Ezekiel choke is a BJJ submission where you use your gi sleeve to choke your opponent.

It’s originally a judo chokehold called Sode guruma jime, which means “sleeve wheel constriction.”

In BJJ, the name “Ezekiel” choke was given because of Brazilian Judoka Ezequiel Paraguassu. While training back in the late 80s, preparing for the Olympics, he had trouble getting past the closed guard position. So he used this choke to submit the bottom player or force them to open up their legs for the guard pass.

The Ezekiel choke was one of my favorite submissions as a white belt. I still use it today (although as less of a submission, and more of a position to open up other attacking opportunities). And it’s one of the easiest submissions for BJJ beginners.

In this article, I’ll break down the Ezekiel choke step-by-step — so you can start tapping people with it tonight!

Ezekiel Choke: Table Of Contents

• How To Do The Ezekiel Choke In Gi
  • Ezekiel Choke From Top Mount (Gi)
  • Ezekiel Choke From Bottom Closed Guard (Gi)
• How To Do The Ezekiel Choke In No-Gi
  • Ezekiel Choke From Top Mount (No-Gi)
  • Ezekiel Choke From Bottom Mount (No-Gi)
• How To Improve Your Ezekiel Choke Technique
• Takeaway Thoughts

How To Do The Ezekiel Choke In The Gi

The Ezekiel choke is most well-known in the gi because you’ll use your own gi sleeves to apply the choke.

Ezekiel Choke From Top Mount (Gi)

You’ll get the most submissions with the Ezekiel choke from top mount. Here, you have the most control over your opponent.

Step 1: Smother

Once in mount, lower your chest and smother your opponent with your chest.

This will make you heavier and make them uncomfortable.

Step 2: Wrap the head

Wrap your right arm underneath their head so that you can see your fingers on the left side of their head.

Step 3: Push their head

Lower your head onto the mat, and push your head (and your opponent’s head) to the right.

This will block their vision and make it easier for you to grab a deep sleeve grip.

Step 4: Grab your sleeve

Bring your left arm down, and with your right hand, grab a big chunk of your gi sleeve.

Step 5: Finish the choke

Circle your left wrist across your opponent’s throat and make a cutting motion with your hands for the finish.

You can finish the choke either as a blood choke or a tracheal choke.

Ezekiel Choke From Bottom Closed Guard (Gi)

The Ezekiel choke from closed guard is also effective, but easier to defend than from top mount.

Step 1: Break their posture

Pull your knees towards your face to break your opponent’s posture, bringing their head down.

Step 1: Wrap their head

Wrap your right arm around their head, continuing to keep their posture down with both your legs and arm.

Step 3: Grab your sleeve

Bring your left arm up so that you can grab your left sleeve with your right hand.

Step 4: Finish the choke

Circle your left wrist across your opponent’s throat and make a cutting motion with your hands for the finish.

How To Do The Ezekiel Choke In No-Gi

The no-gi Ezekiel choke looks a bit different because you don’t have any gi sleeves to work with.

However, the choke can still be applied — it just looks a bit different.

Ezekiel Choke From Mount (No-Gi)

The no-gi Ezekiel choke from mount is not as easy as the gi version, but it’s still a useful submission.

Step 1: Smother

Once in mount, lower your chest and smother your opponent with your chest.

This will make you heavier and make them uncomfortable.

Step 2: Wrap the head

Wrap your right arm underneath their head so that you can see your fingers on the left side of their head.

Step 3: Push their head

Lower your head onto the mat, and push your head (and your opponent’s head) to the right.

Step 4: Grab your bicep

Instead of grabbing your sleeve, grab your left bicep.

Step 5: Finish the choke

Circle your fist onto their throat, and push your chest down to finish the choke.

Ezekiel Choke From Bottom Mount (No-Gi)

Aleksei Oleinik has hit this submission twice in the UFC. Here’s how he does it:

Step 1: Wrap their head

Wrap your right arm around their head, continuing to keep their posture down with both your legs and arm.

Step 2: Grab your bicep

Grab your bicep with your right hand.

Step 3: Finish the choke

Circle your fist onto their throat, and squeeze to get the finish.

The Ezekiel choke from the bottom mount is a low-percentage move. But time it right and you’ll hit it against an unsuspecting opponent.

How To Improve Your Ezekiel Choke Technique

1. Learn The Ezekiel Choke Defense

If you want to get better at a particular BJJ submission, learn how to defend it.

The Ezekiel choke is considered a “D-tier” submission, meaning it’s easy to defend.

So, how do you defend it?

If you’re getting choked as the bottom player, bridge to create space, and bring your arms up to defend your neck. Do this as soon as you feel them going for your neck.

If you’re getting choked as the top player, focus on posturing up and bringing your hands up to defend your neck.

Protecting your neck is one of the key principles of BJJ. Don’t forget it!

2. Combine It With Other Techniques

After you hit the Ezekiel choke on your training partners a few times, expect them to be able to defend it.

So, what do you do when they defend it?

Combine it with other techniques and submissions.

For example, if you’re in top mount, and they bring their hands up to block the choke, they have created space along their torso.

Bring your knees up their body and get into high mount or S-mount. Now, you can look for other submissions like the armbar or mounted triangle choke. Punish them for defending your first Ezekiel attack!

Remember: submissions are positions.

If they defend your first submission, use their defense to advance to a new position/submission.

3. Use Specific Training + A BJJ Journal

You’re not going to get better at the Ezekiel choke just by reading this article.

Here’s a challenge for you: in your next class, make it your focus during each roll to hit the Ezekiel choke.

Trying to hit specific moves during sparring is called “specific training” — and it’s how Gordon Ryan masters submissions.

Then, after class, write down in your BJJ journal…

1. What worked (example: “During one roll, I was able to hit the Ezekiel choke from top mount.” )
2. What didn’t work (example: “During another roll, they were able to bridge me over to get into a top position.”)
3. Questions or notes for next class (example: “Ask coach how to stay on top as I’m applying the choke.”)

Do this for a few weeks, and you’ll make the Ezekiel choke one of your deadliest submissions.

NOTE: I teach this specific training and journaling process in my BJJ Journal Of Champions Course.

Takeaway Thoughts

The Ezekiel choke is one of the easiest and most effective BJJ submissions for white belts.

It carried me through many of those rough white belt days. As a purple belt, I still use it on unsuspecting newbies.

Although it’s relatively easy to defend, it opens up other attack opportunities.

So it’s a great way to put together one of your first few combinations.

What are YOUR thoughts on the choke? Is it legit, or is it just a cheesy move?

And if you hit it tonight in class, leave a comment and let me know!

I LOVE a good Ezekiel choke.

Happy rolling. 🤙

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Tsavo Neal

Tsavo is the founder of BJJ Equipment, author of BJJ For Beginners, creator of the BJJ Missions app, and a brown belt instructor at InFighting. He launched BJJ Equipment to help grapplers at every belt level train smarter, make faster progress, and find the best gear for their game.