Baseball Choke

The Baseball Choke is a gi choke that derives its name from the grip used, which resembles holding a baseball bat. This submission uses the lapels of your opponent's gi to constrict the carotid arteries, leading to a blood choke. It's effective from various positions and requires precise grip placement and body movement.
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Mechanics of the Baseball Choke

Grips Overview

  • One hand enters the opponent's collar with a thumb-in grip, while the other hand grips the opposite side of the collar with a fingers-in grip.
  • The grips should resemble how you hold a baseball bat.

Pressure

  • The choke works by pulling the lapels tightly across the sides of the opponent’s neck, cutting off blood flow to the brain.

Finishing

  • You apply pressure by driving your forearms together while twisting your body to generate leverage.

Common Setups for the Baseball Choke

The choke can be applied from different positions depending on your control and the opponent's posture:

Side Control

  • While maintaining control, establish your grips on their lapels. As they begin to turn into you or resist, rotate your body to drive the choke.

North South

  • Transition to this position for optimal leverage. Use your grips and twist your body to apply the choke.

From Guard

  • Set your grips while controlling the opponent's posture. If they pressure forward to pass, you can use their momentum to apply the choke.

As a Counter to a Pass

  • If the opponent attempts a Guard Passes/Knee Cut or other guard pass, you can set the grips and apply the choke as they move forward.

Key Concepts

Grip Fighting

  • Securing the correct grips is crucial. The thumb-in and fingers-in grips must be deep and secure to create the choking pressure.

Pressure and Angles

  • Rotate your body and apply shoulder pressure into the opponent to maximize the choke's effectiveness.

Weight Distribution

  • Use your weight to stay stable while finishing the choke, particularly in top positions like Side Control.
Tips for Success
  • Make sure your grips are tight and the lapels are taut against the neck.
  • Use your entire body, not just your arms, to apply pressure and rotate.
  • Practice transitioning into the choke from different positions to understand timing and angles.

Counter to Baseball Choke

  • Defenders should immediately address the grips by breaking them before the choke tightens.
  • Use Frames or Shrimp to create space and disrupt the attacker's posture.

The Baseball Choke is a high-percentage submission in gi BJJ, especially when paired with effective Grip Fighting and Pressure strategies.

Positioning

The Baseball Choke is a versatile gi choke that can be executed from various positions, leveraging the opponent's lapels to apply strangulation pressure. Below are the positions where the Baseball Choke is commonly executed:

Side Control

Setup

  • Establish the grips while maintaining Side Control pressure. One hand goes thumb-in on the far-side collar, and the other hand goes fingers-in on the near-side collar.

Execution

  • Rotate your body toward North South or apply pressure by driving your shoulder and twisting your torso to tighten the choke.

North South

Setup

Execution

  • Use the rotation of your body and the pressure of your shoulders to finish the choke, often with an effective pivot for added leverage.

Knee on Belly

Setup

  • From Knee on Belly, establish your grips while applying top pressure to keep your opponent pinned.

Execution

Mount

Setup

  • Establish your grips while controlling your opponent from the Mount position.

Execution

Guard

Setup

  • From Guard, establish the grips on your opponent’s lapel. Invite pressure from the opponent to bait them into a passing attempt.

Execution

  • As they drive forward or attempt a pass (e.g., Guard Passes/Knee Cut), rotate your torso and use their momentum to cinch the choke.

During a Takedown or Transition

Setup

  • If you're standing or in a scramble, establish your grips during a takedown or positional transition.

Execution

  • Pull your opponent down into the choke or secure a dominant position like Side Control to finish.

Key Positional Elements

  • The Baseball Choke works best when your grips are established, and you have control over your opponent’s movement or posture.

Positional transitions (e.g., Side Control to North South) often enhance the choke’s tightness and ensure the correct angle.

  • Maintaining pressure and preventing the opponent from defending the grips are critical to success.

Common Path to the Baseball Choke:

The Baseball Choke is effective from multiple positions due to its adaptability and reliance on precise Grip Fighting and Pressure.

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