Marine Corps Martial Arts Tan Belt - Rear Choke

This section focuses on tan belt techniques used by the Marine Corps martial arts program. This page examines the rear choke technique used in the Marine Corps martial arts program. Information from Public Domain Document, MCRP 3-02B, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP).

For more Marine Corps techniques, please visit the main Marine Corps Martial Arts Program section.

Rear Choke

The rear choke is a blood choke performed when you are behind the aggressor, the aggressor is on the deck, or when you are taking the aggressor to the deck. When teaching the rear choke, do not begin by having students execute the entire technique. Instead, walk the students through the technique, step by step, beginning from a kneeling position and working up to a standing position.

Technique

From a Kneeling Position

~ Begin with the aggressor kneeling on the deck and you standing behind him.
~ With your right arm, reach over the aggressor’s right shoulder and hook the bend of your arm around his neck. Ensure the aggressor’s windpipe is positioned within the bend of your arm, but pressure is not being exerted on his windpipe.
~ Your chest should be against your aggressor’s back.
~ With your left hand, clasp both hands together, palm-on-palm, with your right palm facing the deck.
~ Exert pressure with your biceps and forearm on both sides of the aggressor’s neck on his carotid arteries. Pressure should be exerted with the forearm along the radius bone and the knuckles of the right hand should be facing straight up.
~ Ensure that the aggressor’s windpipe is positioned within the bend of your arm, but pressure is not being exerted on his windpipe.
~ While maintaining pressure with your biceps and forearm on both sides of the neck, draw the aggressor closer to you by drawing your right arm in.
~ To increase the effectiveness of the choke, apply forward pressure to the back of the aggressor’s head with your head by bending your neck forward. See figure 2-35.

From the Standing Position

If the aggressor is shorter than you, the procedures are the same as from a kneeling position. If the aggressor is taller than you or the aggressor is wearing bulky gear or a pack on his back, you must get the aggressor in a position where you can reach around his neck and gain leverage to execute the choke.
~ Begin by standing behind the aggressor.
~ Break the aggressor down by reaching over the aggressor’s right shoulder with your right arm as you hook his chin, face, or neck with your hand, wrist, or forearm.
~ Step or push on the area behind the aggressor’s knee with your foot. This will set the aggressor off balance and cause him to bend at the knees and fall forward.
~ As the aggressor is brought down, pull back on the aggressor’s chin and slide your right forearm around his neck, hooking the bend of your arm around his neck.
~ You are now in position to execute the choke. The steps are the same as from the kneeling position. See figure 2-36.

Return to Previous Page | Continue to Next Page

References

1. Information from Public Domain Document, MCRP 3-02B, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), http://www.marines.mil/News/Publications/ELECTRONICLIBRARY.aspx, Added - 03/19/15