The rear naked choke is the most reliable finish in grappling — no grips on clothing required, which is why it is as central to no-gi as anything gets. It is also a superb first submission, because it can only be applied from a position you have genuinely earned: the back. This is the beginner version; learn it under a coach and read the full rear naked choke page for the depth this leaves out.

Earn the back first

You cannot choke what you do not control. Securing back control — chest-to-back with a seatbelt and hooks — is the real skill; the choke is almost an afterthought once the position is locked. As a strangle, it also obeys strangles require compression on both sides of the neck simultaneously: squeeze evenly, never crank.

The steps

Control the back first. Take and hold back control: chest to their back, a seatbelt grip over one shoulder and under the other arm, with your hooks or a body triangle keeping you attached. The choke comes from controlling the back, not the other way round.
Slide your choking arm under the chin. Feed the arm on your over-shoulder side across the front of the throat, sliding it under the chin until the crook of your elbow is centred on the windpipe. Aim for under the jaw, not across the mouth.
Build the figure-four grip. Place the hand of your choking arm on the bicep of your other arm, then bring that second hand behind your partner’s head. This locks the strangle into a closed frame around the neck.
Finish by expanding, not cranking. Draw your elbows together, expand your chest, and lower your head — the choke comes from squeezing both sides of the neck, not from yanking. It is a blood strangle, applied smoothly and never as a neck crank.
Release the instant they tap. A strangle works fast, so tap discipline matters more here than almost anywhere. Apply slowly, watch for the tap, and release completely the moment it comes — never hold a choke a second longer than needed.

Drill it safely

This is exactly why tapping culture exists: a choke is safe to train only when both partners respect the tap instantly. The rear naked choke is high on the list of best submissions for a beginner, and the back is the top of the positional hierarchy it comes from.

Keep going

The full rear naked choke — detail, grips, and finishing mechanics.
Positions every beginner should know — how you get to the back. Or head back to the start hub.