Rear Naked Choke

The rear naked choke (RNC), also called mata leao ("lion killer" in Portuguese), is a chokehold applied from the back position. The attacker wraps one arm around the opponent's neck, places the bicep on one side of the neck and the forearm on the other, and uses the other hand behind the opponent's head to close the choke. It compresses the carotid arteries bilaterally, causing a rapid loss of consciousness if not defended. The "naked" in the name refers to the fact that no gi (uniform) is needed — it works equally well in gi and no-gi competition.

The rear naked choke is legal in all youth and adult divisions across IBJJF, NAGA, AGF, JJWL, and Grappling Industries. It is widely considered the single most dominant submission in grappling — once back control is established and the RNC is locked, escape is extremely difficult. In tournament play, taking the back earns 4 points (the maximum for any position in IBJJF rules), and the RNC is the natural finishing sequence. Many matches at the highest levels end with this submission.

For youth competitors, the RNC is universally permitted and is one of the first chokes taught to children. Despite its intimidating name, it is mechanically clean — the pressure is symmetrical, there is no cranking of the spine, and the defending athlete has clear warning before losing consciousness. Referees at youth events are especially vigilant during back control situations and will stop the match immediately if a child appears to go to sleep. Parents can be reassured that brief unconsciousness from a blood choke carries no lasting effects and the competitor recovers within seconds.