Sleeper hold

Sleeper hold is the colloquial non-grappling vocabulary name for the rear naked choke — the bilateral carotid strangulation applied from the back position with the choking arm encircling the neck.

Etymology. “Sleeper” references the unconsciousness (“sleep”) that follows successful bilateral carotid compression. The label predominates in non-grappling contexts — professional wrestling, action films, law-enforcement training — where the rear-naked-choke configuration appears outside competitive submission grappling. Within no-gi vocabulary the technique is named for its position-and-grip configuration (rear naked, no clothing-grip anchor); the “sleeper” label remains common in casual contexts where the proprioceptive effect is the salient feature.

Mechanics. The choke requires bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — the forearm closing one side, the bicep closing the other side as the arm cinches tight. The chest-to-back connection maintains the compression as the opponent rotates to escape.

Cross-reference. “Rear naked choke,” “RNC,” and hadaka jime are the standard grappling names. Full mechanical coverage on Rear Naked Choke.