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Loop Choke from Closed Guard

SubmissionGi chokeBelt: blue+Risk: moderateIBJJFNo-GiSub-OnlyMMA

The loop choke from closed guard is a powerful gi submission that capitalizes on an opponent's attempt to posture up. By threading your arm around their neck and using their own lapel, you create a tight noose that can finish even experienced opponents. It is a high-percentage attack that punishes defensive posture and transitions smoothly to sweeps if the choke fails.

Start
Closed guard, opponent posturing up
End
Submission
Prerequisites: Collar grip breaking posture · Hip escape · Cross-collar choke mechanics · Maintaining closed guard

Steps

  1. 1
    Establish deep cross-collar grip
    As your opponent postures, reach across with your right hand and insert a four-finger grip deep into their left side collar, palm up; aim for your thumb to touch the back of their neck for maximum leverage.
  2. 2
    Open your guard and pivot
    Unlock your legs and use your left foot on their right hip to pivot your body perpendicular to their torso, creating a strong angle for the choke setup.
  3. 3
    Thread your choking arm over the head
    With your right collar grip still secure, bring your right elbow over and around the back of their head, aiming to cup the back of their skull with your forearm.
  4. 4
    Feed the lapel and grip their chin
    With your left hand, reach under their chin and grab your own right wrist or forearm, palm facing down, reinforcing the choking arm and preventing head escape.
  5. 5
    Pull collar and drive elbow up
    Simultaneously pull the collar across their neck with your right hand while lifting your right elbow upward and toward the ceiling, tightening the noose around their neck.
  6. 6
    Drive head down and finish
    Use your left hand to push their head down as you arch your back and flare your right elbow, maintaining chest-to-head pressure; finish the choke by closing your elbows together and pulling your grips tight.
  7. 7
    Follow through with hip extension
    Extend your hips upward and forward to remove slack from the collar and maximize the choke’s pressure, ensuring your opponent cannot posture or escape.

Key details most people miss

  • The depth of the initial collar grip is critical—shallow grips allow the opponent to survive or slip free.
  • Pivoting your hips off to the side creates the necessary angle to prevent the opponent from posturing out.
  • Driving your elbow up and over the back of the head is essential for closing the loop and increasing choke pressure.
  • Using your free hand to push the opponent’s head down prevents them from posturing and escaping the choke.

Common mistakes

  • If you fail to get a deep collar grip, the choke will lack leverage and your opponent can easily defend.
  • If you stay square instead of angling your hips, the opponent can posture up and break your grips.
  • If you try to finish with arms only and neglect hip extension, the choke will be weak and ineffective.
  • If you don’t control their head with your free hand, the opponent can slip their head out and pass your guard.

Counters & responses

They try: Opponent postures hard and pulls collar down
You do: Switch to a hip bump sweep or transition to an omoplata as they open space.
They try: Opponent tucks chin and blocks your elbow from coming over
You do: Use your free hand to push their head down and re-thread your elbow deeper before reattempting the choke.
They try: Opponent stands up to break grips
You do: Follow with a collar drag or transition to a tripod sweep as they lift their base.
They try: Opponent grabs your sleeve to block your second grip
You do: Break their sleeve grip by circling your wrist and immediately re-attack the collar or switch to a cross-collar choke.

Drill prescription

5 rounds × 3 minutes; start with 50% resistance, alternating top and bottom. Goal: 4 clean loop choke finishes per round, with partner escalating posture defense each attempt.

How the masters teach it

Videos are still being curated for this technique. AI suggests these instructors:
Saulo Ribeiro — Emphasizes the importance of collar depth and hip angle, with a focus on chaining chokes and sweeps.Marcelo Garcia — Known for using the loop choke as a counter to standing posture and integrating it into aggressive guard attacks.Leandro Lo — Utilizes the loop choke dynamically against standing and kneeling opponents, often combining with collar drags.Rafael Lovato Jr — Focuses on lapel control and pressure, teaching the loop choke as a central part of his closed guard system.
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