BJJ The Art of Rudeness: The Mounted Smother Choke

The mounted smother choke is a bit of a vague name. To be more specific, this is a head and arm choke where the pressure is applied largely across the back of the neck. The tap can come by the sensation of a neck crank or blood choke since the arms are closing around your partners neck and arm.

In this video, we look at ways of getting hand separation.

A mounted opponent wants to keep his bent elbows close to or on the ground while pinned to the side of his body, with his hands near his face. His position prevents him from being arm barred or arm triangle choked, while having his hands up and ready to defend choking attempts.

In this position, you’d sit up in the mounted position. In a palm-up, c-shaped pushing motion (across your body), grab opponent’s right wrist (his right, your left 😿) and push opponent’s right hand to the mat. This is the motion that can create hand separation. Hand separation will likely be the most difficult phase of this move.

With the arm pinned you’ll slide your left hand under his triceps and walk it higher and higher.

This position should look like the set up for an Americana arm lock. Your right elbow will be pressed against the right side of his face (His right, your…😿). Feel free to try to finish the Americana from here by sliding your left hand under his right elbow, only if you can do so without losing the mounted position. In my experience, a mounted Americana has a lower success rate than the smother choke or arm triangle.

With your left arm under his right, walk your hand higher and higher, until his lest arm is up, as if raising his hand in class because he thinks he knows the answer. As he hand goes up and his armpit opens, place your head behind his triceps to keep the arm in place. You can then lift him slightly, to get your right arm under him.

Grab your own elbows, like you’re the cross armed angry teacher of that dumb student with the raised hand. At this point, you don’t need your head to trap the arm anymore. It’s already stuck. With this grip behind his neck and shoulder, pull your cross arms down while you lean forward to put your head to the mat. He should tap. If he doesn’t… watch the video. I don’t know why you’re sitting here reading anyways!