Buggy Choke

What is the Buggy Choke? (Definition & Historical Context)

The Buggy Choke is a head-and-arm choke executed primarily from bottom positions, most notably bottom side control. It traps the opponent's neck and one arm between the practitioner's legs and arms, functioning as a hybrid between a Triangle Choke and an Arm Triangle Choke. By locking the legs around the opponent's shoulder and leveraging the arm or lat muscle against the opposite side of their neck, the choke compresses both carotid arteries, resulting in a highly effective blood choke. Originating around 2016 by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu white belt Austin Hardt, the Buggy Choke gained prominence after being successfully utilized by elite no-gi competitors such as Kade Ruotolo.

Step-by-Step Guide to Executing the Buggy Choke from Bottom Side Control

To effectively apply the Buggy Choke from bottom side control, practitioners must adhere to precise mechanical details:

1. Begin by turning onto your side, facing your opponent, rather than remaining flat on your back.
2. Elevate your top leg high, creating sufficient space to thread your top-side arm deeply behind your knee, effectively trapping your opponent's head and one arm.
3. Lock your legs into a tight figure-four (triangle) around your opponent's trapped arm and shoulder, pointing your toes upward and driving your heel downward to maximize pressure.
4. Reinforce the choke structure by securing a palm-to-palm grip around your opponent's head or gripping your own leg.
5. Apply dual pressure by squeezing your arms, crunching your torso inward, and driving your legs downward, compressing both carotid arteries simultaneously.

Key Mechanical Details:

• Deep arm threading behind the knee (requires flexibility).
• Maintaining a side-facing position.
• Ensuring a tight leg triangle for optimal choking pressure.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls When Applying the Buggy Choke

Several common errors can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the Buggy Choke:

• Remaining flat on your back, which severely limits your ability to lock the choke.
• Failing to thread your arm deeply enough behind your knee, resulting in weak grip and insufficient pressure.
• Not securing a tight leg triangle (e.g., loosely crossing ankles or leaving legs slack), diminishing choking power.
• Applying insufficient total pressure—practitioners must actively squeeze their arms and legs while curling inward.
• Ignoring opponent counters, such as strong crossfaces or hip blocking, which can neutralize the choke attempt.
• Forcing the move without adequate hip flexibility, risking self-injury, particularly knee ligament strain.

Successful execution demands correct angles, tight positioning, and awareness of defensive counters.

Effective Defenses and Escapes Against the Buggy Choke

Preventing the Buggy Choke from being established is the most effective defensive strategy:

• Maintain strong posture, avoiding situations where your head is pulled down next to your opponent's body.
• Block your opponent's leg at their hip or thigh with your elbow or hand to prevent initial leg threading.
• Employ a heavy crossface and maintain low, controlled weight distribution on your opponent's hips to flatten them and deny necessary space.
• If you sense a choke attempt, immediately push your opponent's head or neck away with your forearm to disrupt their alignment.
• Transitioning out of side control early, before the choke is fully locked, is crucial.

Once the Buggy Choke is fully locked, escape options become extremely limited. A last-resort counter involves applying shoulder pressure (similar to a Von Flue Choke) against your opponent's neck to encourage release, though this is considered low-percentage.

Strategic Applications and Tactical Considerations for the Buggy Choke

The Buggy Choke is primarily employed as a surprise submission from bottom side control or similar pinned positions, effectively turning disadvantageous scenarios into submission opportunities. Its unexpected nature frequently catches top-positioned opponents off guard, making it particularly popular in no-gi grappling, where the faster pace and absence of gi grips provide more opportunities for bottom players to execute the choke. High-level no-gi athletes have successfully utilized this technique in competition.

In gi grappling, the Buggy Choke is less common due to increased control from gi grips, which can hinder leg movement and choke setups. Nevertheless, it occasionally appears as a last-resort or "Hail Mary" submission when conventional escapes fail. Additionally, threatening the Buggy Choke can strategically induce scrambles, forcing the top player to adjust and potentially allowing the bottom player to recover guard or initiate sweeps.

Due to its reliance on flexibility, limb length, and creativity, the Buggy Choke is generally considered a situational weapon rather than a fundamental technique. Practitioners with suitable physical attributes and innovative grappling styles can integrate it effectively into their arsenal, though it should complement—not replace—essential positional escapes and fundamental defensive strategies.