Choke Defense

Chokes are difficult to get out of once they are applied, so the best defense is to stop them from being applied. If you are aware of the possibility of chokes and know some basic defenses against them, you will be able to defend against them. Most people will tense their neck and shoulder muscles when they feel a choke being attempted, but this makes you even more susceptible to choking. Whereas, if you are relaxed and yielding, you may be able to slide out of the choke.

Front Choke Defense. When choked from the front, you may poke at the eyes, kick the shins, or smash the points of your elbows into the arms and bounce off them into the face, while stepping backward. If it is too late for this, turn sideways and raise one shoulder an swing arm over the choking arms to release some of the pressure, while mounting a fierce counterattack.

Rear Choke Defense. Instantly drop, turn, and attack the face. You only have a split second before you will weaken form the choke so you must react instantly. If attacker is choking with straight arms, punch one arm straight up, rotate body to that side, swing the arm over and under the attackers arms, and lift the arms under the elbows. This will break the choke and permit counterattacks.