Explain how a carotid choke works.

[Coach Josh]

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

[WhiteShark]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[judoka_uk]

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?

[WhiteShark]

We are all assuming the mechanics but in case anyone out there in reader land is wondering: We are all talking about a rear naked choke style attack that focuses pressure on the sides of the neck under the jaw and behind the larynx. That is what makes it a strangle or blood choke instead of a wind choke like a guillotine.

[Colin]

Assuming this is no trick question, the simplest way I would describe what is happening here is that you are starving the brain by restricting the blood flow.

Is some other, strange arcane process going on here?

[WhiteShark]

Some people believe that it is a vasovagal response instead of an actual hypoxic episode. The theory is that the short time it takes to cause unconsciousness isn't really enough time to cause hypoxia in the brain. Therefore something else must be happening.

[Colin]

Well, is it possible that the increased pressure of the blood actually stimulates the response?
Kind of like when you are watering the garden, and you bend the tip of the hose to create a better pressure stream.

[judoka_uk]

Reading the wikipedia article on vasovagal response, because I can't access medical papers with my arts department login.

Prior to losing consciousness, the individual frequently experiences a prodrome of symptoms such as lightheadedness, nausea, the feeling of being extremely hot (accompanied by sweating), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), uncomfortable feeling in the heart, fuzzy thoughts, a slight inability to speak/form words (sometimes combined with mild stuttering), weakness and visual disturbances such as lights seeming too bright, fuzzy or tunnel vision, and sometimes a feeling of nervousness can occur as well.

I've never been put out, but I've come close and I've never experienced any of those apart from the fuzzy vision thing and no one I've spoken to who's been choked out has mentioned felling hot, ringing in the ears etc...

Also

The person may be nauseated, pale, and sweaty for several minutes.

Don't know anyone who's been put out who had this either usually they wake up and are a bit confused.

Not saying its impossible to be a vasovagal response as I'm not qualified, but the symptoms don't really seem to fit. Although as you say it may be problematic with the cutting the blood theory, because of the speed. Then again I don't know how long a 'reserve' the brain has if any.