The Ambush Choke & the Baseball Bat Choke

We all know that many chokes in BJJ are similar to one another. Collar setup, wrist setup and the choking arm. What varies slightly is what does what. Does a tight collar grip help more with a particular choke or does a loose one help? Are you going to apply it from the bottom or from the top? Are you going to move your body to get what you want or are you going to bait your opponent into moving his?

Chokes have fascinated me for a long time. Perhaps that’s been because I was never very good at then. Honestly, if I submit someone by choking them during a match, I’m surprised. My game is to focus on the arms, not the neck. Jeff, on the other hand, likes chokes a whole lot. I can’t remember the last time we rolled where he submitted me with anything other than a choke.

If I had to choose, I’d say there are two chokes I prefer over all others. I’m not quite sure why – perhaps because they feel good or have a high percentage of success. I think body movement adds to it as well. Both of these chokes allow for me to “get into it” and apply them slightly differently than they were designed to be applied.

The first choke I like is called the “Ambush Choke.” In the video below, Marcio Stambowsky demonstrates how this one works. I’m not sure if Marcio is the creator of this choke or if it’s just one of his favorites, but what I do know is that it works. After Jeff came back from one of Marcio’s workshops, he submitted me with this a number of times. It’s extremely sneaky.

Submissions Inc: Ambush Choke by 7th degree Black Belt Marcio Stambowsky

Another choke I like is called the “Baseball Bat Choke.” I have no idea who came up with this one, but I do know it works and works well.

This choke is quite similar to the Ambush Choke I mentioned above, but this one is typically applied from the top. And if you mixed just a few things up, both chokes would look remarkably similar. Just applied from different positions. But that’s how chokes work. The intricacies set them apart.

Baseball Bat Choke

I think I’m bringing these two chokes up because I was the victim of each one last night. Dave caught me in the Ambush Choke and Julian got me in the Baseball Bat Choke. And I was pretty much powerless to stop them. Amazing how that works – how at times I’m almost begging for a submission, simply so I can take a breather.

I’m going to be refining both of these chokes in the coming weeks as well as practicing some defenses. I already have one defense in store for the Baseball Bat, but need to find one for the Ambush.

Baseball Bat Choke Defense