Chokes as A Defense during an assault

Overall Self Defense Table of Contents

Women's Self Defense Table of Contents

We do not generally advise that the defender get tangled up with the attacker so our first choice is never a submission hold like a choke.  That said there are times when a choke works well.  It will render your attacker unconscious in 5-10 seconds

Below is a Rear Naked Choke.   When possible pull the attacker's head back and down so that his back is arched.

Push his head forward with the hand cupping the back of his head as you pull your front hand back to create a squeezing effect on his blood vessels.

The same choke with a view from the other side.   When possible pull the attacker's head back and down so that his back is arched.

Push his head forward with the hand cupping the back of his head as you pull your front hand back to create a squeezing effect on his blood vessels.

One arm and hand go behind his head, The other slides across his throat.  Push the front arm/hand forward as you pull him forward with the rear arm/hand thus creating a squeezing impact. One of the ways to know you are applying force is to think of pushing the elbow of the front hand past his ear.

Another view of the same choke with one arm and hand behind his head, The other slides across his throat.  Push the front arm/hand forward as you pull him forward with the rear arm/hand thus creating a squeezing impact. One of the ways to know you are applying force is to think of pushing the elbow of the front hand past his ear.

The choke below has much of the same physics as involved in the other two chokes.  One hand goes over his shoulder on on it to grab his clothing while the other hand goes across the front of his throat.  Pull on clothing and push other arm into his throat. One of the ways to know you are applying force is to think of pushing the elbow of the front hand past his ear.