Anatomy of the guillotine

Understanding the anatomy of the guillotine choke involves mastering the hand grips and the precise application of force. The cupping grip is highlighted as a valuable tool, especially against experienced opponents who are adept at defending against deeper grips.

1. When applying the cupping guillotine grip, the hand grips the opponent's chin, and the wrist motion is key. The back of the wrist should slide against the opponent's clavicle and into the neck, avoiding the bone for effectiveness.
2. The wrist leads into the clavicle near the trachea to tighten the choke. The arm should not be to the outside; instead, the 'horn' of the wrist drives up into the neck.
3. Maintain chin contact with the opponent's back to drive the force of the choke from the top, with the chin and wrist trying to connect throughout the move.
4. For an arm-in guillotine, bring the elbows in tight and drive the weight onto the opponent. The elbow should find the midline to prevent losing the choke and avoid switching to other techniques.
5. The shoulder should conceal the opponent's neck to maintain pressure and surface tension, which is crucial for the finish.
6. Whether starting from closed guard, sitting half guard, or the guillotine hub, these finishing details are essential for a successful choke.
7. The elbow goes down and the wrist lifts to finalize the cupping guillotine grip. This precise motion is preferred over blind squeezing.
8. Identify the part of the wrist involved in different guillotine variations: the back side for a chin strap guillotine, the inside for palm-to-palm twisting, and the corner edge of the wrist knuckle for the cupping grip.
9. Practice progressing the hand further down the neck for variations like the cupping, chin strap, flat hand, and palm-to-palm grips. Transitioning to an armpit guillotine or arm-in guillotine is possible when these fail.