The Art of the Finish: Deconstructing Submissions in MMA
Submissions are the ultimate expression of control in combat sports, a decisive victory born from technique and leverage rather than blunt force. While KOs and TKOs deliver immediate, visceral impact, a well-executed submission represents a strategic dismantling of an opponent’s defense, forcing them to concede or face serious injury. In MMA, where athletes train across disciplines, the submission game has evolved into a complex interplay of chokes, joint locks, and less common control holds. Understanding these categories is crucial for appreciating the technical depth of the sport and the nuanced strategies employed by grapplers. This article breaks down the primary types of submissions seen in professional mixed martial arts, delving into their mechanics, common variations, and why they are such a potent weapon in a fighter’s arsenal.
Chokes: Cutting Off the Supply
Chokes are perhaps the most frequently seen and effective submission type in MMA. Their goal is to restrict blood flow to the brain (a blood choke) or airflow to the lungs (an air choke or tracheal compression), inducing unconsciousness or severe discomfort that forces a tap. Blood chokes are generally more efficient and safer, as they require less force to be effective and cause unconsciousness rapidly without significant injury to the trachea. Air chokes, while painful, are less common as a primary finish due to the higher risk of damage to the throat and the greater amount of force required. The underlying principle of most chokes is to apply pressure to the carotid arteries and/or jugular veins in the neck.
Blood Chokes: The Silent Finishes
Blood chokes are devastatingly effective because they exploit a critical physiological vulnerability. By compressing the carotid arteries, which supply oxygenated blood to the brain, blood flow is rapidly diminished. This leads to a quick loss of consciousness, often within seconds if applied correctly. The beauty of a well-executed blood choke is its efficiency; it doesn’t require immense physical strength as much as precise positioning and leverage.
Rear-Naked Choke (RNC)
The undisputed king of MMA submissions, the rear-naked choke is responsible for countless finishes across all weight classes. Executed from the opponent’s back, it involves wrapping one arm around the neck, positioning the forearm over the carotid arteries, and then reinforcing that arm with the second hand (often grabbing the bicep of the choking arm). The free hand typically goes behind the opponent’s head, or sometimes cups their shoulder, for additional control and to drive their head forward into the choke. The key mechanics involve a tight grip, hands locked, and a squeezing motion combined with proper head and body positioning to prevent escape. Its effectiveness stems from the attacker being completely behind the opponent, making defense extremely difficult once the choke is locked in. There are variations, such as gripping the wrist of the choking arm with the other hand (often called a “palm-to-palm” grip or “figure-four” grip in some contexts). The critical element is isolating the neck and applying inward pressure.
Guillotine Choke
The guillotine choke is a front-headlock choke, typically applied when an opponent shoots for a takedown or is otherwise in a vulnerable forward-bent position. The choking arm goes under the opponent’s neck, similar to the RNC, but from the front. The hand grips the wrist of the choking arm, or cups the back of the head, and pressure is applied by arching the back and pulling the opponent’s head upwards while driving their chin into their own chest. The goal is to compress the carotid arteries with the forearm, often against the opponent’s shoulder or bicep. Various setups exist, including standing guillotines, guard guillotines (often finished with the legs), and even side guillotines. Its effectiveness is often tied to controlling the opponent’s posture, preventing them from relieving pressure by sitting up or turning their head.
Triangle Choke
A highly technical and visually impressive submission, the triangle choke is applied from the guard, typically closed guard or butterfly guard. The fighter uses their legs to form a triangle around the opponent’s neck and one arm, while the other arm is trapped on the outside. One leg goes over the neck, the other leg threads under the armpit and locks onto the shin of the first leg. The key is to control the opponent’s posture, elevate their head, and pull down on their head with one or both hands, while squeezing the thighs together. The pressure from the leg across the neck, combined with the opponent’s own arm being trapped, creates the carotid artery compression. Proper angle and hip control are vital for tightening the choke. Subtleties like pulling the head, securing the posture, and adjusting the angle differentiate a strong triangle from a weak one.
Arm-Triangle Choke
Similar in principle to the regular triangle choke, but executed with the arms. The arm-triangle choke is a side-control or mount submission where one arm is threaded under the opponent’s neck and emerges on the other side, while the opponent’s arm on that side is trapped. The choking arm’s hand then grips the bicep of the other arm (which is usually helping secure the opponent’s trapped arm or head). Pressure is applied by squeezing the bicep into the carotid artery and driving the head downwards, often by switching hips or sprawling out to apply additional body pressure. Common setups include passing guard into side control or transitioning from mount. The key is to ensure the opponent’s neck is deeply engaged within the “triangle” formed by the two arms and their own trapped arm.
Air Chokes (Tracheal Compressions)
While less common as a primary finishing technique due to their potential for injury and the higher resistance an opponent can offer, air chokes do exist and can be highly effective at inducing a tap through severe pain and discomfort. They target the trachea, restricting airflow directly.
Squeeze Choke/Forearm Choke
This often happens as an incidental outcome of a poorly applied blood choke, or as a conscious attempt to inflict pain. Essentially, pressure is applied directly to the trachea with the forearm, bicep, or even the wrist. While it can cause a tap, it’s generally considered less efficient and more dangerous than a blood choke, as it can cause damage to the larynx or esophagus. It relies on brute force rather than precise arterial compression.
North-South Choke
The north-south choke can be either a blood choke or an air choke, depending on the precise mechanics. When applied as a blood choke, it involves the attacker in a north-south position (head-to-head, bodies perpendicular), using their shoulder and bicep to compress the carotid arteries. However, it can also be applied as a powerful tracheal compression if the shoulder is driven directly into the windpipe. Its effectiveness often comes from the extreme pressure applied through the entire body weight.
Joint Locks: Bending Beyond Limits
Joint locks are submissions that target the joints of the human body, forcing them into positions beyond their normal range of motion. The goal is to cause extreme pain and/or damage to the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage around the joint, compelling a tap. Unlike chokes, which can lead to unconsciousness, joint locks primarily rely on pain compliance or the threat of severe injury. They require precise control over the limb being attacked and often specific body positioning to generate maximum leverage. Common targets include the elbow, shoulder, knee, and ankle.
Arm Locks: Elbows and Shoulders Under Siege
Arm locks are a staple of BJJ and judo, translating effectively into MMA. They target the elbow and shoulder joints, which are relatively exposed and susceptible to hyperextension or twisting.
Armbar (Juji Gatame)
The armbar is one of the most iconic joint locks in all of grappling. It aims to hyperextend the opponent’s elbow joint. The most common variation involves isolating one of the opponent’s arms, typically from the guard or mount, and positioning the attacker’s hips directly against the opponent’s elbow. The attacker then secures the opponent’s arm between their legs, gripping the wrist to prevent rotation, and uses their legs to control the opponent’s body. Pressure is applied by bridging the hips and extending the legs, driving the opponent’s elbow into hyperextension. Proper technique requires keeping the opponent’s thumb pointed upwards to ensure the elbow bends in the correct direction and controlling their posture to prevent escape. There are flying armbars, standing armbars, and variations from nearly every position.
Kimura (Reverse Ude-Garami)
Named after Masahiko Kimura, who famously defeated Helio Gracie with this technique, the Kimura is a shoulder lock that also applies pressure to the elbow. It involves grabbing the opponent’s wrist with one hand and their own bicep (or elbow) with the other, forming a “figure-four” grip. The attacker then controls the opponent’s upper body and rotates the trapped arm behind their back and upwards, or hyperextends it laterally across their body. This twisting and hyperextension torque the shoulder joint and can also damage the elbow. It’s often applied from side control, half guard, or mount. The key is isolating the arm and creating leverage to rotate the shoulder past its limit.
Americana (Keylock / Ude-Garami)
The Americana is a shoulder lock, often considered the “opposite” of the Kimura. It is applied when the opponent’s arm is flat on the mat, typically from side control or mount. The attacker grabs the opponent’s wrist with one hand and then uses their other hand to secure the opponent’s tricep or forearm, forming a “figure-four” grip over the top. Pressure is applied by lifting the opponent’s elbow towards their head while driving the wrist down towards their hips, externally rotating and hyperextending the shoulder joint. Like the Kimura, it can also put stress on the elbow. Control over the opponent’s body and preventing them from turning out are crucial for the Americana’s success.
Omoplata
The omoplata is a shoulder lock applied using the legs, typically from the guard. It involves trapping one of the opponent’s arms with the attacker’s legs, using one leg to pin the opponent’s shoulder to the mat and the other leg to control their back and head. The attacker then pushes the opponent’s arm outwards and upwards, rotating their shoulder. This puts immense pressure on the shoulder joint, forcing a tap. It requires precise hip movement and posture control to prevent the opponent from rolling out or stacking. The omoplata is highly versatile and can transition into sweeps or other submissions if the initial attempt fails.
Leg Locks: Targeting the Lower Limbs
Leg locks have grown significantly in popularity and effectiveness in modern MMA, often seen in submission grappling specialist’s arsenals. They target the knee and ankle joints, which, like the arms, are susceptible to hyperextension, torsion, and dislocation.
Heel Hook
The heel hook is arguably the most dangerous and fastest-acting leg lock, often resulting in severe knee damage if not tapped quickly. It involves grabbing the opponent’s heel and twisting it, while simultaneously controlling the knee joint to prevent rotation. The rotational force applied to the heel torques the entire knee, particularly the ACL and meniscus, forcing the joint past its lateral and rotational limits. There are various entries and positions for heel hooks (inside, outside), but the principle remains the same: isolate the heel and twist, while immobilizing the knee. Due to its potency, many promotions have rules regarding its legality, and it’s often taught with extreme caution.
Kneebar (Ashi Hishigi)
The kneebar aims to hyperextend the opponent’s knee joint, similar to an armbar on the arm. The attacker isolates one of the opponent’s legs, positioning their hips against the opponent’s knee joint. They then control the opponent’s foot or shin and extend their own legs and hips, driving the knee into hyperextension. The critical difference from an armbar is the greater strength and size of the leg, meaning more leverage is often required. It’s often entered from a leg entanglement position or from top control.
Ankle Lock (Straight Ankle Lock / Achilles Lock)
The straight ankle lock, or Achilles lock, applies pressure to the ankle joint and the Achilles tendon. The attacker traps the opponent’s foot under their armpit, often with their forearm across the Achilles tendon. They then control the opponent’s leg with their own legs (e.g., in a figure-four position) and extend their hips, driving the top of the opponent’s foot into dorsiflexion while compressing the Achilles tendon. This can cause severe pain and damage to the ankle joint and surrounding ligaments. It’s a fundamental leg lock, often one of the first taught.
Less Common Holds and Spinal Locks
While chokes and joint locks dominate the submission landscape, other types of holds exist that can lead to a tap. These often rely on extreme pressure to the spine, neck, or body, causing intense discomfort or the threat of severe injury. They are less frequently seen as direct finishes in MMA due to the difficulty of setup and the opponent’s ability to defend.
Spinal Locks
Spinal locks aim to twist or compress the spinal column, primarily the neck or lower back. Due to the extreme danger involved, these are often illegal or heavily regulated in many grappling competitions and MMA.
Neck Crank
A neck crank applies rotational or compressive force directly to the opponent’s neck, without necessarily targeting blood flow. This can cause severe cervical spine injury if applied with full force. Techniques like the can opener (from guard, pulling the opponent’s head down) or certain variations of neck pressure can be considered neck cranks. While they can force a tap through immense pain, the risk of injury often makes them discouraged or illegal. Many “chokes” can inadvertently become neck cranks if applied incorrectly or without sufficient control over the opponent’s head and neck.
Twister
Made famous in BJJ by Eddie Bravo, the twister is a full-body spinal lock that combines a neck crank with a leg entanglement. It involves isolating an opponent’s head and one leg, then twisting their spine in opposite directions. While incredibly painful and effective, its complexity and high risk of spinal injury mean it’s rarely seen as a clean finish in professional MMA, although fighters like Tony Ferguson have attempted it.
The Strategic Importance of Submissions
| Submission Type | Description | Common Targets | Difficulty Level | Typical Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear Naked Choke | Choke applied from behind opponent, cutting off blood flow to the brain. | Neck (carotid arteries) | Medium | Finishing move, often from back control |
| Armbar | Hyperextends the elbow joint by isolating the arm. | Elbow joint | Medium | Common from guard or mount positions |
| Triangle Choke | Uses legs to choke opponent by compressing the neck and arm. | Neck and arm | High | Often applied from guard |
| Guillotine Choke | Choke applied by wrapping arm around opponent’s neck from the front. | Neck (windpipe or carotid arteries) | Medium | Used during takedown attempts |
| Kimura | Shoulder lock that twists the arm behind the back. | Shoulder joint | High | Used to control or submit opponent from various positions |
| Heel Hook | Targets the ligaments of the knee by twisting the heel. | Knee ligaments | Very High | Effective leg lock, often used in no-gi grappling |
| Omoplata | Shoulder lock using the legs to trap the opponent’s arm. | Shoulder joint | High | Used from guard position |
Submissions are more than just a way to win; they are a fundamental pillar of MMA strategy. A fighter with a potent submission game can dictate the pace and location of a fight, forcing opponents to respect their grappling threats. This respect can open up striking opportunities, as opponents become hesitant to shoot for takedowns or engage in close-quarters grappling for fear of being submitted.
Furthermore, a strong submission defense is just as critical. Fighters must understand how to recognize submission attempts, defend them, and escape to avoid tapping or being caught. This involves intricate hand fighting, hip movements, and positional awareness. The evolution of “submission grappling” as a standalone sport has further pushed the boundaries of what is possible, with athletes developing intricate chains of attacks and defenses.
In a sport that constantly evolves, the submission game continues to adapt. New entries, transitions, and variations of established techniques are always being developed. From the precise pressure of a rear-naked choke to the devastating torque of a heel hook, submissions represent the pinnacle of technical skill and strategic thinking in the cage, offering a definitive and often elegant path to victory.
