Chokes

You see, almost all fights ends when one of the brawlers cannot get breath.
Chokes are really dangerous, and easy.

In Judo practice there are three basic ways of choking or strangling an opponent, as well as some combinations of the three:

1. Compression of the carotid arteries on one or both sides of the neck restricting the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.
2. Compression of the windpipe (trachea) stopping or reducing the flow of air to the lungs.
3. Compression of the chest and lungs preventing the opponent from inhaling (often used during pinning techniques).

These methods are sometimes distinguished by different terms and may be referred to as choking, strangling, wringing, or neck locks. However they are grouped together as a class of grappling techniques called shime waza. Shime means constriction and waza means technique so this group of techniques are all those involving constriction. The english term "choking" in Judo technically refers to the constriction or blockage of the windpipe which prevents breathing, and "strangulation" technically means compression of the arteries to prevent blood from reaching the brain. However, in this article and in most Judo classes the term choking techniques is synonymous with all of the kinds of shimewaza.
All of these methods should be practiced and are useful for various situations. However the first choking method (strangulation) is stressed in Judo and is the most commonly taught in Judo classes around the world. Compression of the carotid arteries is desirable because it requires the least force, is the quickest acting of the choking techniques, is the most universally effective against all opponents, and it is most in keeping with the efficiency principle of Judo, "maximum effect with minimum effort." Medical tests have established that the amount of pressure needed to occlude the arteries is six times less than the pressure needed to collapse the airway. Directly stopping the blood supply to the brain also results in loss of consciousness about six times faster than indirectly reducing oxygen in the brain through restricting breathing or the flow of air to the lungs.
Carotid strangulations are also safer and involve less pain than the other choking methods making them easier to practice and to acquire sufficient skill to be confident in their use. Besides making them more effective, this makes them more compatible with another principle of Judo, "mutual welfare and benefit." A skillfully executed technique will give the Judo student the ability to produce unconsciousness or submission with little pain or forewarning to the person receiving the technique.
A good strangulation hold should render the opponent unconsciousness without injury or significant pain in a matter of seconds regardless of whom the opponent is. The most basic requirements for applying such an effective strangulation are:

• Make sure your own body always has complete freedom of action so that you are in the best position for the technique you intend to use and you are flexible enough to be able to respond to your opponent's attempts to escape. Your position should be stable so that in applying the technique you can use your entire body.
• Lead your opponent into a position in which it is most difficult to put up resistance, and control all of his or her actions. Your opponent must be unstable and under your control as much as possible. Very often this means stretching out your opponent's body backwards.
• Train your hands to get an accurate hold the minute you begin a technique, make your choke work in a very brief time, and once you begin the pressure refrain from continually releasing to adjust your position. Your techniques will have much greater effect if you are firmly resolved not to let your opponent get away but to continue until the end without slackening. Constancy of pressure, rather than extreme force, is what is called for. Excessive reliance on strength would indicate a defect in the technique since very little pressure is needed to compress an artery and render a person unconscious.

Entire books can be written on the key points and details of choke holds. Students of Judo around the world have been modifying and refining these techniques for a century, testing them in contests as hard fought and serious as Olympic competition. They have developed many variations in the details of how best to utilize the legs, hips, chest, head, arms and hands to maximize the effect of the choke. In some chokes the hands and arms may use the lapel as if it were a thin cord to encircle the throat, in others they may twist or rotate powerfully into the neck, and in yet others they may pull or push to apply pressure directly to the carotid triangle or trachea. Even the same basic choke can be applied effectively in multiple ways depending on the position, relative size and movement of the opponent as well as the training, strengths and preferences of the individual.

STRUCTURE OF THE NECK The most effective method of shimewaza uses the principle of "maximum efficiency with minimal effort" by applying pressure directly on the carotid triangle without applying the pressure diffusely around the neck. The anterior cervical triangle of the neck (Fig. 1) contains the superior carotid triangle, within which there are the common carotid artery and branches, the carotid bodies, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve and branches, superior laryngeal nerve and the sympathetic trunk.

Fig 1: Anterior triangle of the neck (front view)

PHYSIOLOGY OF CHOKING The amount of pressure directed to the superior carotid triangle of the neck (Fig.2) and needed to render an adult unconscious is no more than 300 mm Hg. A proper performed choke, stated in general terms, requires no great amount of strength.

Fig 2: The forearm applies pressure to the left superior carotid triangle. A top view of the head is shown with the back of the head furthest from the forearm.