The Japanese Necktie is one of my favorite chokes in BJJ. It can be such an excruciating experience for your opponent if you perform it correctly. This is my aim with this article: to allow you to perform this choke flawlessly, from many variations.
The first part of the article will define what the Japanese Necktie is. Then, we’ll review many of its variations and decide which one’s the best. At last, we’ll break down the best variation I recommend learning most, so you can optimize the minor details and get your first wins using it.
Hopefully, you’re excited to start your learning process. This choke is one you want to learn when you’re still a white belt, although it seems that many grapplers don’t learn it until they attain the Blue or Purple belt.
I’m able to use the Japanese Necktie to get many taps. And I’m confident you’ll be able to achieve the same place, with just a bit of practice. That’s because of 2 reasons: (1) It’s simple to learn and start using, and (2) it’s highly effective, making it attractive for all grapplers.
Alright, so without further ado, let’s define what this magnificent choke is and why you want to learn it.
What is the Japanese Necktie in BJJ?
This 1st part of the article will define what the Japanese Necktie is and how you can utilize it. Now some argue that it’s not a choke, but a neck crank. To that, I have one thing to say: this claim is incorrect. But before we get into that, let’s see what it is.
The Japanese Necktie is a choke that originates from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is extremely effective. It’s also fairly stealthy, as your training partner will not see it coming until you have the lock in place. Some argue that it’s a neck crank and not a choke: such a claim is inaccurate.
Neck cranks are illegal for a reason, they’re dangerous! You want to avoid using techniques whose primary outcome is a neck crank. According to a study, here are the dangers of neck cranks:
In theory, hyperflexion of the neck can cause extremely serious injuries. The list includes muscle strain, ligament sprain, rupture of the intervertebral discs, facet dislocation or fracture of the vertebrae
Source
You want to remember, however, that the Japanese Necktie isn’t a neck crank. However, it’s by-product, if you apply a lot of pressure when executing it, is a neck crank. Ensure to stay aware of these as much as possible.
It’s also important to note that it’s an entirely legal IBJJF choke, as it’s not a neck crank. So you can start learning it as soon as possible to start gaining your first wins using it.
Alright. That’s enough theory. Let’s dive into the practical stuff!
Japanese Necktie Variations
This is the 2nd part of the article, which will be about variations. I’ve deliberately placed it as the 2nd part, as learning all the variations before breaking one of them down—is better for your muscle memory.
I encourage you to bookmark this article and learn the variations one by one. Try and practice as few variations as possible at once, to ensure you’re optimizing your muscle memory and shortening the amount of time it takes for you to learn each technique.
The more you learn at once, the harder it’ll be to remember and master them.
Japanese Necktie From Half Guard
The Half Guard position is one you definitely want to know and use. It allows you many options, both from top and bottom. This is why many grapplers focus on it, as they want to start winning more fights using it.
I have another article that’s entirely about the Half Guard position and how to finish fights from it. Follow the link if you want to learn more about it.
Anyways, here are the steps to performing the Japanese Necktie from the Half Guard position:
- Start in top Half Guard
- Block the opponent’s hips with your hand
- Wait for the opponent to underhook
- Wrap your left arm around the opponent’s head (clockwise)
- Shift to the side
- Land on your elbow
- Slide your right hand through the opponent’s belly
- The opponent defends the Guillotine Choke
- Keep his head bent toward you
- Push the opponent’s head with your left hand
- Wrap your hands around his head
- Lift your chest
- Drop down to the side
- Squeeze
- Wait for the tap
Watch the video to further understand what the steps look like. This is a variation you want to consider learning first, as it’s not as complicated and will allow you to win more often.
If you want to read about the best submissions from top and bottom Half Guard, follow the link!
Japanese Necktie From Turtle
The Turtle position is one of the best defensive moves you can use to escape many submissions. It’s considered difficult to submit someone when he’s in Turtle. That said, this variant will allow you to do just that.
Let’s see how one can go about it:
- Your opponent is in Turtle
- Step over the opponent’s left leg
- Pull the opponent’s ankle toward you
- Slide your arm through the opponent’s armpit
- Lock a Gable grip around the opponent’s neck
- Drop your shoulder to the far side
- Push your belly in
- Squeeze your arms
- Wait for the tap
The primary mistake grapplers make when they use this variation is they pull the opponent’s head to their belly. Now why is that a mistake? You want to do the opposite, bring your belly to the back of the opponent’s head. Do that—and you’ll get a tighter submission.
Finishing the fight when the opponent is in Turtle—will be difficult. This submission allows you to do just that. It gives you an opportunity to get the opponent to an inferior position rather than the opposite.
If you want to learn more about ways to use the Turtle position to (1) escape from it, and (2) counter it, follow this link.
Side Control Japanese Necktie
The Side Control position is an exceptionally dominant one, allowing you to use many options, such as finishing the fight using any submission, transitioning to a Full Mount or Back Mount, or getting 3 points in a competition by attaining Side Control and maintaining it for over 3 seconds.
If you’re interested in learning to finish from this position, follow the link to see which submissions are best from Side Control and how to perform them properly.
Likewise, you can follow this link to learn more about Side Control and how to maintain it for long periods.
- Start in top Side Control
- The opponent underhooks you
- Sit on his hip
- Overhook the opponent’s close arm
- Wrap the opponent’s head with your other hand
- Slide your other arm back
- Lock a Vice Grip
- Step over with your leg
- Control one of his legs
- Pinch your hands in
- Drop your hips on the floor
- The opponent’s head should be underneath your chest
- Drive your hips forward
- Squeeze your hands
- Wait for the tap
A mistake a lot of grapplers make with this submission is dropping their hips to the side right when they control the opponent’s leg. You don’t want your hips to be on the side. Instead, you want your hips to be directly above the opponent’s head.
It’s also critical you keep the opponent’s leg in your control. If you end up losing the leg, there won’t be much you can do to finish the fight, as the opponent will likely escape your hold.
This variation can cause neck cranks. Therefore, make sure you pay attention to your partner when you execute this variant, especially the finishing part.
Peruvian Necktie
The last variation we’ll review is the Peruvian Necktie. Indeed, people like to name techniques after countries. While I’m unfamiliar with its inventor, I’m sure he taught in Peru.
Anyways, the Peruvian Necktie isn’t so much a variation of the Japanese Necktie. However, it’s important we review it so you can expand your knowledge even further by learning another Necktie variation.
So what’s the difference between the Peruvian and Japanese versions? The primary difference is that the Peruvian one uses your legs to apply even more pressure on the opponent’s neck. This can be deadly if you use it correctly.
So here are the steps to performing it properly:
- Start in the Sprawl position
- Wrap your right arm around the opponent’s neck
- Slide it through his far armpit
- Slide your left hand from the other side
- Grab your right wrist
- Make a fist with your right arm
- Pop your legs up
- Step forward
- Step across the opponent’s head with your right leg
- Sit down while maintaining your hand lock
- Bring your left leg over his back
- Squeeze
- Wait for the tap
As you can see, not as difficult. The sprawl position isn’t as common in BJJ as much as in MMA, for example. Therefore, the Peruvian Choke is mostly used in the UFC and not in IBJJF tournaments.
You want to familiarize yourself with the Peruvian Choke, as it’s an excruciating, powerful submission you want to know how to use and defend against.
Japanese Necktie Breakdown
Congratulations! You’re now familiar with 4 variations of the Japanese Necktie. This means you’re a more capable grappler who wants to expand his knowledge and follows through.
I’m confident that your BJJ game will skyrocket very soon, as you’re striving for constant learning, which is something all BJJ masters advocate for.
We’re in the 2nd part of the article now. What we’ll do is break down the Japanese Necktie from the Turtle position. I’ve decided to break it down because it’s the one I think you should learn first, as it’s the simplest one, giving you a stable foundation for the rest of your Japanese Necktie learning process.
Alright. Now, let’s dive into the first step:
Step #1 – Your opponent is in Turtle
The first step isn’t something you can really control, maybe indirectly. You want your opponent to be in the Turtle position. Once that’s the case, regardless of how you got there, you can execute this variation.
You want to face the same direction as the opponent and be on his side.
Step #2 – Step over the opponent’s left leg
The 2nd step is to step over the opponent’s left leg. What does that look like? You’re already on the side of the opponent, facing the same direction. So you step with your right leg and place your foot between the opponent’s legs, closer to his left ankle.
You can now advance to step #3.
Step #3 – Pull the opponent’s ankle toward you
Then, once you step over the opponent’s left leg and place your foot as close as possible to his ankle, you want to pull the same ankle toward you.
That opens up room for a Kneebar from the opponent. You want to avoid that by pulling his ankle further toward you and not giving him the opportunity to turn around and hug your leg. If your partner does that, he’s in a good position to go for the Kneebar.
So you want to pull the opponent’s ankle toward you while removing any threats that he’ll be able to turn around and hug your leg. You do that by primarily moving your leg further toward you.
Step #4 – Slide your arm through the opponent’s armpit
After you pull his ankle toward you, you want to slide your arm through the opponent’s armpit. Which arm do you want to use? If you’re on the left side of the opponent, use your right arm. Do the opposite on the right side.
Step #5 – Lock a Gable grip around the opponent’s neck
Once you have slid your right arm (assuming you’re on his left), you want to lock a Gable grip, using your left hand of course.
Then, you want to pull the opponent toward you. This will prepare you for the next step, which is going to be a part of the finishing move!
Don’t forget to pull the opponent toward you.
Step #6 – Drop your shoulder to the far side
Once you lock a Gable grip and pull him toward you, you want to drop your shoulder to the far side. What this will do is place your belly directly above the opponent’s back of the head.
This is a critical part you want to get right. If your belly is directly above/below the opponent’s back of the head, you’ll be in a far better position to finish the fight.
Step #7 – Push your belly in
Once you got that done, you want to push your belly in. This is the first force you’ll be applying (you’ll apply two directions of force.) You want to arch your back, which is the same as pushing your belly in.
Step #8 – Squeeze your arms
The final step is to squeeze your arms, which is the second force you’ll be applying. You must apply both directions of force to ensure a quick tap out from the opponent. Don’t rely on one to finish the job, although one is likely to be enough.
As I told you, it’s an excruciating choke. So make sure to pay attention to the opponent if you apply both directions of force. You can expect a tap to come quickly.
Step #9 – Wait for the tap
The last step is to wait for the tap. I know, I know. It’s so obvious. But hear me out. This is a dangerous choke, as it can also cause a neck crank. You want to avoid that altogether.
But sometimes, the fight is going to be intense to the point where you’re not paying attention to the opponent. And then, your opponent gets into Turtle and you get excited because about to perform the Japanese Necktie for the first time.
And so you get everything right and are about to finish the choke by arching your back and squeezing your arms. You do that and without paying attention, you cause serious injury to the opponent, since you applied too much force at once.
Be careful when you perform the Japanese Necktie, especially when you apply the final pressure for the tap. Once the opponent taps, release all pressure immediately. Please don’t play around with it.
The Japanese Necktie in Use (Real Fights & Competitions)
This first video is a compilation of the Peruvian Necktie in MMA. Watch how much of an excruciating experience it is.
This 2nd video is a compilation of Richie Martinez using the Japanese Necktie to win fights quickly and effectively.
Final Words
This article was a blast to write. I always have fun researching a certain topic and learning about it, especially when it’s a submission I don’t use often. What ends up happening is that I start using the techniques I write about, as I’m learning more about them and why they’re effective.
You can have the same effect, but because you read. You’ve been able to boost your BJJ skills simply by reading this article. That’s why I encourage you to keep reading more articles and watch instructional BJJ videos.
And, of course, don’t forget to practice since it’s the most critical activity you want to do to boost your BJJ skills. Most of your learning will come from time on the mat, and not time reading or watching videos.
And still, you want to continue doing both to maximize your progression rate!
The Japanese Necktie, however, isn’t the most effective necktie. If you want to see which neckties are most effective and how to perform each one, follow this link!
You can also sign up for our Email Newsletter to keep up with our blog posts and gain access to free martial arts/self-improvement courses!
Here are other articles you’d enjoy reading:
Chilean Necktie 101 – A Mighty Choke
German Necktie 101 – BJJ Technique Breakdown
BJJ 101 – Nelson Necktie (How to Perform Flawlessly)