The Ezekiel choke from mount is a gi-based submission using your own sleeve to encircle and compress the opponent’s neck. It is highly effective from mount due to the top player’s weight and positional control, making it a staple for finishing from dominant positions.
Start
Mount
End
Submission
Prerequisites: Basic sleeve grip · Maintaining mount · Cross-collar choke mechanics · Base management from mount
Steps
1
Establish deep mount
Settle your hips low and wide, knees pinched near their armpits, using a grapevine or windshield-wiper feet to prevent bridging.
2
Feed sleeve behind opponent’s head
With your left hand, reach inside your own right sleeve (or vice versa) and slide your forearm across their neck, palm up, so your sleeve is positioned behind their head.
3
Insert choking arm under opponent’s chin
Thread your right hand (if left sleeve is fed) palm facing you, under their chin and across their throat, aiming to touch your palm to their opposite carotid.
4
Grip your own sleeve
Secure a four-finger grip inside your own sleeve with your right hand, ensuring a snug connection with no slack.
5
Place secondary hand on opponent’s head
Bring your left hand (the one with the sleeve) over and cup the back of their head, using your palm or forearm to apply downward pressure.
6
Apply choking pressure
Flex your choking forearm into their neck while simultaneously pulling your sleeve hand toward you and driving your top hand down, creating a scissoring action against both sides of their neck.
7
Drop chest weight and finish
Sink your chest heavy onto their sternum, keeping your elbows tight and head low to limit their movement and maximize pressure until the tap.
Key details most people miss
The choking forearm must be palm-up and as deep as possible, with the blade of the forearm directly across the trachea or carotid.
Grip your own sleeve with all four fingers for maximum tension and to prevent slippage.
Use your chest weight to pin their torso, preventing them from bridging or turning during the finish.
Drive your top hand down behind their head, not just pulling, to maximize the scissor action and close the choke.
Keep your elbows close to your body to minimize space and prevent defense.
Common mistakes
If you leave your choking arm shallow, the opponent can tuck their chin and block the choke.
If your base is too high or knees are wide, the opponent can bridge and roll you off before the choke is set.
If you fail to grip deep into your own sleeve, your grip will slip and the choke will not tighten sufficiently.
If you allow your elbows to flare out, the opponent can create space and defend by turning or framing.
If you don’t use your chest weight, the opponent can shrimp or hip escape, breaking your positional control.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent bridges explosively to off-balance you
You do: Widen your knees, grapevine their legs, and drop your hips low to reestablish base before finishing the choke.
They try: Opponent tucks chin and blocks your choking arm
You do: Use your top hand to push their forehead up, then re-thread your forearm deeper before reapplying the choke.
They try: Opponent frames against your choking arm
You do: Circle your elbow over their frame, reestablish inside position, and use your chest to collapse their arms.
They try: Opponent attempts to shrimp and escape mount
You do: Slide your knee higher toward their head, windshield-wiper your foot, and maintain chest pressure to keep mount while continuing the choke.
Drill prescription
5 rounds × 3 minutes; 50% resistance; alternate top and bottom. Goal: 4 clean Ezekiel finishes per round, with opponent actively defending chin and framing.
How the masters teach it
Roger Gracie
Known for a crushing mount and high-percentage Ezekiel finishes, emphasizing deep sleeve grip and chest pressure.
Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
Saulo Ribeiro
Focuses on positional control and timing, often using Ezekiel as a threat to open up other submissions from mount.