Explain how a carotid choke works.

**Coach Josh** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 11:10am

Please explain to me how a carotid choke works. What is happening and why does it happen.

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 11:45am

The state of unconsciousness, according to the investigators of the Society for Scientific Study in Judo, Kodokan, is caused by a temporary hypoxic condition of the cerebral cortex.

Judoinfo has a huge post on this.
http://judoinfo.com/chokes6.htm

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 11:47am

Personally I think that unconsciousness is a result of feinting due your body detecting a blood pressure differential. The same effect can be had from a perfect Thai kick to the neck. That only hits one side and is supposedly a disruption of the vagus nerve.

**Coach Josh** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 11:47am

I didn't ask what judo info says I asked you as in the forum a specific question.

Sorry your second post was not up.

Good answer anyone else?

**Res Judicata** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 11:56am

It's not entirely clear what you're asking Josh.

The brain has two redundant arteries feeding it blood - the carotid arteries -- one on the left, one on the right. The brain needs a constant flow of oxygenated blood to work properly. Strangulations (blood chokes) close both of these arteries and cut off a sufficient flow of oxygenated blood. Held long enough, this will induce death from hypoxia.

It's also possible that a blood choke can induce a vasovagal reaction by manually stimulaing the vagus nerve. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response This can cause fainting through a complex feedback mechanism.

**Shawarma** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 12:06pm

Originally Posted by Res Judicata

It's also possible that a blood choke can induce a vasovagal reaction by manually stimulaing the vagus nerve. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response This can cause fainting through a complex feedback mechanism.

Interesting theory, first time I've heard that. Where did you get this from?

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 12:19pm

A 'carotid choke' doesn't work, because a choke is where you attack the airway and the carotid is an artery which means that attacking restricts blood supply to the brain making it a stangle.

Pressure on the carotid artery induces a state of anoxia and from that eventually unconsciousness.

**Kintanon** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 12:23pm

Blood flow too/from the head is restricted by pressure on the major arteries on either side of the neck. As the blood that is in the head becomes de-oxygenated and blood pressure increases the body attempts to improve blood flow and reduce that pressure by forcing the body to a prone position by turning off the lights, so to speak and making it easier for the heart to pump blood to the brain.
If you want the hard science I'll have to bring my wife in on it.

**Coach Josh** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 12:25pm

A choke is not defined as an air restriction just a restriction in general so without semantics explain how it works.

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 5/10/2011 12:31pm

That distinction was always made by my coach and others I've come across, thought it was a standard bit of Judo terminology anal-ness.

As regards explaining how it works, I already have, as have several others. You seem to be fishing for something, what exactly is it you're looking for?