Choke holds restrict oxygen or blood flow to the brain, potentially leading to unconsciousness and severe injury in seconds. These techniques are intended for use only in extreme self-defense scenarios where your life is in imminent danger. It is strongly recommended that anyone wishing to learn these self-defense maneuvers seek hands-on instruction from a qualified martial arts or self-defense instructor. This information is for educational purposes and should not be practiced without professional supervision.
Recognizing the Danger: Airway vs. Blood Flow Restriction
Choke holds are categorized by their physiological mechanism, which determines the immediate threat level and your survival window. An “air choke” involves direct compression of the trachea, or windpipe, preventing air from reaching the lungs. While extremely painful, a person can often maintain consciousness for 30 to 60 seconds or more. The primary danger of an air choke is the potential for permanent damage or collapse of the windpipe’s cartilaginous rings.
A “blood choke,” also known as a strangle, targets the carotid arteries on the sides of the neck. Compressing these arteries quickly restricts the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain, leading to a much shorter window for escape. A properly applied blood choke can render a person unconscious in as little as 5 to 15 seconds. This rapid loss of consciousness makes the blood choke a time-sensitive threat. The goal of any escape is to relieve pressure on these structures immediately to initiate a counter-attack.
Step-by-Step Escape from a Rear Choke Hold
The rear choke, often called a rear naked choke, is one of the most common and dangerous standing attacks because the attacker is out of your immediate line of sight. The first defensive action is to immediately tuck your chin down and against your chest. Tucking the chin creates a small amount of space, using your jawbone to shield the carotid artery and trachea from the pressure. This posture can delay unconsciousness by a few seconds, which is time you need for the escape.
Simultaneously, use both hands to grip the attacker’s choking arm. Grab the wrist or sleeve and pull it down toward your chest with all your strength. This action attempts to disrupt the attacker’s grip and prevent them from completing a deep lock. Your elbows should be pulled in tight to your sides, securing the attacker’s arm close to your body.
The next step is to violently turn your body and step out to the side of the choking arm. If the attacker uses their right arm, step your left leg back and turn sharply to the left. This movement attempts to break the attacker’s posture and alignment. Turning shifts the attacker’s center of gravity and allows you to use your hips to push away.
Once you have established a gap, use a powerful, targeted counter-attack. The attacker’s groin is a primary target for a quick, hard kick or knee strike with the closest leg. Striking this vulnerable area creates immediate pain and forces the attacker to momentarily loosen their grip.
Another counter-attack involves striking the attacker’s elbow with your free hand or elbow. Grab the choking arm with one hand, then drive your other elbow backward into the attacker’s ribs or face. This creates leverage to momentarily hyperextend the elbow joint. The combination of the counter-strike and balance disruption should allow you to “peel” the choking arm away. Once free, immediately create distance and move away from the threat.
Step-by-Step Escape from a Front Choke Hold
A front choke involves the attacker facing you and applying pressure to your neck, typically against the trachea. Since this attack involves immediate tracheal pressure, your reaction must be instantaneous to avoid incapacitation. As soon as the attacker’s hands make contact, tuck your chin down and forward as a defensive measure.
Bring both hands up and force them into the “V” formed by the attacker’s arms near your collarbone. Drive your hands upward and outward with explosive force, aiming to break the attacker’s grip at the thumb-forefinger connection. This technique uses the mechanical weakness of the grip, leveraging your stronger, larger arm muscles against the attacker’s hand muscles.
As you push the hands away, simultaneously step backward with one foot while dropping your weight slightly. This movement breaks the attacker’s forward base and unbalances them, reducing the force applied to your neck. The combination of the upward-outward push and the backward step often causes the attacker to stumble or lose their grip.
Once the grip is broken or loosened, immediately follow up with a powerful, close-range strike. A knee strike to the groin or a palm-heel strike to the face, nose, or throat are effective choices to create separation. The goal is to secure enough space to turn and run to safety.