Guillotine Choke

Last updated: April 14, 2026

What is a guillotine choke?

The guillotine choke is a submission applied from in front of the opponent, where the attacker wraps one arm around the neck and clasps their hands to squeeze. The name comes from the French Revolution execution device, since the trapped opponent’s head and neck resemble someone placed beneath a guillotine blade.

In judo, the technique is called mae hadaka jime, which translates to “front naked choke.” This label reflects its position as the mirror image of the rear naked choke: same principle, opposite direction. The guillotine predates modern MMA by centuries. It appears in judo and catch wrestling, and the U.S. Army included it in its 2002 Combatives field manual.

What makes the guillotine choke distinct is where it happens during a fight. Most submissions require a specific dominant position. The guillotine can be caught standing, from guard, during scrambles, or as a direct counter to a takedown attempt. That last scenario is the most common one in MMA. When a wrestler shoots for a double-leg or single-leg takedown, their head drops below the defender’s chest, leaving the neck exposed.

According to UFCStats.com data compiled by fight.tv, the guillotine choke has produced 264 wins in UFC history, making it the second most common submission finish behind only the rear naked choke. The rear naked choke, guillotine, and triangle choke account for roughly 70% of all choke finishes in professional MMA, according to Ringside Report.

How the guillotine choke works

The guillotine choke targets the neck from the front using the forearm and wrist as the primary choking surface. Depending on where the forearm sits across the neck, the choke functions in one of two ways.

A blood choke compresses the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, cutting off blood supply to the brain. Unconsciousness follows within seconds. An air choke presses against the trachea (windpipe), blocking airflow to the lungs. In practice, most guillotine applications combine both effects, with pressure landing on the arteries and the windpipe at the same time.

According to data cited on Wikipedia, a standard guillotine choke (neck only) takes an average of 8.9 seconds to render someone unconscious. An arm-in guillotine, which traps one of the opponent’s arms inside the hold, takes about 10.2 seconds on average.

The choke is executed from the front headlock position. The attacker’s armpit sits over the top of the opponent’s head, and the forearm wraps underneath the chin. From there, the free hand clasps the choking hand and pulls upward. On the ground, the attacker typically locks their legs around the opponent’s waist in closed guard, which controls the hips and blocks escape routes.

Types of guillotine chokes

Several variations exist, each differing in grip, arm position, or angle of pressure.

Variation	What distinguishes it
Standard guillotine	Wraps only the neck with no arm trapped inside. Can be a blood choke, air choke, or both. The most common version taught to beginners.
Arm-in guillotine	Traps one of the opponent’s arms inside the hold alongside the neck. Changes the angle of pressure and makes the choke harder to escape.
High-elbow guillotine (Marcelotine)	Popularized by Marcelo Garcia. Lifts the choking elbow high to tighten the squeeze on the carotid arteries. Primarily a blood choke.
10-finger guillotine	Both hands cup the opponent’s chin from a sprawl position. Often used as a counter to takedown attempts. Mainly an air choke with a neck crank component.
One-handed guillotine	Uses a single arm for the choke, leaving the other free for control or strikes. Most effective from mount or half guard.

Guillotine choke vs rear naked choke

The guillotine and the rear naked choke are the two most frequent submission finishes in MMA, but they differ in position, risk, and setup.

	Guillotine choke	Rear naked choke
Position	Applied from the front	Applied from behind (back control)
Typical setup	Counter to takedowns, standing clinch, scrambles	Requires taking the opponent’s back first
Risk if it fails	Attacker may end up on bottom with no guard control	Attacker usually maintains back control
UFC frequency	Second most common submission (264 wins)	Most common submission (35%+ of all sub wins)

One of the guillotine’s biggest risks is that a failed attempt often leaves the attacker underneath their opponent. Israel Adesanya has spoken publicly about why he avoids the guillotine, noting the positional disadvantage it creates when it does not finish.

Statistical analysis by strategy consultant Reed Kuhn found the guillotine’s success rate in the UFC was just 13% in 2024. The attempt rate has also declined, dropping from roughly 0.6 per 15 minutes of fight time in the early UFC era to about 0.2 in 2024, reflecting improved defensive awareness across the sport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the guillotine choke legal in the UFC?

Yes. The guillotine is fully legal under the Unified Rules of MMA and is one of the most common finishes across all UFC weight classes.

Is a guillotine a blood choke or an air choke?

It depends on where the forearm sits across the neck. Compressing the carotid arteries makes it a blood choke, while pressing directly against the windpipe makes it an air choke. Most applications combine both effects, which is part of what makes the guillotine so uncomfortable for the person caught in it.

How long does a guillotine choke take to cause unconsciousness?

A standard guillotine takes approximately 8.9 seconds on average, according to data cited on Wikipedia. The arm-in version is slightly slower at about 10.2 seconds, since trapping the arm changes the angle and distribution of pressure on the neck.

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Sources

1. Wikipedia. “Guillotine choke.” Accessed April 2026.
2. fight.tv. “Most Common Submissions in UFC.” Updated March 2025.
3. Ringside Report. “MMA Chokes Explained: The 10 Most Common Submissions.” February 2026.
4. Yahoo Sports / Reed Kuhn. “Fool’s gold or signature move? Why Dustin Poirier loves the guillotine choke.” May 2024.
5. JiuJitsu News. “17 Most Effective BJJ Submissions: Statistics & Success Rates.” December 2025.
6. Evolve MMA. “BJJ 101: The Guillotine Choke.” March 2022.
7. U.S. Army. “Combatives Field Manual.” 2002.

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