D’arce Choke VS Anaconda Choke – What’s the Difference?

Have you ever been caught in a d’arce choke or anaconda choke and thought to yourself, “What the heck was that?” These two submissions share a lot of similarities and even the most seasoned Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner may confuse them.

Although these chokes are very similar, learning what makes them “different” will allow you to differentiate and apply them successfully. Let’s breakdown the d’arce choke vs anaconda choke.

Applying The ​D’arce

Wait for the tap.

Applying The Anaconda

Wait for the tap.

D’arce/Brabo Choke Setup

A submission is only as good as the setup. To apply either of these submissions, you must identify which position each one is best suited for. It’s not choke that requires too much flexibility either.

The d’arce choke is most commonly setup while you are passing your opponent’s guard and transitioning into side control. There are transitions into the d’arce when your opponent is in the “turtle” position, but it’s not as common.

When you are in side-control, wait for your opponent to “do the correct thing” and get their under-hook. The second they reach their arm in and try to get the underhook; shoot your hand under the armpit and apply the d’arce.

Anaconda Setup

The anaconda is normally seen when someone takes a bad shot and gets flattened out, but can easily be applied anytime you scramble and get over top of your opponent’s head. A nice head-snap is also a great way to setup the anaconda choke. It’s also a great choke for both gi and no gi.

When you are on your feet and someone decides to get lazy and take a subpar shot, it’s time to make them pay for it. Sprawl out, drive their head to the mat, then slide your hand across the neck and through the armpit, it has a slightly similar arm position to the arm triangle choke. Don’t forget to gator roll and trap the legs.

If you have a Bjj journal make sure you write down the steps, it’ll help you remember the technique. If you have a grappling dummy drill it until it becomes second nature. You can find the best grappling dummies here.

A great video demonstration and explanation of the two chokes can be found here:

The Verdict: What’s the 80/20?

You will apply both chokes differently and at different times during your match. Your success will directly correlate with your ability to identify which choke is appropriate.