Last updated: April 16, 2026
Quick Definition
The d’arce choke is a no-gi arm-triangle submission in which the attacker threads one arm under the opponent’s near armpit and across the front of their neck, then locks a figure-four grip to compress the carotid arteries. It is a standard submission across Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts, where it’s often used to punish a stalled takedown attempt.
What is a d’arce choke?
The d’arce choke is a blood choke from the arm-triangle family. The attacker passes one arm under the opponent’s near-side armpit, across the front of the throat, then grips the bicep of their free arm to form a tight loop around the opponent’s neck and trapped shoulder. As the attacker squeezes, the opponent’s own shoulder closes off one carotid artery while the attacker’s bicep closes off the other, cutting blood flow to the brain within seconds.
The choke shows up most often in no-gi grappling and MMA, where it earned a reputation as punishment for a shallow underhook or a stalled takedown attempt. In gi Jiu-Jitsu the same mechanics exist under a different name, the brabo choke, which uses the opponent’s lapel instead of a hand-to-bicep grip. Because the d’arce requires no clothing grip and can be threaded from a front headlock, turtle, side control, or a sprawl, it has become one of the go-to submissions for fighters with long arms looking to punish a takedown attempt.
The d’arce sits inside a broader family of head-and-arm chokes that also includes the anaconda, the brabo, and the standard arm triangle. They share the same finishing principle, pressure on both sides of the neck with one arm trapped, but differ in entry and grip path.
How the d’arce choke works
A d’arce is a blood choke, not an air choke. Pressure cuts off circulation to the brain rather than restricting the windpipe, which is why well-timed d’arce can render an opponent unconscious in only a few seconds. The standard arm triangle is one of the fastest submissions measured, timed at around 7.2 seconds on average, and the d’arce shares its finishing mechanics.
The setup begins with the opponent’s head and one arm isolated on the same side, typically from a front headlock after a sprawl or a scramble. The attacker threads their choking arm under the near armpit and over the neck (often remembered as “under-to-over”), then locks a figure-four grip, the same palm-on-bicep grip used to finish a rear naked choke. Squeezing the elbows together and dropping weight onto the opponent’s head finishes the strangle.
A useful visual cue for spotting a d’arce on broadcast: the attacker is usually on their side, parallel to and slightly above the opponent, with the opponent flattened onto the side of their trapped shoulder.
d’arce choke vs anaconda choke
The d’arce and anaconda chokes are the two submissions most often confused with one another. They share the same family, the same principle, and often the same setup position, but the arm path is reversed.
| Feature | D’Arce choke | Anaconda choke |
|---|---|---|
| Choking arm path | Under the armpit, over the neck | Under the neck, over the arm |
| Grip lock position | Beside the opponent’s neck | Outside, near the opponent’s shoulder |
| Common finish | Opponent on their side, no roll required | Gator roll onto the trapped shoulder |
| Typical entry | Sprawl, front headlock, half guard | Front headlock after a stuffed shot |
The simplest memory aid: for the d’arce, the choking arm threads under the armpit and over the neck. For the anaconda, the choking arm threads over the neck and under the armpit.
The d’arce typically finishes with the opponent on their side while the attacker squeezes. The anaconda most often finishes with a “gator roll,” where the attacker rolls the opponent over their trapped shoulder to force them flat and tight. The lock position also differs: a d’arce is locked beside the opponent’s neck, while an anaconda is locked outside, near the opponent’s shoulder.
d’arce choke vs brabo choke
The brabo and the d’arce use the same body mechanics. The difference is clothing. The d’arce is a no-gi choke finished by gripping one’s own bicep. The brabo is the gi version, finished by gripping the opponent’s lapel instead of the bicep. The brabo was popularized in gi Jiu-Jitsu by Brazilian black belt Milton Vieira, and many grapplers use “brabo” to refer strictly to the gi variation and “d’arce” to the no-gi one. Some sources, including Wikipedia’s arm triangle entry, treat the d’arce and brabo as the same technique, with and without the gi.
Origin and naming
The history of the d’arce has several threads, and the name the technique carries in English is not the one its creator used.
The earliest documented use traces to a Norwegian Luta Livre competitor named Björn Dag Lagerström, who according to Wikipedia’s account discovered the choke while attempting an anaconda choke and getting his arms the wrong way around. BJJ Heroes reports that Lagerström used the position for the first time in competition in 1996 at a German submission grappling tournament. The technique travelled from Germany to Brazil through coach Daniel D’Dane and eventually reached Brazilian Top Team’s Milton Vieira, who used it extensively in no-gi grappling and MMA.
The name “d’arce” comes from American grappler Joe D’Arce, a Renzo Gracie black belt who learned the technique from coach John Danaher in New York. Per BJJ Heroes, D’Arce won several grappling matches with the choke and drew the attention of West Coast coach Marc Laimon, who began referring to the position as “the d’arce choke.” The label stuck.
The pronunciation has its own story. Joe D’Arce himself pronounces his name “dee-are-see,” but most fans and commentators pronounce the choke as one syllable, “d’arce.” UFC reporting attributes the one-syllable pronunciation to a sparring session between D’Arce and Jason Miller, who said the word the way it looked on paper.
The d’arce choke in MMA
In MMA, the d’arce is a mid-tier submission by frequency but a high-impact one when it lands. UFC reporting from January 2016 noted that the D’Arce choke had been used 15 times to secure victory inside the Octagon at that point, with Kendall Grove landing the first at UFC 69 against Alan Belcher in April 2007.
Fighters with length have been the most successful d’arce practitioners. Dustin Poirier has multiple UFC wins by d’arce and is the only fighter in UFC history to have both won and lost by d’arce choke, losing his to Chan Sung Jung at UFC on Fuel TV in 2012. Tony Ferguson built part of his lightweight run on it as a counter-wrestling tool. Vicente Luque holds the record for most UFC wins by d’arce, including the first and only submission loss of former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley’s career. Chris Weidman, Paulo Thiago, and Jorge Masvidal have all secured UFC finishes with it.
The pattern across most of these finishes is consistent: an opponent shoots a takedown, gets stuffed, and ends up on all fours or in a front headlock. The attacker threads the choke before the opponent can posture up or disengage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce d’arce choke?
Most fans and commentators pronounce it “darce” as one syllable. The namesake, Joe D’Arce, pronounces his own surname “dee-are-see.” Either is accepted in grappling circles, but “darce” dominates English-language broadcast commentary.
Is the d’arce choke an air choke or a blood choke?
A blood choke. It compresses the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, cutting blood flow to the brain. A correctly applied darce can render an opponent unconscious in seconds without restricting the airway.
Who invented the d’arce choke?
Norwegian Luta Livre competitor Björn Dag Lagerström is credited with creating the position in the mid-1990s. The choke is named after American grappler Joe D’Arce, who popularized it in North American competition in the 2000s.
Is the d’arce choke legal in MMA?
Yes. The d’arce is a legal submission in the UFC and in every other major MMA promotion, including Bellator and ONE Championship.
Why is it called the no-gi brabo choke?
Because the d’arce uses the same mechanics as the brabo choke, but without a gi. The brabo finishes by gripping the opponent’s lapel; the darce finishes by gripping the attacker’s own bicep. Some grapplers use the names interchangeably for the no-gi version.
Sources
- UFC. “By the Numbers: Inside the D’Arce choke.” Accessed April 2026.
- Wikipedia. “Arm triangle choke.” Accessed April 2026.
- BJJ Heroes. “Darce Choke.” Accessed April 2026.
- Evolve MMA. “BJJ 101: D’Arce Choke.” Accessed April 2026.
- Digitsu. “Darce Choke Breakdown (BJJ).” Accessed April 2026.
- Sportskeeda. “5 UFC fighters who have mastered the D’Arce choke.” Accessed April 2026.
- MMA Sucka. “Submissions for Suckas: D’Arce Choke.” Accessed April 2026.
- Tapology. “Best Darce Choke Finish.” Accessed April 2026.
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