By Philipp — Rollbook · Updated November 4, 2026
Rear Naked Choke: How to Finish It and How to Escape It
The rear naked choke ended four of the nine finals at ADCC 2026. How it works, how to finish it from back control, how to beat the chin tuck, how to escape it, and why it's called naked.
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What Is the Rear Naked Choke?
The rear naked choke (RNC) is a choke from behind. One arm wraps around your opponent's neck, its hand grips the biceps of your other arm, and that other hand goes behind their head. When you squeeze, your biceps and forearm press both sides of their neck. That cuts the blood flow through the carotid arteries, so it's a blood choke, not an air choke.
It's the most important finish from back control, the position many grapplers consider the best in the sport. At ADCC 2026, four of the nine finals ended with a rear naked choke, including Felipe Pena's absolute final, and 19 of the 50 submissions were chokes from back control.
The RNC in one sentence: your elbow under their chin, your hand on your own biceps, your other hand behind their head, and your elbows squeezing together.
Why It's Called "Naked"
The name comes from judo, where it's hadaka-jime, the "naked choke". Naked means no gi: unlike collar chokes, it uses only your arms, so it works the same on a bare neck. In Brazil it's the mata leão, the lion killer.
How to Finish the Rear Naked Choke
- Control the back first. Get your chest against their back, with both hooks in or a body triangle. A choke without control lets them turn into you and escape.
- Use the seatbelt grip. One arm goes over their shoulder and one under their armpit, with your hands clasped on their chest. The arm over the shoulder becomes your choking arm.
- Get the elbow under the chin. Slide your choking arm around the neck until the crook of your elbow lines up under their chin. Your biceps and forearm should sit on the sides of their neck, not across the front.
- Lock the grip. Your choking hand grabs the biceps of your other arm. Some players grip their own shoulder or clasp palm to palm instead; both work.
- Bring the other hand behind their head. Place it behind their head, or flat on your own shoulder.
- Squeeze with your back. Pull your elbows together and expand your chest, keeping your head tight to the side of theirs. Don't pull up on their jaw: that turns the choke into a neck crank.
Safety: A rear naked choke puts people to sleep in seconds. Squeeze steadily, never with a jerk, and let go the moment your partner taps. If someone does go out, release at once; they usually wake within seconds.
Getting to the Back
The RNC is only as good as your back control. The most common routes there:
- From turtle. When someone turtles, get the seatbelt, then put in your hooks one at a time.
- From guard. An arm drag pulls their arm across your body and gets you behind them.
- From a scramble. When someone turns away to escape, follow their back instead of letting them face you.
- From mount. When they turn to the side to escape, take the back as they turn.
Once you're there, keep your chest glued to their back. If they get their back to the mat, you're no longer on the back.
Beating the Chin Tuck
The most common RNC problem: your opponent tucks their chin and holds your choking arm, and the arm won't go under the chin.
- Fight one hand at a time. Use your free hand to peel one of their hands off your choking arm, then the other.
- Slide in with the wrist. The thin side of your wrist fits under a chin where your whole forearm won't.
- Switch arms. If they defend one side hard, the other side is often open.
- Attack something else. A defender who holds your arm with both hands leaves their arms exposed. Switch to an armbar from the back, or in the gi, a collar choke such as the bow and arrow.
Common Rear Naked Choke Mistakes
- Crossing your feet. With your ankles crossed in front, your opponent can lock your feet. Use hooks or a body triangle instead.
- Elbow not under the chin. If your forearm is across their throat or on their jaw, it hurts but doesn't finish.
- Squeezing with your arms only. The squeeze comes from your back and chest. Arm strength alone tires you out.
- Losing chest-to-back contact. Any space lets them slide their shoulders down to the mat and escape.
- Rushing the choke. Going for the neck before you control the back is how people lose the position.
How to Escape the Rear Naked Choke
Protect the neck first:
- Get both hands on the wrist of the choking arm, the one over your shoulder, and pull it down off your neck.
- Tuck your chin, but don't rely on the chin alone; hand fighting is what keeps the arm out.
Get your back to the mat:
- Most coaches teach escaping toward the side of the choking arm. Slide your shoulders down to the mat on that side, so that arm ends up pinned under you and can't finish the choke.
- Clear the hook on that side, usually by pushing their foot off your thigh with your hand or your other foot.
- Turn in to face them, and end in their guard or on top.
Don't:
- Turn your face away, or stand up with them on your back: both expose your neck.
- Wait until the choke is locked to start defending. Once the elbow is under your chin and the grip is set, tap.
Is the Rear Naked Choke Legal?
Yes, at every belt and every age in IBJJF events, in the gi and in no-gi. IBJJF's table of illegal techniques bans four chokes for kids aged 4 to 15: the frontal guillotine, the arm triangle, the triangle when pulling the head, and the Ezekiel. The rear naked choke isn't one of them.
The same table bans a choke combined with a spinal lock for kids under 16, and a spinal lock without a choke at every age. See our IBJJF illegal techniques guide for the full list.
Rear Naked Choke FAQ
Why is it called the rear naked choke?
From the judo name hadaka-jime, the "naked choke". It uses no gi grips, only your arms, so it works on a bare neck.
What does mata leão mean?
"Lion killer". It's the Portuguese name for the rear naked choke in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
How long does a rear naked choke take to put someone to sleep?
Seconds. That's why you tap as soon as the choke is locked, and why your partner should let go the moment you do.
Is the rear naked choke a blood choke?
Yes. It squeezes the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck. Done right, it doesn't press on the windpipe.
Is the rear naked choke legal for kids?
Yes. Under IBJJF rules it's legal at every age and belt. Several other chokes, such as the guillotine and the arm triangle, are banned for kids aged 4 to 15.
Can you do a rear naked choke in the gi?
Yes. It works the same with or without a gi. In the gi you also have collar chokes from the back, such as the bow and arrow.
What's the best way to escape a rear naked choke?
Fight the choking hand first with both hands, then get your shoulders to the mat, usually on the side of the choking arm, and turn in to face your opponent.
Sources
- Rear naked choke (Wikipedia): hadaka-jime, mata leão and the grip variations
- ADCC 2026 results: the four finals that ended with a rear naked choke
- IBJJF Books & Videos: the rules book and the "Illegal moves by age and category" table (January 2024 edition)
Working on your back attacks? Log your back takes and finishes in your Rollbook technique journal, and see how often you finish once you get there. Rollbook is free on iOS and Android.
Oss!
