The No-Collar Rubber Guard Choke

The No Collar Choke series from New York is something that I have been working on lately. I would say it’s more of an advanced Rubber Guard technique.

It started off with people stepping over my leg that was at my opponents hip. When that would happen I would just let go of New York and go straight to the lockdown. When you’re new to the Rubber Guard and have not developed the squeeze with leg curls and pushing your knees together people will pass your guard.

In class at 10th Planet Eddie would say to hold on to New York if they step over your leg. As a counter he taught the Carni in class and he uses it a lot. I am pretty flexible but sometimes hittin’ the Carni is hard. The further your limbs are stretched out from your body the weaker they are especially if your opponent is tall it can be hard to trap his leg with your leg. At least for me.

So what I started doing was shifting onto my side and bringing the knee of the leg that was passed into my chest. Even when the person tries to keep my leg trapped I can still get my leg in because I have too much leverage for them to stop me.

From there I was going for a Triangle. Although it is possible to land the Triangle, more often than not people would trap my leg. So what I started doing next was clearing his neck and going to Mad Dog Control. From there I could transition to Jiu Claw but if my opponent tried to posture up I could catch the Triangle, the Far Side Arm Bar or go back to the guard. The Straight Jacket and Special K are a couple more options from this position that 10th Planet came up with since I have been in Europe.

One day from New York on my side I saw a grip through the knee that was at my chest, to the ankle that was in New York. Later I thought about how to use the grip for a choke. I call this position Cheops because it’s similar to the Pyramid in MTRG. You can also get to Cheops straight from New York or the Pyramid. There are three variations of the No Collar Rubber Guard choke below and a tight transition to the triangle.

• Step 1

Jason Mallory has Bence Beretcz in his closed guard. Bence has his hands posted on Jason's stomach to maintain his posture.
• Step 2

Jason pummels his arms inside of Bence’s arms in order to…
• Step 3

Sit up, get a grip around Bence’s neck and…
• Step 4

Break him down with a Gable Grip to keep his posture broken.
• Step 5

Next Jason brings his legs from the low guard to the high guard up near Bence’s shoulders. This extra little step will make it a lot easier to get to Mission Control. You want to be doing leg curls and pulling his head down to keep everything tight. It may look like a passive position but it’s not.
• Step 6

Because Bence’s hand was on the mat I can go straight to New York. I am squeezing everything tight and sitting up while I hug my knee.
• Step 7

If I get lazy or forget to squeeze my knees together and my right leg is not tight to his ribs…
• Step 8

He can push my right knee down with his left hand and step over my leg.
• Step 9

Here is where you have to hold on to New York no matter what.
• Step 10

Bence is 6’2” tall so instead of trying to hit the Carni I shift onto my right side and force my knee into my chest. Sometimes I have to shake my knee past his leg to untrap it. If you are quick enough here you can go straight to the Triangle…
• Step 11

But most of the time they will trap my leg…
• Step 12

So I switch from New York to Modified Retard Control…
• Step 13

Reach my right hand through my right knee to get to a position I call Cheops. Here I am pulling down hard on my left ankle with my right hand, doing a leg curl with my left leg and pulling down hard on my left shin with my left hand.
• Step 14

Next, while maintaining the squeeze I thread my left hand through the little space ( that you can’t see in the picture ) that is between his shoulder and my left knee.
• Step 15

Grab my left shin with my left hand and then..
• Variation #1

SQUEEZE ! I am driving my left elbow into his right shoulder driving it into his neck to cut off the blood to his head and using my right arm as a lever to help squeeze my knees together. Now just hold for a 10 count while the blood is cut off for the tap.
• Variation #2

Another variation to tighten the choke is to quickly let go of your left ankle with your right hand, slide your left hand to your left ankle and then pull it back down driving your elbow into his collar bone and regrip with your right hand. This will allow you to drive your left forearm into his neck for a tighter choke.
• Variation #3

The next variation is to let go of your left leg, put a Gable Grip behind his neck and then squeeze and drive your right knee into his head to get the tap.
• Step 19

If you are able to get your right leg past his arm from Cheops you can triangle your legs…
• Step 20

Let go of Cheops and bring your right leg over, grab it with your left hand…
• Step 21

Cinch in the Triangle…
• Step 22

And get the tap.
• Step 23

From Cheops you can punch…
• Step 24

Or elbow him to the head.