The D’arce Choke is a head and arm choke that is used in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). It is also used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission wrestling. It was popularized by Joe D’arce, whom the choke is named after.
Origins
Joe D’arce may have popularized the D’arce Choke but it originates from Bjorn Dag Lagerstrom who was a Luta Livre Esportive fighter. He created the choke by accident since he was having trouble executing the Anaconda Choke.
Created in the early 90s, Lagerstrom went to win several competitions by submitting opponents using this choke.
In the 2000s, D’arce popularized the choke after he won a number of Grappler’s Quests and Pancrase events using this chokehold.
How to do a D’arce Choke
To do this chokehold, you need to place your arm under the opponent’s arm that is nearest to you, locking it around their neck. This is usually done when both of you are down on the mat.
Your hand should now be resting on your opponent’s far shoulder. Then use the ball of the hand on your free arm and press it to the back of your opponent’s neck.
The goal of the D’arce Choke is to get your opponent to tap out as the chokehold is going to cut off their airway or hit the cluster of nerves found below the ear.
The D’arce Choke VS The Anaconda Choke
The main difference between the D’arce Choke and the Anaconda choke is that in the Anaconda Choke, your arm goes over the shoulder and under the opposite arm. You should end up grabbing your opponent by the armpit.
With the D’arce Choke, on the other hand, you will go under the arm nearest to you and go across the neck.
Other Names
This chokehold is also known as the No-Gi Brabo Choke. In Portuguese, it is referred to as the “Inverted Arm Triangle” or the “Triangulo de Braco Invertido”.