Garrote choke

Garrote choke is the alternate spelling of the garrot choke — the back-position strangulation in which the attacker’s forearm crosses the opponent’s neck and the second hand creates the closing leverage that completes the bilateral compression.

Etymology. “Garrote” with the final E is the more common English spelling of the same word that “garrot” renders without it — both spellings come from the Spanish garrote, a stranglement device used historically as a method of execution. The choke’s name evokes the wrapping-and-tightening mechanic of the namesake device. Both spellings appear in no-gi vocabulary; the choice is editorial preference rather than mechanical distinction.

Mechanics. The strangulation requires bilateral compression — the forearm crossing one carotid, the closing-hand or second arm loading the other side — and the chest connection maintains the compression as the opponent rotates to escape.

Cross-reference. “Bent arm choke” is the descriptive functional name for the same configuration. Full mechanical coverage on Garrot Choke.