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The lateral vascular neck restraint is a very potent chokehold.

Stranglehold redirects here. For the game, see Stranglehold (video game). For the song, see Stranglehold (song). For the band, see Chokehold (band).

A chokehold or stranglehold¹ (in budo referred to as shime-waza, 絞技, "constriction technique"^[1]) is a grappling hold that strangles the opponent, and leads to unconsciousness or even death. Chokeholds are practiced and used in martial arts, combat sports, self-defense, law-enforcement and in military hand to hand combat application. They are generally considered superior compared to brute-force manual strangling, which usually requires a large disparity in physical strength to be effective.^[2] Instead of simply using the fingers or arms to attempt to crush the neck, chokeholds effectively use leverage such as figure-four holds or collar holds that use the clothes to assist in the strangle. Depending on the reaction of the victim, it may compress the airway, interfere with the flow of blood in the neck, or work as a combination of the two (see the 'General' section in the article on strangling for further detail).

An air choke or tracheal choke specifically refers to a chokehold that compresses the upper airway (trachea, larynx or laryngopharynx), hence interfering with breathing, and leading to asphyxia. Although less effective at inducing unconsciousness than its vascular counterpart, the air choke causes excruciating pain and air hunger,^[2] and in combat sports a fighter will usually submit to such a submission hold.^[3] Air chokes have been associated with fractures of the larynx or hyoid bone,^[4] and are considered less safe than blood chokes to practice. The common law-enforcement bar arm choke is an air choke done by placing the forearm across the front of the neck from behind. The free hand grabs the wrist and pulls back the forearm, hence driving the forearm (usually the radius bone) into the front of the neck.^[4]

This chokehold can be either a blood or air choke depending on how the head is rotated.

A blood choke or carotid restraint specifically refers to a chokehold that compresses one or both carotid arteries and/or the jugular veins without compressing the airway, hence causing cerebral ischemia and a temporary hypoxic condition in the brain.^[5] Regardless of who the opponent is, a well applied blood choke leads to unconsciousness in 4-10 seconds, and if released, the subject usually regains consciousness in double the time the choke was applied after he/she had blacked out (e.g. Choke applied for 15 seconds after person passed out results in the person regaining consciousness 30 seconds later). Compared to traditional manual strangulation, properly applied blood chokes require little physical strength, and can be applied successfully by a comparatively weak person.^[3] Blood chokes are considered safe for practice and application,^[1] although being a lethal technique when held long enough. In Judo, no deaths have been attributed directly to the usage of blood chokes.^[3]

Most chokeholds featured in combat sports and martial arts are blood chokes, although some air chokes or combinations occur as well. Blood chokes, especially the rear naked choke (mata leão), triangle chokes, or gi chokes, are commonly used as submission holds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In Judo, chokeholds are used but are often subject to restrictions based on age or rank. Chokeholds are not allowed in Sport Sambo but are allowed in Combat Sambo. The chokeholds used in Catch wrestling are the inspiration for the "chokeholds" in modern professional wrestling performances. Due to the effectiveness of chokeholds and their popularity in a wide variety of martial arts, they are often used to force submissions in mixed martial art competitions, such as Pride FC and UFC, and submission grappling tournaments, such as ADCC.

The law-enforcement lateral vascular neck restraint (also called sleeper hold) is a widely taught blood choke in law enforcement, and is performed from the behind by putting an arm around the neck with the crook of the elbow over the midline of the neck. By pinching the arm together while assisting with the free hand, the carotid arteries and jugular veins are compressed on both sides of the neck. This hold does not put any pressure on the airway, but can quickly turn into an air choke if the person being strangled resists the hold by attempting to turn around.^[4]

Due to risks of fatal injuries, law enforcement agencies may discourage, restrict, or forbid its use. The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, prohibited its officers from using the air choke and restricted use of the carotid hold to instances where death or serious bodily injury was threatened in about 1985, after routinely using chokeholds for many years.^[6] The Singapore Police Force does not include any form of chokehold procedures in its unarmed defensive techniques.

• Anaconda choke — Choke starting from the north-south position using a role and a similar approach as in the guillotine choke except that a roll is involved.
• Arm triangle choke — Similar to the leg triangle choke except that it is performed from above a grounded opponent using the arms.
• Gi-choke — Any choke applied by using the own or the opponents gi (i.e. uniform), most commonly used in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Example: Ezequiel choke).
• Gogoplata — Performed by using the one of the legs from the rubber guard, putting ones shin it on the wind pipe of an opponent and pulling the head down.
• Guillotine choke — Applied in front of and above the opponent, holding their neck in the crook of the elbow. A common finishing hold in mixed martial arts.^[7]
• North/South choke — Applied from the north-south position with opponent facing up. Uses the biceps to cut off blood flow on one side of the neck. Takes longer than most chokeholds to take effect.
• Rear figure four choke — Applied from behind the opponent similarly to the rear naked choke except the opposite hand is used to apply pressure to the back of the opponent's head and lock in the attacker's choking arm.
• Rear naked choke — Applied from behind the opponent, by holding their neck in the crook of the elbow and pushing on their head. A simple and effective chokehold, it is a common finishing hold in mixed martial arts competition.^[7]
• Triangle choke — Applied from below, with the opponent's neck trapped in a triangle formed by their own arm and the attacker's thigh and calf. A top finishing hold in mixed martial arts.^[7]

• Choking game
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Judo
• Compression lock
• Joint lock
• Grapple tackle - used in rugby football

• Hadakajime - Air or Blood Choke?. Discussion about whether hadakajime can be classified as an air or blood choke.