Best Top Chokes - Videos Inside - North South and Brabo

**jasculs** · Posted On: 4/22/2010 8:20am

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In this video you'll find many details of how to finish the North South choke along with how to combine the very effective Brabo choke when your opponent makes it difficult for you to finish the NS choke.

The North South Choke:

Many times you'll set up the NS choke from a side control position.
When you bring your arm around your opponent's head from the outside curl your forearm up and your thumb around their neck.
Make sure you walk your shoulders and body back bringing it completely flat to the ground. You want to make it like your body is sinking into the ground.
Your hips or body shouldn't be turned. They should be flat on the ground.
Cinch your elbows when finishing.
Have your head down.

YouTube- BJJ NJ - North South Choke Second Edition - BJJ, Submissoin Grappling

Finishing the North South Choke When Your Opponent Turns Their Face Into You A Lot

This video will show you how you can still work to finish the North South choke when your opponent is able to turn their face into you.

YouTube- NJ BJJ - Finishing The North South Choke When Opponent Defends

North South Choke to Brabo Choke

This video you'll see details on how to combine the Brabo Choke with the North South Choke if for some reason your opponent makes it hard for you to complete the NS choke.

Fort this combination make sure you actually go for the north south choke.
One of the main ways your opponent will defend the NS choke is by turning their head into you. If they can do this on time it will relieve a lot of pressure.
When they do this make sure you keep good control of their head because it'll still be very hard for them to escape the position.
Because the better way for them to relieve the pressure of being choked is to turn into you it'll make it a much higher percentage scenario that they will attempt to escape by continuing to turn into you.
Make sure you keep your head out of the way so they don't try to press their forearm under your throat (this actually isn't as common as many would think from this situation as many would think, I have found). However, it's good to be aware of.
You want to provoke them so they try to turn into you while shooting their arm under your body. Many times they don't think about a Brabo choke because of the way your body was positioned when you were going for the NS choke.
When they turn into you and shoot their arm, lift your head/chest up and raise your arm. This should help them shoot their arm under your body and not over your head or across your face.
When they react the way you expected, you'll then go for the Brabo choke.
When going for the Brabo choke, you should have your shoulder dropped low into them of the arm that is under their neck.

People use different variations of completing the Brabo:

Some like to finish it sprawling out (I find this crushes the neck more)
Some like to switch their hips into them (may choke, may crush, may be a mix).
Some like to switch their hips into them, walk their body in to them, and hook their like over their opponent's body (may choke, may crush, may be a mix.

YouTube- North South Choke to Brabo Choke - New Jersey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Older Video - Here is an older video I posted of the North South Choke about 3 years ago. Still one of my favorite chokes

North South Choke with No Arm In

YouTube- North South Choke with No Arm

North South Choke With an Arm In

YouTube- North South Choke With the Arm In - Sorry for Low Quality

Thanks for watching,
Jason

**Kintanon** · Posted On: 4/22/2010 8:56am

There is one guy I roll with that loves that no-arm north south choke. If he gets to north south and drops his weight on me he always gets it. What are some last ditch ways to defend against that choke beyond, "Don't let him get to north south and wrap your head up you stupid noob!" which is obviously the best answer?

**Mr.Miyagi** · Posted On: 4/22/2010 9:59pm

This is awesome, thanks so much for posting these.

I'd been doing something similar without knowing what it was yet just to control people from North-South, then working for head arm triangles (Brabo etc) or transitioning to armwarp/giftwrap as I get my chest behind them if they turn, and launching attacks from there.

I've found my percentages for finishing Brabo/Darce, Anacondas, and other headarms shot up once I started cupping their chin and forcing head movements instead of just trying to shoot my arms in and past their necks (when they are defending). Your vids have just made that all the clearer!

These vids on the North-South and Brabo are definitely going to help improve my game, I'm really starting to dig these types of chokes and finding they fit into my game a whole lot. Nothing better than cutting the blood off to someones brain!

**BKR** · Posted On: 4/22/2010 10:50pm

Originally Posted by Kintanon

There is one guy I roll with that loves that no-arm north south choke. If he gets to north south and drops his weight on me he always gets it. What are some last ditch ways to defend against that choke beyond, "Don't let him get to north south and wrap your head up you stupid noob!" which is obviously the best answer?

You answered you own question, I think. Once a choke is sunk, escaping is very difficult. You will have to somehow keep him from getting both sides of your neck sqeezed. Depending on exactly how he has you, you can try to control one of his arms enough to slow down or avoid the choke.

Ben

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 4/23/2010 4:15am

Great instruction! I love this choke for no-gi because you can go for it without sacrificing position.

On more option is to transition to the guillotine if they turn into you, either mounted by swinging the outside leg over or, if they come up too hard/are scary big and strong, get the forearm in front of their shoulder and pull half-guard.