Rear Naked Choke

Last updated: April 14, 2026

What is a rear naked choke?

The rear-naked choke is a submission hold applied from an opponent’s back. One arm loops around the neck while the second arm reinforces the grip, and the combined pressure targets the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck. Because it restricts blood flow rather than airflow, the RNC is classified as a blood choke.

The word “naked” has nothing to do with clothing removal. It means the choke relies only on the arms and body positioning, with no need to grip a gi (the traditional uniform worn in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu). That distinction separates it from collar chokes and lapel-based strangles, which depend on fabric to create the choking mechanism.

The technique goes by different names depending on the martial art. In judo, it is hadaka jime, one of the 36 official constriction techniques in the Kodokan Judo shime-waza list. Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners call it the mata leao, Portuguese for “lion killer.” The loosened version used in professional wrestling goes by sleeper hold.

In MMA, the rear-naked choke is the most frequently used finishing submission. According to cumulative data from UFCStats.com, the RNC accounts for roughly 585 submission victories in UFC history, which is more than double any other single technique. A 2020 peer-reviewed analysis by Dr. Samuel Stellpflug found that the RNC made up 49.1% of all choke finishes across the promotion’s history.

How the rear naked choke works

The RNC targets the carotid arteries, the two major blood vessels that run along both sides of the neck and supply the brain with oxygenated blood. When the choking arm wraps around the neck, the bicep presses against one carotid artery, and the forearm presses against the other. The second arm locks the position behind the head, and the combined squeeze narrows both arteries at the same time.

With blood flow to the brain reduced below a critical threshold, the person being choked loses consciousness. Research published in the Journal of Applied Physiology by Mitchell et al. found that vascular neck restraints cause rapid drops in cerebral blood flow, which explains why unconsciousness comes on so fast. Studies referenced in peer-reviewed literature place the average time to unconsciousness at approximately 8.9 seconds.

This makes the RNC a blood choke, not an air choke. An air choke compresses the trachea (windpipe) to cut off breathing, which takes much longer to cause unconsciousness and carries a higher risk of structural damage to the throat. A properly applied RNC leaves the trachea untouched, which is why competitive grapplers consider it one of the safer submissions when used responsibly.

Rear naked choke vs guillotine choke

Fans and newcomers often confuse the RNC with the guillotine choke because both target the neck. The difference comes down to position and mechanism.

The guillotine is applied from the front, typically from a face-to-face clinch or front headlock. Depending on arm placement, it can function as an air choke, a blood choke, or both. The RNC only works from behind, with the attacker controlling the opponent’s back, and it compresses the carotid arteries almost exclusively.

Feature	Rear naked choke	Guillotine choke
Position	Behind the opponent (back control)	In front of the opponent (front headlock)
Choke type	Blood choke	Air choke, blood choke, or both
Grip	Figure-four (hand on bicep) or clasped hands	Arm around neck, hands clasped or wrist grip
Gi required	No	No
UFC choke finishes	49.1% of all choke finishes	13.7% of all choke finishes

One practical difference: the guillotine can be applied standing, which makes it a common counter to takedown attempts. The RNC requires back control first, a harder position to achieve, but one that gives the attacker far more control once established.

Types of rear naked choke

The RNC has two primary grip variations and one less common judo-specific version.

Variation	Grip	Notes
Figure-four (hand on bicep)	Choking hand grabs the opposite arm’s bicep; free hand presses behind the head	Standard version in MMA and BJJ; most mechanically efficient
Clasped hands (palm to palm)	Both hands clasp together after the arm wraps the neck	Faster to lock up; appears when the attacker cannot reach the bicep
Short choke (judo hadaka jime)	Wrist bone presses into the carotid sinus; opposite arm reinforces from behind	Relies on wrist pressure rather than arm structure; faster but requires more precision

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called a “rear naked choke”?

“Rear” refers to the position behind the opponent. “Naked” means the choke uses only the arms, with no gi or clothing involved. The term distinguishes it from gi-based chokes that rely on grabbing fabric.

Is the rear naked choke dangerous?

When applied correctly under controlled conditions, the RNC is one of the safer submissions in grappling. Judo has used it since 1882 with no known competition deaths from chokeholds. The danger increases with improper technique (pressure on the trachea), excessive force, or failure to release the hold once the opponent taps or loses consciousness.

How long does a rear naked choke take to work?

Research places the average at roughly 8.9 seconds to cause unconsciousness. The actual time varies based on the tightness of the grip, the individual’s physiology, and whether the choke compresses one or both carotid arteries.

What is the difference between a sleeper hold and a rear naked choke?

They are essentially the same technique. “Sleeper hold” is the term used in professional wrestling and catch wrestling. In the wrestling context, the hold is often applied loosely for performance purposes. In MMA and BJJ, the same hold is called a rear naked choke and is applied with full pressure.

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Sources

1. Stellpflug, S. “Analysis of the fight-ending chokes in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts promotion.” Peer-reviewed study, 2020.
2. Fares, M.Y. et al. “Exploring submission finishes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.” Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 2025.
3. Mitchell, J.R. et al. “Mechanism of loss of consciousness during vascular neck restraint.” Journal of Applied Physiology, 2012.
4. UFCStats.com. Cumulative submission victory data.
5. Kodokan Judo Institute. Shime-waza (constriction techniques) list.

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