BJJ Tutorial: The No Sleeve Ezekiel Choke from Mount

The ezekiel choke is named after Ezequiel Paraguassú. He was a famous Brazilian Judo player who decided at one point to tighten up his game by training in BJJ, and during that period of time, he used the choke so effectively that they associated it with his name.

Outside of the world of Jiu-jitsu though, the choke is known as Sode Guruma Jime, and it translates roughly to sleeve wheel constriction. That name articulates what the choke was in its initial form.

Back then, the sleeve was required in order to execute the submission, but it has evolved now.

The greatest strength of the ezekiel choke lies in the fact that you don't have to sacrifice position to use it. The risk is minimal, and you can attempt it over and over again both as a distraction and as a lethal threat.

Then when you take out the sleeve requirement, it becomes even more versatile. It's not even limited to the mount position. It can be done in all over the place.

In its best form, the ezekiel choke doesn't require that you crush the windpipe. It can be a very effective choke that will put people to sleep without much pain.

The secret lies in the methodology used because the objective always remains the same. The blood flow through the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck MUST be blocked.

With that objective in mind, let's talk about the mechanics of the ezekiel from mount without the sleeve:

1. Establish a stable position in mount. It's critical. That may be the most obvious thing in the world, but it must be stated.
2. Slide one arm (let's call it bottom hand for clarity) under your opponent's neck as deep as you can. You should feel your bicep against their neck. That arm position will make the difference between success and failure.
3. Use your head to make them look towards the arm that is under their neck. This will open a path for your other hand to slide in and cut off their second carotid artery.
4. Slide your free hand (this will be called the top hand from now on) across their neck until you feel that the lower portion of your hand and the upper position of your wrist is firmly pressed against their carotid artery.
5. Move your bottom hand so that you can press it against the outside of your top hand's elbow. This position is the first step of creating leverage for the choke,.
6. Slide your bottom hand up the wrist of your top hand as high as possible. This elevates your opponent's neck into the choke by lifting their head.
7. As soon as you reach the highest point, roll the palm of your bottom hand down towards the mat. It's important that both of your elbows stay on the mat throughout the whole transition. This action is also increasing the leverage of the choke, and many will start to feel lightheaded immediately.
8. To increase the pressure even more, flex your forearms and your biceps. Just with that little action, incredible pressure will be exerted on the neck, and it won't require much strength from you.

If you have any questions about this submission, you're welcome to visit me in Annapolis, MD. We can go over this submission, and I'll show you all the variations and tricks I use to smash past resistance.