Karate Essence ‘Reality Check’: Sleeper hold/Blood Choke
Karate Essence
‘Reality Check’
Sleeper hold/Blood Choke
This month’s ‘Reality Check’ technique, the ‘Sleeper Hold’ or ‘Blood Choke’ – also known by other names such as a ‘Stranglehold’ or ‘Neck Restraint’ – is a grappling technique used in Martial Arts, Self-defence, and Law Enforcement.
It is important to note that the use of a Blood Choke can be dangerous and, should the restraint be retained for an extended period, after rendering your assailant unconscious, potentially lethal. This technique may be applied in certain sport combat forms such as Judo, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), where referees take close control of the combat conditions.
Application of this technique, outside of these controlled combat situations, should only be performed by trained individuals, in extremely adverse situations for self-defence, or the defence of others and in support of law and order; also by authorized law enforcement personnel in accordance with established guidelines.
Table of Contents
Sport or Self-defence
BJJ Basic Rear Choke
Judo Shime Waza/Rear Naked Choke
MMA Rear Naked Choke
Jujutsu Hadaka Jime/Rear Choke
Wing Chun Wòpù Lēisǐ/Sleeper Choke
Karate Sleeper Technique
Torakan Eye View
Conclusion
Sport or Self-defence
Positioning oneself behind an adversary and wrapping one arm around their neck while, with the support of the other arm, applying pressure to the sides of the neck; momentarily, cutting off blood circulation to the brain.
Here we have a technique which is practiced in both Sport and Self-defence. BJJ competition has it as one of the main ways of scoring and wining in their particular sporting arena. MMA competitions have it as one of many ways of winning in their arena; as does Judo. Judo, BJJ and MMA also teach it to their students as a self-defence technique. Japanese Jujutsu, and various Kung Fu and Karate styles teach the Blood Strangle as a ‘Self-defence’ technique in the real world.
Also – depending on location in regard to country, state city et cetera – law enforcement officers are taught, along with joint locks and so forth, the use of the ‘Blood Choke’ with a view to subduing potentially violent lawbreakers. When choking an opponent out, you actually run far less risk of inflicting damage than would be the case with a joint lock.
With a ‘Blood Choke’ the aim is to compress the arteries. This is in contrast to an ‘Air Choke’: compressing the trachea. Blood chokes are far less painful and do not cause irritation; unlike Air Chokes which can make swallowing painful for a week.
When practicing, it is important to consider partner safety and the expectation is that the person applying the choke knows what they are doing and immediately releases when their partner taps. Occasionally, someone may inadvertently get put to sleep but, when released immediately, they quickly recover.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Basic Rear Choke
BJJ, which is mostly a sport, is a grappling art where most of the action is carried out as floor level grappling. In a BJJ competition, the objective is to establish a dominant position against an adversary on the ground, and submit them using ‘Choke Holds’ or ‘Joint Locks’. A courageous and determined opponent can simply refuse to submit to a joint lock if he is willing to take the damage; however, refusal to ‘tap’ to a ‘Strangle’ will not affect the outcome one iota. The bravest, most determined opponent will simply pass out.
A ‘Strangle’ seems to be the preferred method of winning a BJJ competition and the BJJ Rear Naked Choke is one of the most common submission holds used. This is a sport, and there is something intrinsically better about a method of ending a match that is less damaging to an opponent.
Judo Shime Waza/Choke or Strangle
The expression: ‘Rear Naked Choke’ has its origins in Judo; meaning, using only the arms (not using the clothing) to the carotid arteries at the sides of the neck, temporarily, stopping the oxygenated blood flowing to the brain; causing unconsciousness. Done properly, there is no damage done to the windpipe and usually, in sport combat, the combatant receiving the Shime Waza taps out before unconsciousness. Worse-case scenario, they are released immediately they become unconscious via the Rear Naked Choke/Shime Waza by the combatant inflicting the technique, which is of course closely controlled by a referee.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Blood Choke
MMA is the current most popular fighting sport and – obvious by its title, Mixed Martial Art – which has also become a martial art in and of itself. It is however trained mostly for the combat competition that has built around it since its inception by the UFC around 1993; although there was a successful competition more than ten years prior to that. It will come as no great surprise then that it was initially a competition between the best and toughest from each individual martial art. However, it gradually became a study in the best fighting techniques that every art was known for, which was then put together to practice a fighting form encompassing a mixture of those martial arts. Mixed Martial Arts.
MMA is now of course also taught to individuals who have no intention of stepping into the MMA cage to compete, but to form a reality basis for self-defence. Consequently, as with the other MMA techniques that I have featured in the ‘Reality Check’ blog, I am featuring their version of this month’s ‘Reality Check’ technique: the MMA Rear Naked Choke.
Jujutsu Hadaka Jime/Rear Choke
The main difference between BJJ, Judo, MMA and Japanese Jujutsu is that the first three have sporting competition versions. Jujutsu does not, and therefore every technique taught in Jujutsu is meant to be used for self-defence in an adverse situation in the real world, where there are no rules and no referees. Having said that, if you were to watch a Jujutsu training session it would look more like an MMA training session than Judo or BJJ.
Most young people that I speak to these days, who have had no contact with Jujutsu, seem to think that it must be similar to Judo and BJJ. So, I am going to slip in here a short Introduction to Jujutsu link for those readers who would like to have a better idea than they currently hold of what Jujutsu is all about. Stay focussed during this video clip and you will see a Rear Naked Choke executed. Also, here is a short tutorial on the Jujutsu Hadaka Jime/Rear Naked Choke.
Wing Chun Wòpù Lēisǐ/Sleeper Choke
There are probably more Kung Fu Styles than Karate styles that teach and train the Mang Geng Sao or Wòpù Lēisǐ/Sleeper Choke or Strangle. Most of their tutorials include a lot more than one technique, and so I have chosen the Wing Chun Kung Fu Blood Choke, or Headlock as one Sifu calls it.
Compared to a lot of Chinese martial arts, Wing Chun has a simplistic, no nonsense approach to most techniques: practical and straight to the point. This first link demonstrates the adaptability and willingness to flow until that opening to lock onto the Wing Chun Headlock (Blood Choke) occurs.
This next link is a breakdown of basic entrance strategies, via a series of joint lock techniques, leading to the acquisition of the Wing Chun Blood Choke.
Karate Sleeper Techniques and Chokes
Not every Style of Karate teaches Chokes, Sleeper Holds or Shime Waza of any description as a separate technique; although, if you study certain Kata in those styles you will find what can be interpreted as references to ‘chokes or neck restraints’. The Himitsu, if you will, of certain Kata hints at ‘undisclosed’ or ‘hidden’ techniques; to which the Myō must be studied.
Generally, the Karate styles that do teach Shime Waza are those styles that do not have a sporting component to their training and they teach it, in accordance with their philosophical teaching of Karate as a Self-defence, as part of their self-defence programme, such as:
Torakan Eye View
The Sleeper Technique is a widely taught and practiced technique among the grappling arts, but not so much among the striking arts.
I actually learned this technique, initially, before I began my classical martial arts training. At least it was the same technique in principal; however, as its purpose then was to quickly and quietly neutralise an enemy sentry, there were a few subtle differences. I didn’t actually perfect its use as a self-defence technique until much later.
Working in high risk security, I not only perfected it but used it as my ‘go to’ technique in dire situations. Since first learning the ‘Blood Choke’ I have used it effectively many, many times. While working in high risk security for more than 30 years – close personal protection (Bodyguard), venue, event security and crowd control (Bouncer), riot control (industrial disputes), undercover retail security, high profile Casino security host, Private Investigator, cash and gem escort, rapid, armed response (for several National banking organisations) – I have successfully applied the sleeper choke more times than I care to mention. I have never had an adverse experience with it. I teach it to my advanced students. Here are one or two of the many applications:
Someone taking an aggressive stance and about to attack you and so you pre-empt (seperate link to Sen sen no sen)
This is a slow-motion replay showing exactly how the above is achieved
This is the same technique but from a position where the adversary has started his attack (seperate link to Sen no sen)
This is a slow-motion replay showing how the above is achieved
This is the same technique performed by one of my advanced students
Conclusion
In conclusion, in my opinion, this technique is well worth learning. Restraining an antagonist with ‘The Sleeper’ in this manner, you actually inflict far less damage than with say a joint lock or a strike of any kind. And it is a sure-fire way of laying an antagonist unconscious, while presenting an opportunity to extricate yourself from, possibly, a dangerous situation.
Learn how to apply a sleeper correctly, from an experienced, qualified instructor, and practice it until it becomes second nature. Tuck your new tool neatly into your Mushin drawer for that time you hope will never come, but are now fully prepared for if it does.
Thank You to the Readers
As always, thank you for following the Karate Essence 'Reality Check'.
Thank you also for the terrific response to the launch of my latest book, ‘A Budōka Odyssey’. The reviews are still a little slow coming in but when they do they are excellent!
Top review from United Kingdom
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2024
I have to say that I found this book to be compulsive reading. For someone who was born and raised in the West of Scotland I was immediately drawn to T.D. McKinnon’s Scottish roots. He writes in such a concise and realistic manner. As someone with no knowledge of karate and martial arts, I have nevertheless found the main themes of the book easy to follow and this has made me review experiences drawn from my own life. The concept of ‘gifts and lessons’ applies to all life, not just karate. I would recommend this book to anyone, particularly those who are deeply involved in a sport of any kind, and who is striving to be the best person they can be. Read, learn and enjoy. Thank you for this book, T.D. McKinnon.
Top review from Australia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in Australia on 28 May 2024
Written by a man who has lived the life of a modern warrior. His ability to recognise the lessons and gifts in any situation and the having the humility to seek out those who can help you better yourself are important traits we should all endeavour to achieve not just in our own martial arts’ odyssey but in life.
Top review from the United States
Minimal shopper
5.1 out of 5 stars
‘A Fine Man Shares a Life of Budō’
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024
At over 500 pages there is a lot of content in this autobiographical journey. A quick overview is as follows:
Author Shihan TD McKinnon has had ALOT of fights in his life; starting under the age of 6! He tells the narrative of his life through all those fights and what he learned about himself and life along the way. I appreciate that he doesn’t make self-defense fighting seem glamorous and one sided. He talks about injuries, dangers, and making alternate choices to physical violence as a reality.
This book emphasizes lessons like ‘never quit’, ‘move on to the next venture’, ‘stay in the moment and learn what you can along the way’. I recommend it for young and old, karate people and non-karate folks. He carries the journey into today with a very relevant subject - training and aging. Take it on your next plane trip, or beach vacation. And if you’re a karate instructor, you can work it into your teaching. This book does not disappoint!
Comments