RNC

RNC is the universal English-language abbreviation for the rear naked choke — a back-position bilateral neck compression that requires no clothing grip.

Etymology. The abbreviation expands to “rear naked choke.” Its dominance in English no-gi vocabulary comes from how often the term appears in MMA broadcast commentary, social-media post-match descriptions (“won by RNC at 3:42”), and submission-only ruleset scorekeeping. Unlike most grappling abbreviations — which collapse longer technical names — RNC compresses a phrase that already names its three diagnostic features: rear (the attacker’s position), naked (no gi-grip), choke (the finishing mechanism). The phrase itself is younger than the technique it names: the rear-position strangle long predates the modern “rear naked choke” terminology, which stabilised in English through the MMA era.

Mechanics. The strangle requires compression on both sides of the neck simultaneously — typically the biceps and the inner forearm closing against the carotid arteries — while the secondary arm controls the opponent’s near-side defensive structure and prevents chin tuck.

Cross-reference. Judo uses hadaka jime; Portuguese-language BJJ uses mata leão. Full mechanical coverage on Rear Naked Choke.