"spin choke" from knee ride

**mikus** · Posted On: 3/30/2004 2:40pm

I've read that you are supposed to keep your arms straight when you're finishing this. Why is that? I feel better when I bend them just like I was doing a normal cross choke.

Also, should I drop my base back, or stay on my knees?

**JohnnyS** · Posted On: 3/30/2004 7:03pm

You don't need to keep your arms straight. Go to http://www.bjj.com.au/techniques.html and click on spinning choke for an example.

**mikus** · Posted On: 5/06/2004 11:13pm

Johnny, is the technique supposed to end up like a normal cross choke, or something different? In both the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu book by Royler and Renzo and JJ Machado's Black Belt Techniques books, they say to keep the arms straight, and the choke looks like something different from a cross choke. It's hard to tell on that webpage. When I do it it's been a cross choke and it's worked just fine with bending the arms.

**JohnnyS** · Posted On: 5/10/2004 12:33am

I'd be very wary of keeping my arms straight - just in case the guy has a great guard and you get caught in an armbar. I always bend my arms, so that when my head goes on the stomach, I pull up with my arms and pull his head into my belly (similar to the normal cross-lapel choke). I honestly can't think of any good reason to teach it with the arms straight - I'll check out the JJ Machado book tonight if I can and see what he's doing.