Need help on the RNC

[Richard Tran]

When I go for the RNC from the back I would usually trap one of their hands with my legs. Then sometimes I use one of my hands to grab hold of their other hand. So now I got one hand to attack but the problem is they use their damn necks, shoulder, and head to defend the RNC. Are there any good moves or tips that could allow me to finish the RNC a high percentage of the time? Or should I just transition off to something else?

[Matt "Gumby" Glach]

[Neale Hoerle]

Assuming your beginning from the back with an over-under...

Lets say your left arm is around his neck and your right is under his right arm pit. As you said, use your right hand to trap his right hand on his belly, leg over BOTH yours and his hand, lock up your legs and squeeze (Be sure you ankles are high on his belly, NOT near his crotch... You'll get yourself ankle locked there). Slip your right hand out, slip it over his right shoulder and marry to your left hand with a gable grip (Left hand knuckles towards the ceiling, thumb towards yourself. And right palm up, knuckles near his collar bone.... NOW, swing your right elbow behind his back and LEVER your left arm across for the Dan severn/Jay Leno. Your right elbow should be aligned with his spin here, Once your left elbow is alligned with his chin you'll be unstoppable. Usually you'll not have to release or change your grip at all. Small hint... ARCH your back while all of this gabling and levering is goin on... It's key

[Dima]

Dude if the put down the chin id dousnt ultimately matter, especially if u have one arm trapped. I was strangled almost unconscious by a brown belt who tought a class on the RNC , he said that the pressure from the SIDES if the neck is what is important and when you put your chin down it only protects the trachea the front of the neck. The jaw bones on the sides are not low enough to protect the arteries. So try it with a partner and have him tuck his chin in as hard as he wants while you apply pressure with your rear naked pulling to you on his chin so to not slip off but putting more pressure on the SIDES of the neck with your biceps and forearm. Hell pass out for sure, plus its totally legal to put pressure like that on the chin, as long as your going for the stranglehold its his choice to put his chin in the way of trouble. Hope this helps, try it out on yourself also and feel the finer points of the move.

[AJ Camacho]

Dima's right. I had to demonstrate it once at a drunken UFC party because some kook was claiming that the dude who lost just gave up since the choke, "wasn't really in".

[Jason Hyatt]

My first tournament I was choked unconscious which really pushed me to work my RNC defense -- and you're exactly right about the pressure. It is the compression of the carotid arteries that primarily gets the job done. I've since learned to not only tuck my chin, but pin my jaw to my collarbone/shoulder on one side until I'm fully bridged (assuming the typical RNC defense). That keeps one artery open and has bought me a few extra seconds several times (occaisionally prompting coach to simply abandon the choke and Sambo-crank my head off). On less experienced guys it's worked really well for me. For a while there I was deliberately giving up my back to guys around or a little below my level so I could take the time to work on my RNC defense. I don't give up my back to the more advanced guys very much anymore and even if they get there my defense has gotten good enough that they've been transitioning to something else (usually Spiderweb) instead of getting the choke. Give it a shot and see what you think!