The Von Flue choke is a counter-attack and escape when caught in a guillotine from top, typically after passing to side control. It not only neutralizes the guillotine threat but also allows you to submit your opponent using their own grip against them.
Start
Caught in guillotine on top
End
Side control with choke finish
Prerequisites: Posture in closed guard · Head positioning fundamentals · Cross-face control · Side control transition · Basic sprawl mechanics
Steps
1
Recognize the Guillotine Threat
As you pass, feel your opponent establish a guillotine grip around your neck; keep your chin tucked and avoid panicking or pulling away.
2
Drive to Side Control
Continue your guard pass by driving your trapped-side shoulder (the side their choking arm is on) deep across their neck, aiming to get to side control with your hips low and heavy.
3
Trap Their Arm with Your Shoulder
Drop your shoulder pressure directly onto their carotid artery, pinning their choking arm against their own neck; your head should be close to the mat on the far side of their body.
4
Control Their Hips
Use your far-side hand to block their hips or scoop under their far arm, preventing them from reguarding or creating space.
5
Hand Placement for Base
With your near-side hand (same side as their choking arm), post on the mat or grip their wrist to prevent them from adjusting the guillotine or bridging.
6
Apply Finishing Pressure
Drive your shoulder further into their neck while sprawling your legs back and down, increasing the pressure until you feel their grip weaken or they tap.
7
Maintain Side Control After Tap
Once they release the guillotine or tap, immediately establish your preferred side control grips to prevent scrambles.
Key details most people miss
The choke only works if your shoulder pressure directly compresses their carotid artery, not just the windpipe.
Your head must be low and close to the mat to prevent them from reguarding or creating space to escape.
Sprawling your legs back and keeping your hips low maximizes bodyweight transfer into their neck.
Blocking their hips with your far hand is crucial to prevent them from rolling you over or reguarding.
Common mistakes
If you keep your hips too high, they can bridge and roll you over, reversing the position.
If your shoulder pressure is on their chest instead of their neck, you won't threaten the choke and may get submitted.
If you allow your head to pop up, they can recover guard or adjust to a high-elbow guillotine.
Failing to control their hips with your far hand lets them create space and escape.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent releases the guillotine and frames to escape side control
You do: Transition immediately to classic side control, securing an underhook and cross-face to consolidate position.
They try: Opponent bridges hard to roll you over
You do: Widen your base by sprawling your legs back and out, and post your near-side hand for balance.
They try: Opponent switches to a high-elbow guillotine (Marcelotine)
You do: Address the elbow by using your near-side hand to peel it off and drive your head deeper to the mat.
They try: Opponent attempts to recover guard by shrimping
You do: Block their far hip with your hand or knee, and keep your weight distributed toward their head.
Drill prescription
5 rounds × 3 minutes; 50% resistance; top player starts in opponent's closed guard with guillotine grip, must pass and finish Von Flue choke; goal: 3 clean escapes with submission or side control retention per round.
How the masters teach it
John Danaher
Systematized the choke as a core guillotine defense in his submission escape curriculum.