Submission escape

Escape the ezekiel choke

Start here: your partner has the ezekiel choke (Sode Guruma Jime) set but not finished.

Escape · 1 of 2

Defense to the Ezekiel Choke

Report a problemGracie Ohio Jiu-Jitsu Academy · on YouTube
Your bookmarks

Press Bookmark while a detail you want to rewatch is on screen.

Before it’s locked

  • Don’t hug their back or head with both arms from bottom mount
  • Keep one hand protecting your neck whenever you start an escape
  • Notice an arm sliding behind your head: that’s the set-up

The main escape

  1. Tuck your chin and get a hand between their forearm and your throat
  2. Bridge up and over your head so they have to post their hands to stay on top
  3. As they post, push the choking elbow up and off your neck
  4. Turn into an elbow-knee escape or bump and roll, and recover guard

Escape roadmap

The seven stages of this escape. Work from the top: the earlier you act, the less you need the later stages.

  1. 1
    Prevent
    • Don’t hug their head from bottom mount
    • Keep one hand guarding your neck
  2. 2
    Defensive posture
    • Chin tucked
    • Stay on your side, not flat
  3. 3
    Hand fight
    • Get a hand between their forearm and your throat
    • Peel their sleeve or wrist grip
  4. 4
    Make space
    • Bridge up and over your head
    • Make them post their hands
  5. 5
    Clear the structure
    • Push the choking elbow up and off your neck as they post
    • Clear the arm from behind your head
  6. 6
    Late escape
    • Bridge and roll (upa) to the side of the arm behind your head
    • Tap when the forearm blade is on your throat and they’re pulling
  7. 7
    Back to safety
    • Elbow-knee escape to guard
    • Re-frame on their hips so they can’t re-mount

Escape options

Bridge so they postThey’re leaning forward to set it
Bump and rollThey post with the hand that was chokingOpen upa (trap and roll) →
Elbow-knee escapeThey sit up tall to finishOpen elbow-knee escape →
When to tap

If the blade of their forearm is on your throat and they’re pulling on their sleeve or wrist, tap. It is often faster than it looks.

Common mistake

Pushing on their chest with both hands, which leaves your neck open.

Drill it

Partner starts in mount with one arm behind your head and the other hand at your throat, not pressing yet. Round 1 at 30% resistance, round 2 at 60%, then live. Your partner applies the finish slowly; you tap the moment you reach the “when to tap” point. Switch roles each round.

How they apply it
Read about itGrapplearts articlesBJJ Heroes

My notes

Saved automatically.

← Anaconda chokeBow and arrow choke →
Quick checkEscape the ezekiel choke quick check4 questions

How it connects

The attack
Ezekiel choke (Sode Guruma Jime)
Caught in
Mount (bottom)
Escape to
Half guard
Related escapes
Escape the rear naked chokeEscape the guillotineEscape the triangleEscape the arm triangleEscape the north-south chokeEscape the cross choke