Anaconda Choke

What This Is

The anaconda choke is a no-gi arm-in triangle applied from the front headlock family of positions. The thread order is the reverse of the D’arce: where the D’arce threads arm-first (under the near arm, then across the front of the neck), the anaconda threads neck-first — the choking arm goes under the neck first, crosses the front of the throat, and exits through the far armpit. The hand grips the attacker’s own opposite bicep in a figure-four, and the lock finishes beside the opponent’s shoulder rather than beside the neck.

The anaconda is most commonly finished with a forward roll over the opponent. The roll takes the opponent to their back and compresses the choke simultaneously — the roll mechanics and the finish mechanics are the same motion. Without the roll, the anaconda is difficult to finish against a resisting opponent who retains their base.

The anaconda is most accessible from the turtle top and front headlock ground positions when the opponent’s near arm is inside and forward, and when the attacking player’s position is more forward (toward the opponent’s head-side) rather than lateral.

The Invariant in Action

The anaconda’s bilateral compression comes from the choking forearm across the front of the throat on one side and the trapped arm pressed against its own carotid on the other. The triangle closes the same way as the D’arce — the opponent’s arm and the attacker’s arm encircle the neck — but the thread runs in the opposite order and the lock sits beside the shoulder.

The isolation mechanism is the same as the D’arce: once the arm is fully threaded and locked, the trapped arm cannot escape. The anaconda’s thread starts under the neck, so it needs space at the front of the neck to begin — driving the opponent’s head down and forward opens the gap the thread requires before the exit through the armpit completes the capture.

The forward roll is not just a finishing motion — it is a destabilisation that takes the opponent from a stable position (whether turtle, four-point, or kneeling) to their back. The transition from stable to destabilised is what makes the choke available to complete. An anaconda attempted without the roll faces a resisting opponent who still has their base.

D’arce vs Anaconda

The distinction is thread order and lock position. Both chokes cross the front of the throat with the same mirrored figure-four:

Thread order: The D’arce threads arm-first — under the near arm, then across the front of the neck. The anaconda threads neck-first — under the neck, then out through the far armpit. Where the thread starts tells you which choke you have.

Lock position: The D’arce lock finishes beside the opponent’s neck; the anaconda lock finishes beside the opponent’s shoulder, because the thread exits through the armpit rather than beside the head.

Finish direction: The D’arce is finished with the sprawl — chest driving down over the head and shoulder while walking toward the hips. The anaconda typically requires a forward roll to complete — the roll is often the difference between an anaconda that tightens and one that sits loose around the neck.

Entry angle: Both are available from the same entry read (near arm inside and forward), but the anaconda is more natural when the attacking player is positioned more forward (toward the head) and the D’arce is more natural from a lateral angle. The head position of the attacking player influences which thread is cleaner.

Common confusion: Many practitioners begin one thread and arrive at the other, because the same entry read serves both. Recognising which choke the thread has created — by where the thread started and where the lock sits — and finishing with the corresponding mechanics is an important technical skill.

The Grip

The anaconda grip:

The threading arm: Goes under the opponent’s neck first — the forearm crosses the front of the throat — and continues out through the far armpit. The hand emerges beside the trapped arm’s shoulder, capturing that arm across its own neck.

The lock: The threading arm’s hand grips the bicep of the attacker’s opposite arm — the figure-four, the same lock as the D’arce mirrored. The lock sits beside the opponent’s shoulder.

The supporting arm: The opposite arm bends so its forearm and hand settle behind the trapped shoulder and upper back, closing the loop. Both arms are locked together around the triangle of the trapped arm and neck.

Thread depth: The arm must thread deep — fully through the far armpit — before the lock closes. A thread that stops short of the armpit does not capture the arm and does not create a secure lock.

The Roll Finish

The anaconda roll is the primary finishing mechanism. The mechanics:

The setup: From the front headlock or turtle top position, the anaconda is threaded and the lock is set. The attacker is positioned forward of or above the opponent’s head.

The roll: The attacking player tucks their head to one side and rolls forward over the opponent. The roll goes in the direction that takes the opponent to their back — typically toward the near arm side (the arm that is trapped inside the anaconda). The opponent’s body follows the roll because the choke grip pulls their head and near arm through the roll path.

The simultaneous completion: As the roll is executed, the figure-four tightens automatically because the roll applies force through the grip. The attacker does not need to squeeze separately — the roll is the squeeze. Completing the roll and the tightening happen together.

Post-roll position: After the roll, the attacker ends on top of the opponent, who is now on their back with the anaconda still locked. Finishing the squeeze from this position — on top, opponent on their back — is the most reliable anaconda finish context.

When the roll is not available: Against a large or braced opponent, the roll may not be executable. In this case, the anaconda can be attempted by driving the opponent forward (face-first) while maintaining the lock, or by transitioning to the D’arce if the threading direction allows it.

Setup and Entry

From the Front Headlock (Near Arm Posted Forward)

The primary entry. Near arm posted inside and forward — same read as the D’arce. The decision to thread as D’arce or anaconda depends on the attacking player’s position: more forward of the opponent = anaconda; more lateral = D’arce.

From the Turtle Top

From turtle top, the anaconda is available when the attacking player is positioned at the front (head side) of the turtle rather than the side. Drive the opponent’s head forward and begin the thread under the neck as the near arm posts, exiting through the armpit to capture the arm.

From the Pinch Headlock

The pinch headlock creates an entry angle that favors the anaconda when the opponent drops forward. The forward drop puts the near arm inside and the attacker’s body forward of the opponent’s head — the natural anaconda setup.

Position Requirements

• Front Headlock (Ground) — Primary position. Near arm posted forward, attacker positioned forward of opponent’s head.
• Turtle Top — Available when attacker is at the head side of the turtle, not the lateral side.
• Pinch Headlock — Available on forward drop. Specific entry angle favors anaconda over D’arce.

Defence and Escape

Priority 1 — Do not post the near arm forward: Same as D’arce defence. The entry requires the near arm to be inside. Keeping the near arm tucked prevents the anaconda entry.

Priority 2 — Prevent the thread from completing: As the threading arm begins its path under the neck, the defender must drive their chin down, pull the inside elbow back immediately, and rotate to face the attacker. Squaring up denies the exit through the armpit and prevents the thread from completing.

Priority 3 — Prevent the roll: If the thread completes, the roll is the finish mechanism. The defender must base out and prevent the roll by driving their weight low and forward — making the roll mechanically more difficult. This buys time but does not escape the choke lock.

Priority 4 — Tap during the roll: Once the roll begins with the lock established, the choke tightens through the roll. Tap as the tightening increases — not after the roll completes. The choke reaches completion quickly during the roll phase.

Common Errors

Drilling Notes

Ability Level Guidance

Ruleset Context

The anaconda choke is unrestricted across all standard no-gi rulesets.

Also Known As

Related Pages

Concepts layer