choke to the point of unconscious?

[dkm]

The way I practice is choking till tap out, but I hear that there are some people that practice choking until the opponet is unconscious. I am not a doctor, but isn't that dangerous?

[ryanhall]

Absolutely.

[Toudiyama]

I think some train this way because they just don't tap out, for sports that's ok because you thrust the refferee to step in at the right time

As for damage I've been uncuncious for many time in my life though nothing to do with fighting, the impact should be the same but at 41 I still absorb information like a sponge
At work I still learn easier than my 20 years younger coworker

I think any knock to the head does more damage than getting strangled until unconsiousness, provided the strangler releases the hold fast

[Guest]

Strangles aren't the same as chokes. I wouldn't like to routinely take (or be taken) to the point of unconciousness with either, as such a sensitive area of the body can kill people. But my guess is that the choke is the most dangerous, as it messes with the wind-pipe itself.

[ryanhall]

By the nature of a choke hold, you are pinching off the blood flow through the carotid arteries to the brain. If you strangle to the point of unconsciousness, there is a risk that you will hold on too long, and serious brain damage can occur. DO NOT TRAIN THIS WAY IF YOU VALUE YOUR ABILITY TO TIE YOUR OWN SHOES. Seriously. The stupidity of some people amazes me. The funny part is that they think they're tough doing it. As an added bonus, the potential to crush the windpipe of the person you're choking exists. Always be careful.

[Guest]

I'm sure there are people who have trained this way for years and gotten away with it. Just like those wh smoke and live until they're 100. But there are those accidentally killed (even by police officers) in minor fracas because of holds around the neck.

[terry]

Well, the other thing to mention on this thread is that a carodid choke becomes more of an issue as you age. As you age there is plaque that can build up in your arteries in such a way that there is a possibility that a carodid choke can dislodge some of this plaque and cause a stroke. I've heard variance between 40 and 50 for the age at which people say 'don't get choked out anymore in training'. I'm not sure, but strokes are nothing to mess around with. I wouldn't like to wind up with one side of my body paralyzed or slurring my speech for the rest of my life.

Terry

[Toudiyama]

If I read some of your posts, it seems tha the unconsiousness is not the problem but the choking is in general

[DRLashambe]

Besides appealing to some sort of macho mentality, why would you ever need to train to unconsciousness? Even in pro matches, guys tap out before they go out most of the time (and that's when there's big money on the line). I fail to see what benefit you might gain from going for the extra second or two that it takes to go out.

[ryanhall]

If I read some of your posts, it seems tha the unconsiousness is not the problem but the choking is in general

To a point, yes. Strangluation and choking techniques are inherently dangerous. The problem with going to unconsciousness is that it takes the person being choked out of the equation. They cannot give any kind of feedback if the choke is going too hard. Also, repeated oxygen starvation can have a negative effect on the brain's ability to function.

Keep in mind that the venues where you see a lot of choking (Pride, UFC) are full of well-conditioned athletes that are watched by experienced referees. If you slap a rear naked choke on someone with asthma, a weak neck, or some other medical problem that could affect their breathing, you could easily end up killing them. Crushing a windpipe is easier than one might think, and you can do it by accident, especially if the other person is struggling. I would only use a choke in a very serious situation. If you're practicing these, make sure you are supervised by someone who knows exactly what they're doing.

[CHOKE UK]

I must say that I have never heard of anybody who "chokes until unconcious" !

Remember If you use these rule,
them chances are,
you will be put in this position !
And no-one wants to be in that situation!
Its bad enough being choked out
not to mention the ego dent,
but to be "put to sleep" !

Because, it can be difficult to know when to stop,
especially if your partner has previously done it to you !

I think you may have misunderstood what people have said.

Bri-thai is correct chokes are different from strangles.

But the rule is, apply pressure til they tap !

There is only one exception, (and this is where I think you may have been misled)

The only time I will continue,
is in a "real-fight" !
Where it may be necessary to "put him early to bed" !

night, night !
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Toudiyama]

Choke UK

Problem isn't the person choking it's the person being choked and not willing to tap out
And yes pride has a lot to do with that

[CHOKE UK]

Well I think most of us have been there !

Most of us have probably refused to tap out,
when we should have known better.

Pride often stands in the way of sence.

But when under extreme pressure and strain,
we often do silly things.

But if you put a good choke or arm bar on someone,
no matter who they are they will tap, eventually.

And people often resist and "get dazed",
but they usually tap out soon after.

pride is one of the enemies of good learning.

[Toudiyama]

Sometimes the choked person doesn't even get the time to tap out, I watched the footage of Bas Rutten from www.sherdog.com, damn how fast that went from applying to unconsiousness

[jhinds]

Keep in mind people have been "napping" in ground grappling classes for 100 years now. It happens all the time in Judo and BJJ classes across the world.

And people don't just lay there quietly when they go out. They start huffing, puffing and snorting like horse. Generally, a lot of drooling and on the rare occassion, urinating or defecating on themselves. So, it's pretty obvious they're out. Most of the time they will wake themselves soon after the choke is released. But in some cases they need a little help. Usually they get it whether they need it or not and are only out for a few seconds.

And why to do it? Resisting and trying to free yourself from a choke is the only way to learn how to do it. I'm not saying let yourself get choked out everytime, but you need to learn to defend them and learn your own limits of being choked. Lots of people tap as soon as a weak choke gets a applied and didn't even need to. Of course, on the street, you can't tap so you better learn to defend them, neutralize the technique and fight through.

And when thinking about the dangers on being choked unconcious, think about the sleep disorder called Apnea. There are litterally thousands of people who are effectively "choking themselves out" multiples times every night; night after night; in their own beds. They constantly revive themselves and they aren't drooling vegetables as a result.