Guillotine Choke

The guillotine choke is a front headlock submission that compresses the trachea or carotid arteries (or both) by wrapping an arm around the opponent's neck while their head is down and squeezing upward with the forearm. It can be applied standing, from guard, or during transitions and scrambles. Variants include the arm-in guillotine, high-elbow guillotine (Marcelotine), and the ten-finger guillotine, each targeting slightly different structures in the neck.

The guillotine is legal in all youth and adult divisions across IBJJF, NAGA, AGF, JJWL, and Grappling Industries. It is one of the most common submissions in competition because it naturally presents itself when an opponent shoots for a takedown or drops their head during a guard pass. In tournament settings, the guillotine is a high-risk, high-reward technique — if the choke fails and the attacker pulls guard to finish it, they may concede a takedown or guard pass to the opponent.

For youth competitors, the guillotine is permitted at all levels. Referees pay close attention to ensure the choke is applied to the neck and not as a neck crank (which can be illegal depending on the organization and division). Parents should know that chokes — while they sound alarming — are generally considered safer than joint locks because a properly applied choke causes the opponent to feel the need to tap well before any risk of injury, and an unconscious competitor will recover within seconds once the choke is released.