Are Jiu-Jitsu Chokes Safe?

A common belief exists in the jiu-jitsu community, which implies that chokehold submissions are entirely safe. However, the topic of chokehold safety is a bit more nuanced than many practitioners might lead you to believe.

In most cases, chokeholds are safer and less damaging than other martial arts techniques such as strikes and joint locks. However, this does not mean that chokes are entirely harmless. Jiu-jitsu chokeholds can cause damage that can vary in severity based on how the choke is applied.

It is admittedly difficult to give a definitive answer about how dangerous jiu-jitsu chokes are. But if you more about the truth behind how safe these moves are, read on.

What is the Difference between a Choke and a Strangle?

Before we discuss the damage and overall safety, we need to make one distinction clear. Technically, chokes and strangles are not the same, and they each have a different potential to become dangerous. Here is a basic breakdown of the difference between a choke and a strangle:

• Chokes place pressure on the trachea, preventing air from entering the body.

• Strangles place pressure on arteries in the neck, preventing blood flow to the brain.

At first, this distinction seems unnecessary. After all, most jiu-jitsu practitioners refer to all submissions that place pressure on the neck as a "choke." Interestingly, the term "strangle" is rarely used, even though it is often the more applicable term for many neck-related jiu-jitsu submissions.

But this difference between chokes and strangles is worth knowing if you are concerned about safety, as each one can cause damage in a different way.  

What Damage Can a Jiu-Jitsu Choke Cause?

Chokeholds can be both damaging and incredibly painful. The main goal of a choke is to compress your opponent's trachea, making it difficult for air to enter their lungs. This action not only limits the body's oxygen supply but can also harm the trachea itself, as you might expect.

Many people expect that the reduced oxygen supply that accompanies a choke is the main reason chokeholds are unsafe. However, this is not typically the case. Instead, the threat to one's trachea during a choke is often the most prominent concern.

In fact, practitioners who find themselves in a pure chokehold are likely to tap out well before any oxygen deprivation-related injuries occur. The reason for this is that the pressure a choke places on the trachea can be incredibly painful, which usually causes submission before lack of oxygen becomes a significant concern.

But while prolonged oxygen deprivation is only a minimal risk during choke, trachea damage is not. If a practitioner fails to tap out in time, a choke can easily cause injury to the trachea and other sensitive parts of the neck. However, these injuries are rare as most practitioners are wise enough to tap out and respect when their opponent taps out.

What Damage Can a Strangle Cause?

The function of a strangle is a bit different than that of a choke. Rather than cutting off the oxygen supply as it enters the body, a strangle limits oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain. In most instances, this action does not cause immediate injury. However, serious injury is possible when a strangle lasts for too long or when the person receiving the strangle has an underlying medical condition.

Strangles are incredibly effective at causing unconsciousness, even compared to chokes. A strangle places pressure on the carotid arteries that run through the neck, which, after just a few seconds, can cause someone to pass out. But, in most cases, that person will wake up in a few moments with seemingly no harm.

However, the danger of a strangle changes dramatically based on how long it is applied. It's hard to pinpoint the length of time at which a strangle becomes dangerous. But it's safe to assume that a strangle that lasts longer than half a minute has the potential to be quite harmful.

A strangle that lasts too long can cause irreversible damage, including brain damage, strokes, and comas. As you might guess, strangleholds can be deadly in extreme cases as well. Strangles also alter blood flow and blood pressure in a way that can be particularly hazardous for those with preexisting conditions, especially cardiac issues.

How Common are Chokes and Strangles in Jiu-Jitsu?

Chokeholds and strangles are incredibly common, as they are among the most effective and reliable weapons in a jiu-jitsu practitioner's arsenal. The threat of damage, injury, and unconsciousness is what makes chokes and strangles so capable of causing an opponent to submit, which is one of the primary goals of jiu-jitsu.

Interestingly, while chokes and strangles are different from one another, they often occur simultaneously during some techniques. For example, when applied in one manner, a rear naked choke may exclusively target the carotid arteries. With a slightly different application, the same technique may place pressure on both the arteries and the trachea. The same is true for other submissions, such as the guillotine.

The prevalence of chokes and strangles and the seemingly low rate of injury that occurs due to these moves is part of what leads people to the false belief that they are safe. However, as we mentioned in the sections above, chokes and strangles can be dangerous.

It's unrealistic to expect that you can practice jiu-jitsu without experiencing and applying many chokes and strangleholds. Remember that these and other moves come with risks. It's your responsibility to tap out early before you experience any such damage. What's equally important is releasing a choke or strangle as soon as your opponent taps out or any time you feel the move has become unsafe. 

Conclusion

Despite what many practitioners may claim, jiu-jitsu chokes are not completely safe. It's possible to cause damage to someone's trachea during a true choke, and the damage a strangle causes can be even more hazardous. As such, you should always train these moves with immense caution to give you and your training partners the best chance of practicing jiu-jitsu without experiencing irreparable harm.