What is a guillotine choke?

The guillotine choke is a front headlock submission that attacks the neck from the front - one of the most fundamental and high-percentage chokes in BJJ and MMA. To apply it: wrap your arm around your opponent's neck (like a headlock), clasp your hands together, and squeeze while lifting your hips or arching back. The choke works by compressing the trachea (air choke) or carotid arteries (blood choke) depending on arm position. Guillotines can be finished standing, from closed guard, half guard, or even from top position. The most common setup is as a counter to sloppy takedown attempts - when someone shoots with their head down, they are walking into a guillotine. Key variations include: arm-in guillotine (their arm is trapped inside), high elbow guillotine (Marcelotine), and ten-finger guillotine. The guillotine is simple to learn but takes years to master the subtle details of grip, angle, and finishing mechanics.