Fighters Only

Issue 095

December 2012

Do you need a reason to master a submission also known as the Dan Severn choke? Pay tribute to the cult legend and UFC Hall of Famer

Pete Irving

Professional fighter

Pete Irving is a professional welterweight fighter and Fighters Only’s resident fight expert.

In the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, back control is defined as having two ‘hooks in’ – both legs placed in between the opponent’s legs – in order to achieve the four-point score. What really constitutes control of the back, however, is maintaining your chest to the opponent’s back. Attempting to finish a short choke involves releasing the underhook, which also creates the opportunity to escape. Enter FO’s inescapable version.

First, here’s the short choke as it shouldn’t be done. As always, not taking the proper steps to break down and neutralize your opponent’s defenses is a recipe for their escape.

FAILED SHORT CHOKE ATTEMPT

1 Pete is on Duncan’s back holding a harness grip (underhook holding the wrist and making a figure-four with the other hand around the neck). Duncan has built his base.

2 Pete anchors the far hand on Duncan’s shoulder, preparing the choke.

3 Pete relinquishes the underhook to attack the neck. As Duncan feels the underhook retract he tripods up.

4 Duncan grabs Pete’s neck with both hands and starts to crank it.

5 Duncan kicks his right leg back, popping Pete’s hook out.

6 Pete falls to the mat and Duncan has north-south pin.

INESCAPABLE SHORT CHOKE

In this version, Pete makes sure to flatten Duncan out before attempting the choke, thereby significantly reducing his ability to tripod up and work against the submission.

1 Pete has Duncan’s back, Duncan has built his base. Pete desists with the choke attack whilst Duncan has his base and underhooks both sides.

2 Pete pulls Duncan’s elbows up with his underhooks linked together in a gable grip and simultaneously drives his hips down.

3 Once his hips touch down, Pete maintains pressure by surfboarding Duncan, pressing his hips down and lifting his chest up.

4 Pete punches the side of Duncan’s head to open up the opportunity for the choke.

5 He follows up by punching his right arm under the neck.

6 Duncan defends the first attempt to dig in the choke so Pete anchors the nearside arm with a wrist control and punches the far side.

7 Pete punches his left arm under the chin. This time Duncan is unable to defend, as his arm is tied off by the wrist control. 8 Pete relinquishes the wrist control.