The Bow and Arrow Choke is one of BJJ’s most influential, beautiful, and practical submissions—you want to learn when you’re a white belt. In fact, it’s also uncomplicated to learn and execute. You’ll also look like a pro when you do it in a competition or a fight, as it’s fancy looking.
However, learning it can be difficult if you follow improper advice. To get comfortable with using it quickly, you must learn it properly. And this is my aim with this article: give you the tools you need, in the proper order, to ensure you’ll know how to perform the Bow and Arrow Choke flawlessly.
If you read the entire article, you’ll be able to perform one of its variations at the end. So what will I cover in this article?
We’ll first start with its variations and continue with a complete breakdown of one of these variations. You’ll be able to perform it flawlessly after you read the breakdown, as it dives deeply into the Bow and Arrow Choke fundamentals.
At last, you’ll also familiarize yourself with many of its variations, broadening your toolbox and allowing you to use them in real fights.
Constant learning in BJJ—is critical. You always want to strive to know more about this astounding martial art. So without further ado, I think it’s time we start reviewing the different Bow and Arrow Choke variants!
Bow and Arrow Choke Variations
Alright. This 1st part of the article will cover different variations of the Bow and Arrow Choke. Knowing more is always an advantage in a martial art that’s endless. Constant learning should be your friend.
So if it’s currently your enemy, switch your mindset to one that’ll allow you to befriend learning and the many benefits it’ll bring to your life.
Imagine two grapplers. The first one knows to use only a few techniques but knows them well enough to be called competent. Conversely, the second is familiar with a much broader scale of techniques, entries, guard passes, and submissions. Who do you think will win were they to face each other?
My money is on the 2nd grappler, as he’s much more likely to adapt himself to his opponent. The 1st grappler, however, only knows a few techniques, and that’s what he’ll go for. He might get the tap, but it’s unlikely if he were to face a grappler who is a fan of constant learning, and that broadens his toolbox.
My goal with this part is to make you more like the 2nd grappler, the more competent one. Enough intro; let’s get right to the point!
#1 – Bow and Arrow Choke From Closed Guard
The first variation we’ll discuss is the Closed Guard Bow and Arrow Choke. If you’re unfamiliar with the Closed Guard position, you can follow the link to read a comprehensive guide I wrote about it and how to master it. So everyone can benefit from reading it.
Anyways, this variant is one of my favorites, as it’s beautiful. You really see why this submission is named the way it is: it looks like you’re shooting an arrow using a bow. Although it’s fairly obvious, I think it’s cool. But yea, that’s probably just me.
Here’s how to perform the Bow and Arrow Choke from the Closed Guard position.
- Start in Closed Guard
- Pull his right arm across his body
- Pull your legs in
- Switch your grips
- Straighten his arm
- Overhook the opponent’s head (left arm)
- Anchor yourself by gripping the opponent’s hips
- Squeeze your left arm
- Wait for the tap
The primary mistake novice grapplers make here is not straightening the opponent’s hand. Unfortunately, I see this mistake often, and you want to avoid it at all costs.
A straight arm equals more maneuverability for you and less for your training partner. Thus, you want to ensure the opponent’s arm is straight after you switch your grips. Watch how the coach does that in the video above.
#2 – Bow and Arrow Choke From Side Control
Side Control is an exceptionally effective and dominant BJJ position, allowing you to go for many options, such as transitioning to another dominant position or going for a submission. You’ll also get 3 points for attaining it.
I have another article on ways to finish from Side Control which you want to read if you haven’t already.
One of these ways is the Bow and Arrow Choke. Let’s now examine how you can perform this variant yourself:
- Start in Side Control
- Hook your top arm around the opponent’s head
- Grab his collar with the same hand
- Place your bottom hand on the mat
- Walk your hips toward his hips
- Pull your top elbow down, getting more control
- Step over the opponent
- Grab the opponent’s thigh
- Sit back
- Bring your right foot above the opponent’s head
- Place your right heel on his shoulder
- Squeeze the opponent’s collar
- Lean to the left
- Wait for the tap
This variation is a bit more complicated than the previous one. However, it allows you to transition from Side Control to the Bow and Arrow, which is excellent news.
There are many tweaks here you can do to perfect this variant. However, listing them all will take more than a single section can cover. And still, let’s review one tweak you want to ensure you’re doing.
When you step over the opponent (step #7), you want to step over your arm, especially if you’re flexible enough. If you’re able to do that—you’ll be in a much more controlled situation, allowing you to continue with the steps. However, if you’re not flexible enough, step over and remove the hand that’s on the mat.
#3 – Bow and Arrow Choke From Back Mount
The Back Mount is an extremely effective position to be in. If you’re in it, you’re likely to win the fight. There’s no real reason not to go for a submission from the Back Mount, as transitioning to another position will be less practical.
Once you get back control, you’re ready to go for any submission to finish the fight. One of the most popular moves from Back Mount is Rear Naked Choke. Follow the link to learn more about it.
Anyways, here’s how you perform the Bow and Arrow Choke from the Back Mount position:
- Start in Back Mount
- Lean back to your weak side
- Open his collar
- Grab his collar with your dominant hand
- Bring your left foot across the opponent’s hips
- Grab the Gi around his knee
- Pull in
- Isolate the opponent’s far arm
- Kick your feet away
- Squeeze the collar
- Apply more pressure
- Wait for the tap
This one isn’t as complicated to execute as the previous one. Therefore, you can definitely invest your time learning it as your first one, which is fantastic news.
But we still have one more left, so stick through to
#4 – Bow and Arrow Choke on Turtle Position
If you’re unfamiliar with the Turtle Position, it’s a defensive position designed to give you the opportunity to evade the opponent’s submissions. You usually want to enter the Turtle when you’re in serious trouble. If you want to learn when and why we enter the Turtle Position in grappling-based martial arts, follow this link.
This variation is designed to submit someone in the Turtle Position. Achieving such a thing will be difficult, as it’s a dominant position that the opponent is in. However, with the right submission, we can overcome it and get the tap.
So here’s how you perform the Bow and Arrow Choke on someone in Turtle:
- The opponent is in Turtle Position
- Put your weight on the opponent
- Underhook the opponent’s far arm
- Grab his collar with your other arm
- Throw your head to the floor
- Step over the opponent
- Lean back and roll
- Attain Back Mount
- Squeeze his collar
- Apply more pressure
- Wait for the tap
You want to ensure your grips are firm in this variation. If your grips are too weak, you’ll unlikely have enough pressure to finish this submission.
You also want to advance through the steps quickly and efficiently. I’m not suggesting you rush it out, as that’ll be ineffective. However, try to move through the steps as smoothly as possible. Do that—and your success rate with this variation will skyrocket.
How to: Bow and Arrow Choke (Breakdown)
Alright. We’re now entering the 2nd stage of this article: a complete breakdown of the 1st variation. I’m a big preacher of constant learning and expanding your knowledge as much as possible. But it’s not just reading and learning that’ll make you a competent grappler.
Instead, it’s focusing on a few variations you really like and learning everything about them. And it doesn’t end there. You also want to experiment on the mat and implement everything you learn about this variation.
This is what we’ll do here. We’ll take the first variation from Closed Guard and break it down as deeply as possible, so you’ll be able to master it (if that’s something you desire.)
I chose the first variation as I believe it’s the one you’ll use the most. Furthermore, it’s undoubtedly been the one I use the most; thus, I’m confident you’ll be able to start practicing and experimenting until you master it.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Step #1 – Start in Closed Guard
The first step is the most obvious one. You want to start in the Closed Guard position. While I won’t expand too much on how to be a solid Closed Guard user, you should know these essential things.
The first tip in properly using the Closed Guard position is to break the opponent’s posture. You can do so with your legs and with your arms. Combining both will be the best practice.
Another tip is to keep your legs wrapped as tightly as you can. But, on the other hand, you also don’t want to tire up your legs from squeezing them too much. So it’ll be best to keep them somewhere between really tight and really loose.
As long as your legs are wrapped, you’re good.
Step #2 – Pull his right arm across his body
The 2nd step is to pull his right arm across his body. That means that you want to pull it to your right (or to his left.)
That’s another way of breaking the opponent’s posture, which is handy when performing this Bow and Arrow Choke variation. Eventually, you can also use your legs to gain more leverage and lessen the distance between you and your training partner.
Step #3 – Pull your legs in
The 3rd step is to pull your legs in if you haven’t already. Again, your opponent will start being uncomfortable, as he’s likely to notice that you’re breaking his posture and maneuvering his limbs.
An advanced grappler might not know precisely what you’re going for by this point, but he’ll know you’re planning to do something.
Step #4 – Switch your grips
The following two steps (4,5) come together. You want to perform both steps simultaneously. Once you pull your legs in to break the opponent’s posture, your next move is to switch your grips.
Or, more precisely, you want to grab the opponent’s right arm with your right arm. That’s because you’ll use your left hand shortly to perform the next move.
Step #5 – Straighten his arm
The 5th step is to straighten his right arm (the one you’re isolating.) Once you switch your grip from your left to right hand, you want to straighten his arm.
Why do we do that? In short, we want to gain more control. The opponent will have difficulty escaping your attack if his arm is straight and not bent.
Step #6 – Overhook the opponent’s head (left arm)
So now, your left hand is free. Great, let’s do something with it. The 6th step is to overhook the opponent’s head (clockwise) with your left hand.
You want to grab the lapel after overhooking your hand across his head. This is the fundamental of this choke, so make sure to do it.
A common mistake novice grapplers make here is having a lot of space between their biceps and the opponent’s head. You want to get in real deep and tighten your hold when you grip the opponent’s lapel. Ensure your overhook is as tight as possible.
Step #7 – Anchor yourself by gripping the opponent’s hips
The next step isn’t mandatory. However, it’ll give you more control, which you want to take.
Once you grip the opponent’s lapel, he’ll start feeling pressure. Heck, if you squeeze hard enough, he might even tap out. However, most grapplers won’t give you the victory in this position, especially if they’re familiar with this Bow and Arrow Choke variation.
You now want to anchor yourself by gripping the opponent’s hips. Your right hand is free, so use it to gain more control, which you can do by anchoring yourself.
Step #8 – Squeeze your left arm
This is the final step of this choke. Hopefully, you’ve been able to gain enough control over the opponent. But how can you know if you have? Simply, if the opponent has escaped your grip, you don’t have enough control.
But if you’re following along, all that’s left is to turn your arm toward your body while squeezing your choking arm. The twist combined with the squeeze will give you enough pressure. However, each might not be enough to finish off the opponent and force him to tap.
Thus, ensure you twist your arm toward your body while squeezing it. The anchor we got in the last step will help stabilize yourself while lowering the odds the opponent will escape.
Step #9 – Wait for the tap
The last step is to wait for the tap. As you might know, this is an obvious step. However, I want to address a key point here.
Once the opponent taps, release all pressure immediately. The last thing you want is permanently injuring your partner because you didn’t pay attention. In the final position of this Bow and Arrow Choke, it’ll be easy to make him unconscious. Therefore, you must pay attention to your training partner and release all pressure quickly when you feel or see the tap.
Final Words
To end this article, I want to tell you how much fun I had expanding my knowledge and sharing it with you guys. My primary takeaway from the production process of this article is that constant learning should be what everyone strives for.
I know it might be challenging to continue learning once you’re past a certain point. However, I have no doubts this is the difference between alright BJJ trainees and excellent, competent BJJ trainees.
The fact that you’re reading this article is a sign that you love learning. In this case, I foresee a bright BJJ career for you. So always keep learning and never get complacent!
The Bow and Arrow Choke isn’t the most effective submission out there, and especially not from the Closed Guard position. Follow this link to read about the 13 best submissions from the Closed and Open Guard positions and how to perform them!
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Here are other articles you’d enjoy reading:
BJJ 101: Ninja Choke – Complete Breakdown
Ezekiel Choke 101 – Complete BJJ Guide
BJJ 101: Helio Gracie Choke (From Closed Guard)