1. Objective and Purpose
The D’Arce Choke is a submission technique that is a variation of the guillotine choke, but with a more sophisticated angle and grip. It involves trapping your opponent’s neck with their own arm, utilizing the pressure of your arms to choke them by restricting blood flow to the brain. This submission can be applied from a variety of positions, but it’s commonly initiated from a top position, often after a scramble or when the opponent is on their back.
2. Steps for Execution of the D’Arce Choke
- Initial Position:
- The D’Arce Choke is commonly set up when you’re in side control or when your opponent is trying to turn to their knees or escape to a neutral position.
- You should have your opponent’s head and arm trapped with your body, ideally with their head closer to your chest.
- Control the Opponent’s Arm:
- Start by using your near-side arm (the arm closest to their head) to grab under your opponent’s neck. Your elbow should be close to their head as you move your arm underneath their neck.
- With your hand, reach around their neck and grab their far-side arm or wrist. Your forearm should be placed across the opponent’s throat with your arm making a connection between their neck and their own arm.
- Position Your Head:
- The next step is to get your head positioned on the far side of your opponent’s head. This is crucial for completing the choke.
- As you position your head around their neck, make sure that the pressure is applied by locking your hands together and pulling their arm across their throat, while keeping your body tight to theirs.
- Lock the Choke:
- To fully lock in the D’Arce choke, lock your hands together. Your grip should resemble a “guillotine” grip, but with your arm and their own arm acting as a barrier around their neck.
- At this point, your chest should be tight against your opponent’s neck. Your body needs to be aligned so that your chest can squeeze, utilizing the leverage of your arms to apply pressure to the neck.
- Tighten and Finish the Submission:
- Tighten the choke by pulling on your opponent’s trapped arm and squeezing with your arms and chest. You should aim to compress their carotid arteries, cutting off blood flow to their brain.
- Posture up slightly if needed and continue to tighten the choke, maintaining full control of their body and head.
- Success of the Submission:
- If applied correctly, the D’Arce choke will make your opponent tap out or lose consciousness as their blood flow is restricted. The key to the D’Arce choke is maintaining tight control over the arm and neck and applying consistent pressure.
3. Defensive Techniques Against the D’Arce Choke
- Escape from Side Control:
- The D’Arce choke is commonly set up from side control, so the best defense is to prevent the choke from being applied in the first place. Posture up quickly and make sure your opponent doesn’t have access to your neck or arm. Always keep your hands and arms tight to your body to avoid being trapped.
- Create Space:
- If your opponent is attempting the D’Arce choke, create space by moving your head out from underneath their arm and neck. Shrimping or rotating your body can help relieve pressure and make it harder for your opponent to complete the choke.
- Keep Your Arm Inside:
- If you’re caught in a position where your arm is trapped across your neck, the most important defense is to keep your arm inside their control. This will prevent your opponent from securing the choke and will allow you to create space and escape.
- Defend with Your Hands:
- If your opponent starts locking in the choke, use your free hand to push against their arm or head, trying to create space. This can disrupt their grip and relieve the pressure they are trying to apply.
4. Counter-Defense for the D’Arce Choke
- Posture Up and Keep the Pressure Off:
- If you find yourself caught in the D’Arce choke, the first step is to posture up to relieve some of the pressure. This makes it harder for your opponent to complete the choke and gives you a better chance of escaping.
- Turn into the Submission:
- A key counter is to turn into your opponent’s body. By rotating your torso, you can potentially disrupt their control, create space around your neck, and make it easier to escape the submission. However, this counter requires precise timing and technique to prevent your opponent from tightening the choke.
- Escape to the Side:
- If you’re stuck in side control, the best counter is often to escape to the far side and out of your opponent’s control. Shrimping away or using your legs to create space can allow you to break free from the D’Arce choke.
- Control the Opponent’s Body:
- While escaping the choke, maintaining some control over your opponent’s body can prevent them from following you or reapplying the submission. By controlling their hips or using your legs, you can block their attempts to finish the D’Arce choke.
5. Keys to Success
- Tight Control Over the Arm and Neck: The key to the D’Arce choke is using your opponent’s own arm against them, trapping it across their neck. Maintaining tight control over both their arm and neck is crucial to securing the submission.
- Body Alignment and Pressure: Proper body alignment is essential to completing the D’Arce choke. Positioning your chest over their neck and locking your grip with the arm around their neck will maximize pressure.
- Consistency of Pressure: Once you’ve locked in the choke, you need to continue applying consistent pressure, using your chest and arms to squeeze. Make sure you don’t loosen your grip as this can give your opponent a chance to escape.
6. Common Mistakes
- Not Tightening the Submission: One common mistake is not applying enough pressure once the choke is set. If your grip is loose or your chest is not tight against their neck, the submission may not be effective.
- Improper Head Positioning: If your head is not positioned correctly (too far away from the neck or in the wrong spot), the choke will lose its effectiveness, allowing your opponent to escape.
- Leaving Space for Escape: Failing to control your opponent’s movements and leaving space around their neck or trapped arm can allow them to defend or escape the choke.
The D’Arce Choke is a powerful and effective submission that combines the leverage of a guillotine-style choke with the use of your opponent’s own arm. With proper technique, control, and consistent pressure, the D’Arce choke is a dangerous submission that can lead to a quick finish.