediately
• Works gi and no-gi equally
• Legal at all belt levels
• High percentage when back control secured
• No strength required with proper technique

MMA and Submission Grappling

Championship Dominance:

• Most common MMA finish
• Works in cage/ring
• Effective self-defense technique
• Proven across decades
• Universal application

Integration with Back Control

Elite Sports notes: Rear naked choke is the submission method that is applied even from the standing position.​

Versatility:

• From back control (primary)
• From standing (front or rear)
• During transitions
• From turtle attacks
• Universal finishing technique

The RNC Legacy

From judo’s hadaka jime to the Gracie family’s mata leão and countless MMA championship finishes, the rear naked choke represents grappling’s most effective submission. What makes it special isn’t complexity—it’s the simple principle of controlling the back, inserting your arm under the chin, and squeezing until they tap or sleep.

The RNC proves a fundamental combat truth: achieve dominant position, maintain control, then finish. No submission better exemplifies “position before submission” than the rear naked choke—worth 4 points for back control, then immediate victory when locked in.

Whether you’re taking the back from closed guard, using arm drags like Marcelo Garcia, or finishing from mount when they turn, the RNC provides the ultimate finishing technique that works in gi, no-gi, MMA, and self-defense.

How We Reviewed This Article

Editorial Standards: Technical information verified through Marcelo Garcia instructional content, Roger Gracie back control systems, Stephan Kesting defense analysis, and contemporary RNC specialists. Mechanical analysis reviewed by competitive black belts using RNC in tournament and MMA settings. Historical information verified through documentation of Judo hadaka jime and Gracie family development. Strategic applications based on IBJJF, ADCC, UFC, and self-defense scenarios (1960s-2025).

Sources Referenced:

• Evolve MMA rear naked choke guide
• Elite Sports RNC execution mechanics
• Stephan Kesting defense techniques
• Jiu Jitsu Brotherhood analysis
• Marcelo Garcia back take systems
• MMA and competition footage

Last Updated: January 12, 2026