What Is a Rear Naked Choke? A Beginner's Complete Guide
The rear naked choke is BJJ's most iconic submission — and one of the first techniques beginners learn at Kaizen Academy in Venice, CA. Here's a complete beginner's guide.
The rear naked choke is the most frequently applied submission in MMA and one of the foundational techniques of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This complete beginner's guide from Kaizen Academy in Venice, CA explains the mechanics of the rear naked choke, why it works, how to apply it safely in training, and why back control — the position it's applied from — is considered the most dominant in all of grappling.
If you've watched any MMA, you've seen the rear naked choke finish more fights than any other submission. If you've been training at Kaizen Academy for more than a few weeks, you've probably felt it applied to you. And if you're a beginner trying to understand BJJ's most fundamental submissions, this is the one to start with.
What Is the Rear Naked Choke?
The rear naked choke (RNC) — called "mata leão" in Portuguese, meaning "lion killer" — is a blood choke applied from behind your opponent. Unlike air chokes that restrict breathing, the RNC compresses the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, reducing blood flow to the brain. If not tapped out of quickly, it produces unconsciousness in 8–12 seconds.
The "naked" in the name refers to the absence of the gi jacket — unlike lapel chokes that use fabric, the RNC is applied with bare arms against bare neck. It works equally in gi and no-gi training.
Why Back Control Is the Most Dominant Position in BJJ
The RNC is applied from back control — the position where you're behind your opponent with your legs (hooks) inside their hips. This is the highest-scoring position in BJJ competition (4 points) because it is fundamentally the most difficult position to escape from.
When you have someone's back:
- They cannot see your arms or face your attacks directly
- Their strongest muscles (chest, front of shoulders) face away from your attack
- You control their movement without being exposed to their submissions
- They must defend what they cannot see
Back control with both hooks in is the position every BJJ practitioner should be able to maintain and attack from — and every practitioner should be able to escape from when it happens to them.
The Mechanics of the RNC
Step 1: Establish back control. Both hooks (heels) inside your opponent's hips. Chest to their back. Seatbelt grip — one arm over their shoulder, one arm under their opposite armpit, hands clasped at their chest.
Step 2: Break the defense. Your opponent will tuck their chin and grab your choking arm. Work to clear their chin — push it up with your forearm or use head pressure to expose the neck.
Step 3: Apply the choke. Slide your choking arm across their throat (not the chin — across the neck). Your elbow aligns under their chin. Place the back of your other hand against the back of their head. Your choking arm's bicep and forearm create pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously.
Step 4: Squeeze. Bring your elbows toward each other. The pressure on both carotid arteries increases. Your training partner will tap — release immediately and completely.
Training the RNC Safely at Kaizen Academy
At Kaizen Academy, we teach the RNC with specific emphasis on:
Tap early. The RNC works quickly. Training partners should tap the moment they feel the choke tightening — not when it becomes uncomfortable.
Release immediately. When your partner taps, release the choke completely and immediately. Not gradually — immediately. This is non-negotiable.
Distinguish neck from chin. Choking across the chin rather than the throat is a crank, not a choke — it applies spinal pressure rather than vascular compression. We teach students to feel the difference and ensure the choke is applied correctly.
Developing Your Back Game at Kaizen Academy
The back take and RNC system is a cornerstone of our adult BJJ curriculum. If you want to develop strong back control and reliable RNC application, consistent drilling of the back take sequence — from guard, from turtle, from scrambles — is the path.
Kaizen Academy is at 2014 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291. First class is free.