Arms Low, Hand to the Spine vs Turn to Face
Mat mode
3:00
Tell the roomKeep their arms low and get a hand to their spine under the neck.
Show full gameHide full gameRules · how to win · video
Notes (this phone)
ATTACKING PLAYER (BEHIND)
POSITION
Behind your partner, working a back strangle path. You are isolating their arms below the body while you wrap the neck.
OBJECTIVE
Keep their arms low and get a hand to their spine under the neck.
CONSTRAINTS
Push their hands as close to the hips as possible. Trap their arms with your legs if you can. Keep the arms low while you wrap the neck. The score is the hand touching the spine, not the finished choke. If they feel real choke pressure, they yell "tap" and you release immediately. Reset and switch after either side wins.
WIN CONDITION
Touch your hand to their spine under the neck.
DEFENDING PLAYER
POSITION
With your partner behind you, arms being driven low as they hunt the neck wrap.
OBJECTIVE
Break their connections and turn to face them.
CONSTRAINTS
You win by facing them after breaking the connections, not by stalling in place. Yell "tap" and expect an immediate release on choke pressure. Reset and switch after either side wins.
WIN CONDITION
Break the connections and turn to face your partner.
Reference video
Open video · Ground Game Theory
Ground Game Theory, In the Lab w/ GGT Black Belts Tommy & CM: Private CLA Training 4/29/2025 (free video on the Ground Game Theory YouTube channel).
Problem
Behind your partner, working a back strangle path.
Tell the room
Keep their arms low and get a hand to their spine under the neck. Break their connections and turn to face them.
Setup
Behind your partner, working a back strangle path. You are isolating their arms below the body while you wrap the neck. With your partner behind you, arms being driven low as they hunt the neck wrap.
Score
Touch your hand to their spine under the neck. Break the connections and turn to face your partner.
Rules
- Push their hands as close to the hips as possible.
- Trap their arms with your legs if you can.
- Keep the arms low while you wrap the neck.
- The score is the hand touching the spine, not the finished choke.
- If they feel real choke pressure, they yell "tap" and you release immediately.
- Reset and switch after either side wins.
- You win by facing them after breaking the connections, not by stalling in place.
- Yell "tap" and expect an immediate release on choke pressure.
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