Guard—Bottom Position: Guillotine

You can make this attack on its own, but it also works well if you try the “Sit Up and Sweep” technique (page 204) and then transition to this attack if that one fails.

Starting Position: On your back, attacker in your closed guard.

When the attacker sits back in your guard, sit up and uncross your ankles; put your left hand on the ground and reach your right hand up and across as though trying to reach past his right shoulder.

Wrap your right arm around the back of his neck and then under his chin.

Grab your right hand with your left (you may need to scoot your hips back a little to do this).

Wrap your legs around his waist again, crossing your ankles, and lie back.

Pull with your arms, sealing the choke, and push away with your legs to stretch him out.

Guard—Bottom Position: Defense against Guillotine

If you find yourself in someone else’s guard, they may attempt a guillotine against you. Here are two basic defenses against a guillotine. First, avoid the guard. If you feel the attacker attempt the guillotine, hop out of his guard, moving to the same side as the attacking arm. If you cannot escape the guard, make the following defense:

Starting Position: Attacker holds you in his guard while he snakes his right arm around your neck.

The minute you feel the attacker wrap his arm around your neck, tuck your chin. With your left hand, pluck at his hands to relieve some pressure. At the same time, wrap your right arm around his neck. This makes it difficult for him to stretch you out with his legs.

Lift your hips up and spread your feet wide to “stack up”; think about creating a tripod with your two feet, using your right arm and shoulder as the third foot of the tripod.

Using your body weight, drive your shoulder into the attacker’s neck and throat. It will be very difficult for him to maintain the guillotine.

When he releases his arms, either sit back on your knees (still in his guard) or hop out of his guard to side mount if possible (shown).

Headlock from Behind on the Ground

While Krav Maga does not emphasis many grappling or submission moves, the rear headlock (also called a “carotid choke” or “rear naked choke”) is good to know. You may need to use it, and it is always good to attack properly when your partner is learning to defend. The basic points here apply whether you are on top or bottom from behind.

Starting Position: On your back, with the attacker on top of you but with his back to you.

Wrap your legs around his body and dig your heels into his thighs just below the groin. This is known as getting your “hooks” in; the position makes it difficult for the attacker to perform an escape. Wrap your right arm around his neck so that his throat is in the crook of your elbow.

Grab your left bicep with your right hand.

Put your left hand on the left side of your head. Squeeze your elbows together and puff out your chest. The idea is to simultaneously squeeze your forearm on one side of his neck and your bicep on the other side of his neck, applying pressure to the carotid arteries in his neck and temporarily cutting off the blood supply to his brain.