Sode guruma jime (“sleeve wheel constriction”) is a type of Judo chokehold, which compresses the opponent’s trachea or the carotid arteries. The technique can be executed from a variety of positions, but is generally performed by wrapping one arm behind the opponent’s head and grasping onto the sleeve of the gi with the opposite hand. While holding onto the sleeve for leverage, the opposite forearm is brought down across the throat and clinched tight. The choke is directly aided by the use of a gi but has also been adapted for no-gi application.

Sode guruma jime is widely known as an Ezequiel or Ezekiel choke (Portuguese: estrangulamento Ezequiel) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The chokehold was renamed in memory of Ezequiel Paraguassu, a Brazilian judoka. Paraguassu reportedly had difficulty in passing the guards of jiu-jitsu practitioners at Carlson Gracie’s academy and instead, he had managed to use sode guruma jime successfully inside their guards.

The legendary Renzo Gracie recently had a BJJ camp and seminar at the famous Frota Academy where he showed some amazing details to his notorious Ezekiel and Reverse Ezekiel choke.

Step 1:

As your opponent looks to escape with double underhooks from bottom, lock your opponent’s head by wrapping your arm around the back of their neck, bringing your chin close to their face whilst driving your weight down, forcing your opponent’s shoulders flat on to the mat.

Step 2:

Insert four fingers into your sleeve, grabbing the inside of your gi and rotating your grip over your fingers.

Step 2:

Sneak your other arm over their throat and drive down with your shoulder to apply the choke.

Thanks to Renzo Gracie and Augusto Frota. Filmed at Frota Academy – https://frota-team.ch/ , Private BJJ Camps – https://bjj-mma-camps.com/

You might also like his reverse Ezekiel which he lovingly calls the ‘Plastic Bag Choke’.