If you understand the ezekiel choke, it’s an attack that you can deploy from many different angles.

And I believe one of the best places to begin learning its fundamentals is from the mount. That’s why that will be our focus here.

Be warned, though.

My method of executing the ezekiel choke from mount is different than most. In fact, I have never seen another person teach it the way I do, and my variation is the result of many years of trial and error.

There are a few things that I want you to understand before we begin, though.

First, I  abandoned the sleeve because I wanted an ezekiel choke from mount that would work the same way with and without the gi, and once I did, I realized that the mechanics required to make it work led to more effective and efficient blood chokes.

In fact, the first time I ever put someone to sleep in a tournament, it was with the ezekiel choke in a no-gi match.

Second, the number one reason people struggle with my variation of the choke is that they try to pressure in with their shoulder instead of just slowly flexing all the muscles in their arms to constrict the space. That’s why when troubleshooting anyone’s execution, I always look at their shoulder position. It should be under the jawline. Often though, people allow it to raise too high.

And third, there is a lot of details that goes into executing the ezekiel, but when done right, it is one of the cleanest blood chokes in existence.

 Anyway, check it out, and then we’ll delve into it deeper.

The No-Sleeve Ezekiel Choke

Steps for Execution

• Get one arm under the head as deep as possible. You should be able to reach past their shoulder at least with that hand.
• Shift your weight back so that your shoulder drops below their jawline.
• Drop your head down on the opposite side of your first arm, then drive your head into the side of their jaw to make them look away. That clears the path to their neck.
• Slide the blade of your second hand in across their neck. The goal is to make contact with the carotid artery, and you don’t have to go as deep as possible.
• Walk your first hand up the second forearm towards the fingers. The goal is to elevate their head, and it’s almost like you’re creating butterfly wings with your hands.
• Once the grips are set, keep your elbows on the mat and your shoulder back. All force must come from the slow flexing of the forearms, biceps and shoulders. There must be no forward lean, and your shoulder must stay below the jawline. If the configuration of your grips is right, the choke will come on swiftly, and it will be a clean blood choke.

Why You Should Use This

So how would this method improve your ezekiel choke?

On one hand, you can say that it is just a variation of the submission. But where it excels, first and foremost, is that it can be done both with and without the gi. That means that if you master this one method, you’ll be able to execute it with no modifications regardless of grappling style.

The second reason it excels is that it can be used as a fast and lethal attacks in transitional positions as well. I’ve done it in mid pass, in hip smash position, from the top of half guard, and in many situations. All that is required is a flat and immobile opponent and connection to the head.

Hell, there have been periods of time when I have stopped using it just because I felt that it was too easy, and every time I add it back to the rotation, it feels like cheating.

Don’t take my word for it though.

Give it a try.

(Oh, if you want to see a close up view of the choke execution, you can find it here: https://www.kennethbrownbjj.com/no-sleeve-ezekiel-choke/)