Rear Naked Choke
The primary submission from back control. Bilateral carotid compression applied from the seatbelt or body triangle.
Adapted from InGrappling, Rear Naked Choke. System Games did not invent this curriculum.
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The rear naked choke is the primary submission from back control and the most commonly finished submission in no-gi grappling at all levels of competition. It compresses both carotid arteries simultaneously from behind, producing unconsciousness within seconds when applied correctly. The submission is legal in all no-gi rulesets — there are no competition contexts in which this submission is restricted.
The rear naked choke requires bilateral carotid compression. This is not tracheal pressure. Applying pressure only to the trachea is a common error that creates pain and damage without producing the submission — and causes injury without the feedback mechanism of carotid unconsciousness. Correct application compresses both sides of the neck simultaneously.
The name “naked” distinguishes this from the collar choke (which uses a lapel grip). In the rear naked choke, the arm is bare — the forearm and bicep are the only contact points, with no grip on clothing. In no-gi grappling, all strangles are “naked” in this sense, but the name has persisted as the identifier for the specific rear-back application.
INV-S01Invariant "All strangles require compression on both sides of the neck simultaneously. Compression on one side only creates discomfort; compression on both sides interrupts blood flow."
Why it works hereThe RNC delivers bilateral compression through one closed loop. The choking arm passes over the shoulder and encircles the neck: its forearm crosses one carotid and the throat sits in the crook of the elbow. The same arm's biceps and upper arm close on the far carotid as the loop shortens. The choking hand grips the biceps of the second arm and the second arm's palm sits on the back of the skull, so the squeeze drives both sides at once while the head is pushed forward into the loop. Unilateral pressure produces tracheal pain or vertebral load without the submission. Both carotids must close together; depth confirmation (elbow at or past the throat midline) is what makes this geometry land on carotids rather than trachea.
See full invariant page → The mechanics of bilateral compression in the RNC: the choking arm goes over the shoulder and wraps the neck. Its forearm crosses one carotid, the throat sits in the crook of the elbow, and the biceps and upper arm of that same arm close on the opposite carotid as the wrap tightens. The choking hand grips the biceps of the second arm — the fleshy part of the upper arm, above the elbow. The second arm’s hand goes behind the opponent’s head, palm on the back of the skull. This is the figure-four: one closed loop around the neck, shortened by two arms, and the same loop geometry the back triangle closes with the legs.
If only one side is compressed, the submission is not achieved. Unilateral neck pressure is uncomfortable and can be dangerous — it may injure the trachea or create vertebral compression — but it does not produce the bilateral carotid compression needed for the submission. Both carotids must be closed.