chokes and strangles
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Strangulation and ChokingDANGER!
(For academic study only.)
Strangulation and Choking techniques are a very important element of the Assassin's Tradecraft. No
other method of ending a fight or ending a life (without weapons) is as efficient and bloodless. When we
say "efficient" we mean in terms of the smallest amount of effort and energy expended for the greatest
result produced. The result wanted is, of course, to subdue, or if necessary, kill the subject. Terrorist or
criminal attackers may use a variety of methods to perpetrate this crime. The counter-terrroist or
Bodyguard must understand these methods in order to protect a client (or themselves) against these
methods.
Simple awareness of these methods can be your best defense. Awareness itself can heighten vigilance.
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Unarmed Combat techniques are divided into two broad categories:
•Techniques that use impact or "percussion". Percussive techniques include punching, kicking, blocking,
parrying and striking.
•Techniques that use grabbing, throwing, joint locks, choking, or hold-down techniques.
The "mainstream" fighting styles specialize in one or the other. Mixed Martial Arts today makes the
distinction between the two by calling them STRIKING and GRAPPLING. The distinction between the two
needs to be made, because: obviously you can attack the regions of the neck and throat using impacts
or strikes, but strangles and chokes get their effect from constriction of the airway and/or the blood
vessels of the neck. This is a sub-specialty of grappling.
On this page, and in Jiu-Jitsu training classes, the terms "strangles and chokes" are used interchangeably
and are grouped together as a class of grappling techniques called by the Japanese term "SHIME-WAZA".
Shime means constriction, and waza means "technique", so this group of techniques are all those
involving constriction. In the practice of grappling, there are a couple of basic ways "constricting the
neck":
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1. Strangles-by definition refer to the constricting of the Blood vessels that cary vital oxygen to the
brain; compression of the carotid arteries on one or both sides of the neck restricting the flow of
blood and oxygen to the brain.
2. Chokes-by definition denotes the collapsing or constricting the AIRWAY; the windpipe (called
the "trachea") through which one breathes stopping or reducing the flow of air to the lungs.
Without getting too technical and throwing around a lot of medical terminology, effective strangulation
must begin with a study of the anatomy of the neck and the throat:
In the illustration above from an anatomy website, you will notice that the 2 carotid arteries (in RED) are
located on either side of the windpipe. In this illustration, only the carotid arteries are shown. The
jugular veins, which are virtually right next to the carotid arteries, are not shown.
The windpipe is labeled vertically from bottom to top: "trachea, cricoid, thyroid and hyoid". (The Hyoid
is commonly known as the ADAM'S APPLE" It is a boney protrusion in front of the neck and is prone to
being crushed in an unskilled attempt at strangulation.)
Carotid Artery v Jugular Vein
A distinction needs to be made between arteries and veins of the neck. ARTERIES carry oxygen-rich
blood to the brain. VEINS carry de-oxygenated blood from the brain.
In the illustration, the right-side carotid artery, (in RED), is labeled from bottom to top: "cc, cs, cc and ic".
The object in a Strangle is to compress the BOTH carotid arteries at the same time. Done skillfully, the
flow of blood to the brain is shut OFF, and the windpipe is unaffected.
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DANGER!
DO NOT EXPERIMENT WITH THESE TECHNIQUES
UNLESS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR!
The illustration (above) is taken from a Combatives manual for the U.S. Marine Corp. Notice that the
subject's Adam's apple is seated in the "crook"/inside of the elbow. The windpipe is unaffected in this
stranglehold. the bicep muscle presses against the carotid artery on one side, and the forearm muscle
presses against the carotid artery on the other side.
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In the illustration compressed (above), the right palm is face DOWN. It is grasped by the other palm faceUP. The subject's head is pulled toward the chest and SQUEEZED. This restricts the blood flow to the
brain.
The third step illustration compressed (above) is to push forward, against the back of the subject's head,
with one's own head thus increasing the pressure and to prevent him from escaping the hold. Properly
applied this hold can result in "wooziness" within 10 seconds and unconsciousness within 30 to 45
seconds. Choke an air choke or tracheal choke specifically refers to a "true" choke that compresses the
upper airway (trachea, larynx or laryngopharynx), hence interfering with breathing, and leading to
asphyxia. Although less effective at inducing unconsciousness than its vascular counterpart, the air
choke causes excruciating pain and air hunger, and in combat sports a fighter will usually submit to such
a submission hold. Air chokes have been associated with fractures of the larynx or hyoid bone, and are
considered less safe than blood chokes to practice.
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The common law-enforcement arm bar choke is an air choke done by placing the forearm across the
front of the neck from behind. The free hand grabs the wrist and pulls back the forearm, hence driving
the forearm (usually the radius bone) into the front of the neck. The Air choke tends to be considered
less effective due to the way that it is commonly performed; a properly performed air choke is just as
fast as a blood choke. Rather than going directly into the windpipe, they attack the nerve that causes the
gag reflex.
Strangle-Carotid restraint or sleeper holds, are a form of strangulation that compress one or both
carotid arteries and/or the jugular veins without compressing the airway, hence causing cerebral
ischemia and a temporary hypoxic (lack of oxygen)condition in the brain. A well applied strangle may
lead to unconsciousness in a matter of seconds. Compared to traditional manual strangulation, properly
applied strangles require little physical strength, and can be applied successfully by a smaller person.
Use in combat sports Most chokeholds featured in combat sports and martial arts are Strangles.
although some air chokes or combinations occur as well. Strangles especially the rear naked strangle,
triangle chokes, or gi chokes, ["Gi" is the Japanese name for the Karate or Judo Jacket] are commonly
used as submission holds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In Judo, chokeholds, (Again, known as "shime-waza"), are
used but are often subject to restrictions based on age or rank.
Due to the effectiveness of chokeholds and their popularity in a wide variety of martial arts, they are
often used to force submissions in mixed martial art and submission grappling competitions.
Vascular Neck Restraint:
Some Vocabulary: This hold is called the "vascular" neck restraint because it closes of the system of
blood vessels of the vascular system. By definition the "vascular system" refers to both the arteries and
veins together.
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The illustration below shows the proximity of the jugular veins and the Carotid Arteries. The direction of
force and pressure to be applied is shown by the arrows. Drawing: AL ARSENAULT-Wu Chi Kung Fu
Academy
Use in law enforcement -The "lateral vascular neck restraint" (A Strangle) was once a widely taught
technique, and was performed from behind by putting an arm around the neck with the crook of the
elbow over trachea (the midline of the neck). By pinching the arm together while assisting with the free
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hand, the carotid arteries and jugular veins were compressed on both sides of the neck. This hold did
not put any pressure on the airway, but an improperly applied hold could quickly turn into an air choke
if the person being strangled resisted the hold by attempting to turn around. Due to risks of injuries,
American law enforcement agencies restrict or forbid its use.
The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, prohibited its officers from using air chokes and
restricted use of the carotid hold to instances where death or serious bodily injury was threatened, after
routinely using chokeholds for many years. The Bay Area Rapid Transit Police are completely prohibited
from using carotid holds.
NOTE: Properly taught, skillful and refined application would prevent this ENTIRELY! Nearly ALL
occurrences of injury were the result of sloppy, clumsy application by the officers involved.
There are about 20 strangulation techniques in traditional Japanese Shime-Waza. These are divided into
four broad categories: naked strangles and chokes, trap chokes and strangles, lapel strangles and chokes
and triangle chokes and strangles. The textbook (above) is A COMPREHENSIVE coverage of the topic by a
leading authority, Steve Scott, who makes it easy to learn the most effective chokes and strangles of
modern sport grappling.
Some of them use nothing more than naked arms and hands. Some rely on the use of the subject's
jacket or lapels. Still others use the legs wrapped around the neck in precise ways to strangle the subject
to submission, unconsciousness or death.
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Stick, Ligature and Cloth Strangles:
Below is a photo of a WW2 issue GARROTTE (strangling wire with handles) complete with an olive green
canvas carrying pouch. Possibly a replica of the garrotte issued to O.S.S./S.O.E. personnel working in
enemy occupied Europe. The photos demonstrate its use. It was important that the wire chosen to
manufacture the garrotte be strong enough to support the weight of a full-grown man. Some form of
padding was required on the wire near the handles to prevent the users hands from being cut by the
wire.
See our page on Strangling Implements
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STICK STRANGLES (above)-There are numerous other techniques for chokes and strangles that involve
"instruments" or tools. Most notably these include the use of cords, ligatures, scarves, neckties, sticks or
batons. These techniques will be discussed in future updates of this webpage.
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Killer Cult of Thuggee Stranglers:
(For a quick, silent kill)
You may want to visit our page on the cult of "Thuggee", a fanatical religious cult of Stranglers. Click on
the link below:
Killer Cult of Thuggee Stranglers:
You may be interested in to following book on the techniques and history of the Ancient Art of
Strangulation. This controversial look at strangulation, the author chronicles the history of the Thuggee,
a cult of assassins that has stalked India for centuries. Find out how they caught and dispatched their
victims, what their tools of terror were, how elements of their art have been incorporated into modern
military and martial arts training and much more:
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This link (below) will take you to a good web page on Japanese "Shime Waza". The specialized Judo and
Jiu-Jitsu art of chokes and strangles. There is even a page here with photos and illustrations of each of
the techniques!:
Judo strangles and chokes Link
Military personnel all over the world are instructed in the use of chokes and strangles in order to quickly
and silently “neutralize” enemy combatants.
(above) Illustration from a U.S. Military Unarmed Combat Manual. It shows a method for using the
strangling wire or cord from behind. This method is taught to Infantry and Special Forces units all over
the world.