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  • Writer's pictureAnon White Belt

To Choke or Not to Choke? Unconscious!


DISCLAIMER: PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN JIU JITSU. YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY IS YOUR OWN AND YOU SHOULD ACT ON YOUR OWN DISCRETION, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU ON THE INTERNET. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! IT IS NOT OKAY TO CHOKE SOMEONE UNLESS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION IN BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU AT A LICENCED AND INSURED FACILITY.

Tap or Nap BJJ Report
Should you put your partner to sleep if they don't tap?

I’m scared to ask but I keep hearing it from more people every day! Should I get choked out and be put to sleep just to see what it’s like? I hear that there is a sense of accomplishment when this happens. A rite of passage per se’. I hear stories of that time when a student thought they were ok and the next thing you know they wake up. Oddly enough I hear it’s a euphoric experience.. I am not sure if at all this is a good idea. In fact it seems to be a horrible idea.


There is always a person that I imagine in every academy that has to push the limits and see how far they can take it. We all want to see how far we can last before we have to tap. Is this a good or bad idea? At what point do we cross the blurred lines of practicing safe. That being said, there’s value in learning how to swim in deep waters.


Here is a scenario: you take your opponents back; he is a higher rank than you. He doesn't want to tap for whatever reason (ego, self confidence or stupidity). The class is rather large (and your professor happens to be coaching another set of students) and you put him to sleep. You're not sure however that he is asleep and squeezed tighter, he goes limp. Let's take it further…. He doesn't respond right away to being revived…



BJJ Report Learn to tap
How should we properly learn to tap while being choked?

Maybe some students don’t know or haven't been instructed when to tap. Maybe they think they can hold the line a bit more than they are truly able to and in fact this could be why people get injured more than not. Should there be a mandatory class that literally has the professor choke each student out or at least to a critical point where they must

tap or fall asleep. YES/NO?


I remember when I was told how to tap it s was pretty casual “hey anonymous white belt” if you feel your in danger, just tap or say tap”


Getting choked to unconsciousness is never fun, or is it. Oh, and don't forget that crazy noise you hear when the last second of the choke happens...similar to when neo is released from the matrix… “ZZzzZZzzZZZzooooUUuUuHHHhHhhhh”



BJJ Report Choking can get us arrested
Can we go to prison for choking someone in a fight?

Choking is simulating murder, correct? If a police officer sees you doing this to another person could you be charged with attempted murder? I am not an attorney and don't know the legal answer but I imagine I would be arrested. Just saying. Does your Jiu Jitsu professor go over this in class while teaching this to you? I feel like it could be important.


Becoming accustomed to stressful situations is the key to success in Jiu Jitsu across all arenas whether it be on IBJJF approved mats, or the mean streets of whatever dive bar you picked a fight in. Being able to identify when a strangle will put you out, and staying calm as your air supply is dwindling is the key to turning a shit situation into a win.


What is the best way to approach this? Within reason, I think it’s important to discover your limits. Having an instinctual reference will help you make better tactical decisions in the heat of the moment when someone has a deep rear naked strangle or Bow & Arrow slapped on is standard. Being able to know how many seconds you have before lights out can help you to create the fastest way to get out or make the decision to submit.


I guess I still have a lot to learn because after all I am still a white belt,


Yours truly,

Anonymous White Belt


#bjjreport #bjjnews #mmanews #bjjmagazine #bjjarticles



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