Alias · Front Headlock
shoulder choke
Also known as Kata Gatame — the canonical term used on this site.
Colloquial — shoulder-pressure choke
Shoulder choke is the colloquial name for the Von Flue — flagging the shoulder as the primary structural element that drives the choke’s compression.
Etymology. “Shoulder” specifies the body part doing the choking work; “choke” attaches the submission category. The label is informal and overlaps with looser uses of “shoulder choke” for other compression configurations. Precise vocabulary uses “Von Flue” or “guillotine counter choke.”
Mechanics. The shoulder-driven compression loads the carotid via the wedge between the attacker’s shoulder and the opponent’s gripped arm.
Cross-reference. “Von Flue Choke” and “guillotine counter choke” are alternate names. Full mechanical coverage on Von Flue.