Bulldog Choke

Submission

The Bulldog Choke is a front headlock-style submission applied from turtle top, where the attacker wraps an arm around the opponent's neck and uses chest pressure combined with a sprawling motion to compress the trachea or carotid arteries. It is particularly effective when the bottom player is turtled and protecting against back takes.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · The choking arm must sink deep under the chin with the bicep pressing against one side of the neck and the forearm against the other.
  • · Heavy chest-to-back pressure and hip sprawl amplify the squeeze by driving bodyweight into the choke.
  • · Locking a rear-naked-grip, guillotine-grip, or Gable grip with the free hand closes the loop and prevents the opponent from relieving pressure.
  • · Walking your hips toward the choking-arm side tightens the angle and eliminates slack.
  • · Anticipate the opponent rolling or sitting out by staying heavy and adjusting your hips to follow their movement.

Execution

  1. 1 From turtle top, secure a front headlock by threading your choking arm deep under the opponent's chin, palm facing down, with your chest driving into their upper back.
  2. 2 Clasp your hands together using a Gable grip or rear-naked-choke grip, ensuring the forearm blade is snug against the throat or neck.
  3. 3 Sprawl your hips back and down while keeping your chest glued to their back, removing space and loading your weight onto the choke.
  4. 4 Walk your feet toward the choking-arm side to increase the angle and tighten the squeeze around the neck.
  5. 5 Finish by pulling your elbows toward your chest and driving your hips lower, compressing the neck until the tap.

Common mistakes

  • × Gripping too high on the forehead or jaw instead of sinking the arm under the chin, resulting in a crank with no choke and easy defensive tucking.
  • × Staying on the knees instead of sprawling the hips back, which fails to generate the downward pressure needed to finish and allows the opponent to re-guard or escape.
  • × Leaving space between your chest and the opponent's back, giving them room to turn in, shoot an underhook, or roll to relieve choking pressure.

Do it from

Positions and situations where the Bulldog Choke shows up.

Show 1
Turtle Top