As a beginner in BJJ, you will be taught the difference between the Gi and the No Gi BJJ as the first thing. Also, you will be told about the ways that will eventually help you adjust your practice and boost your performance. The very first thing that most beginners are told is that it is always better to start with Gi because it offers you a good grip. On the contrary, no Gi restricts your gripping options and it also reduces the places where you can establish your grip. However, you will soon know that there is always room for adjustment regardless of the type of BJJ you choose. You will see that some techniques work perfectly with No Gi and some will be better with the Gi-based BJJ. However, you will always have room for an adjustment that will offer you the upper hand against your opponent. Just a few adjustments here are there and you will be able to have a good work style regardless of the BJJ you chose for yourself.
A simple example of this adjustment is the submission styles and guard style start are used in both Gi and no Gi, however, based on the situation you will be able to adjust them for your benefit. The submission style, bow, and arrow are quite popular and it is used on both No Gi and Gi styles, however, there are so many different adjustments and variations that you will see. Most people pick a style and stick to it but this backfires because that becomes predictable. You always need a signature move and a few tricks up your sleeve to have that surprise element. Usually, people use sneaky chokes that are a mix between both Gi and no Gi-based BJJ. Since chokes are easier but can make your game quite a technique confusing your opponent, it is so much better to use that.
With the help of this article, we will mainly look at a very important sneaky link that connects the both Gi and no Gi styles and offers you a loophole that you can use for surprising your BJJ opponent. We will look at the loop choke, its exception, and why it is so important for you to learn and master it for an impeccable win.
Learning About the Basic Loop Choke
As BJJ artists, chokes are one of the most used and most effective parts of the game. even with the Gi when there is no gripping part, no collar, or no belt that you can latch on to for a firm grip, chokes will help you attack the opponent without these grips. Using chokes helps in making the game much more efficient and gets you ready to acquire the submission from your opponent. These chokes are so strong that you can attack someone much bigger than your size, without making it painful for yourself. Chokes are so powerful that a child with good technique can acquire submission from an adult without facing too much resistance.
Another important thing is that the chokes are very good and very easy with the Gi. You can use the Gi of your opponent to simply choke the opponent, cut his blood supply, or just cut his air supply right away. Usually, the flow to the neck is blocked and this puts pressure on the body making the loose consciousness. Usually, the Gi of the opponent is used for the choke but sometimes, you can your Gi as well. Gi works as the extension of your own body and it works as a very effective tool that can help you control the body of your opponent as well. You just need to restrict the opponent and it will offer you full control so you can acquire submission right away. However, in this whole process, you need to take special care of the technique because without mastering the technique you will not be able to see results.
The loop choke is one of the most effective yet underestimated chokes in BJJ. With the right technique and the right use, you can control your opponent in no time. Also, this offers you full control without too much effort. It is also dangerous so you need to make sure you master the technique before you use it. This is a submission-based choke that is applied mainly when you are making a pass or going through a transition. Most people do not consider it a fully controlling or offensive technique. Instead, it is considered a counterattack tackling technique so it can be a mix between offensive and defensive style. This loop choke is a very versatile technique so it can be used in almost all positions regardless of how you tackle it. From basic side control to half guard and guard pass, you will get a notice that you will be in full defending control style.
For using this choke style you will be starting the choke by holding on to the collar of your opponent and then pulling them with full yank a across the chin. Then you can loop the hands to the side and around the neck. The goal is to put pressure on the part that offers blood flow to the upper part of the body. So technically, you will be forcing a blood flow restoration. This further helps with forcing the tap because the opponent feels too faint to oppose.
Within the loop choke style, you will get to do many different styles. There are at least three different loop chokes you can try based on your preference, your location, and how effectively you want to control your opponent.
Execution of the Loop Choke for Acquiring Full Submission
The choke is usually quite technical and complex because beginning as a beginner there is so much pressure. A wrong move, wrong hold, or pressure at the wrong point, or even too much pressure can harm your opponent. For the beginner, this can be s little awkward, but once you get the hang of it, you will know how easily you can execute it. Before you start practicing you need to know the fundamentals and the basics behind the way it is executed and only then you will be able to use it effortlessly. With the right amount of training and drills, you will find it much easier.
Usually, the choke is started from the seated pen guard pose, if you are into guard you can be sure that you are off to a good start. You can initiate a cross-collar grip and then go under the neck of your opponent. This will offer you a loop base pose just like a cup, now snap the head of the opponent down and then take up your opposite hand behind the neck so it can reach the arm down the wrist. As you apply the cross collar grip, you will be able to lose the grip and this will pull the arm down. This also offers a much better way around the head of your opponent.
When you start with a loose cross-collar grip, you do not have to be very specific because it is still a loose grip. Also, it helps in making sure that your arm can be around the chin and it is also able to lock the side of your opponent's neck. Then you need to snake up your arm around the head of your opponent and take it behind the head for a very frame-like pose. This will push the head down, giving you more room for control ad pressure. Once you reach this pose, it will become very important for you to flex the wrist and keep it framed around the neck of the opponent. Most grapplers get confused with the pose and end up applying pressure on the windpipe which blocks the air rather than the blood as required in the pose. The goal of this pose is to put pressure on the carotid artery so the blood flow can be made a little tough.
Bottom Line
To sum it all up, this pose is one of the most effective yet underrated poses that can offer you a good amount of control without making you feel like you are exerting too much energy. However, the biggest issue is that you need to be very conscious of the pressure you are putting on your opponent and where you are putting it. One wrong move, too much pressure, or a bad grip can choke your opponent or make them unconscious. You have to be very sure that you are putting the right amount of pressure because most people when start finding the pressure point usually end up getting a slippery grip which becomes a problem for the opponent and then as well. To master the technique, you can first chronologically look at the routine and then practice so you can perform it better.
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