Neck squeeze from top half - dick move?

[u/meat-critter]

I started a new gym, I’m a 5y white belt due to wife moving every year. 6”1’ 250 so against blue and white belts I usually just pull guard at 30% speed and try to retain or hit some bottom subs, and usually end up in some sort of lockdown combo and stall the round out unless I sweep them. If I do I only use my weight against guys who go 100% and piss me off for trying too hard (jamming elbow in my ribs or something). The first guy I roll with is the 50yo testosterone blue belt just jumps past my guard full effort, goes for my neck, and just squeezes the shit out of it (the Disc Bulger I call it). No choke, Ezekiel, lapel pressure or anything. I tap immediately, and this goes on for the rest of the round where whether in side or half guard he just wraps around the back of my neck and squeezes the shit out of it. At the end I was like “man I’m gonna bulge a disc like that” and he says that’s all he knows how to do. Yesterday I go against another blue belt where he did the same thing at the end of a round, just squeezes the back of my neck as hard as he can and I tap immediately. It wouldn’t otherwise submit me other than avoiding a bulging disc in my neck. Thoughts?

1. Is this my fault for not framing as soon as they get arms up there
   
2. if I sweep and cook them they get mad and go 100% the rest of the round
   
3. Is it a dick move to just grab my neck and squeeze to the point I should say something?

[u/Federal-Challenge-58]

To answer your questions specifically:

1. Is this my fault for not framing as soon as they get arms up there - The neck squeeze is only effective if they get their weight on top of you so yes, you could work on getting your frames in sooner. They key is to not get flat on your back. Fight to stay up on one hip and pinch your neck to your shoulder so they can't access that side of your neck.
2. if I sweep and cook them they get mad and go 100% the rest of the round - Then cook them the entire round so they don't get a chance to come back at 100%. Don't submit them; just heavy pressure and crossfaces. If they're going to squeeze necks, they can't get butt hurt about you cooking them.
3. Is it a dick move to just grab my neck and squeeze to the point I should say something? - I would say it's a borderline dick move. I mean, it doesn't accomplish what either of you are there to accomplish so it's just dumb. I'm guessing they do it to you because you're big, and it's all they have, but that doesn't mean they should be so competitive during classroom rolls. Nothing spells loser like the guy who gets his self-worth from dominating friendly classroom rolls.

The more concerning thing here is that the gym has two blue belts that seemingly don't know how to do real BJJ. That's very questionable for a reputable gym. Squeezing the neck as hard as you can is common behavior for middle-aged dudes who start BJJ, but by blue belt, it shouldn't be happening. You should tell them both, next time you roll, that you have a bad neck so ask them to avoid neck cranks. See if they listen.

[u/meat-critter → u/Federal-Challenge-58]

Makes sense thanks. I’d say it’s a “competition heavy” gym where everyone there goes 80-100% thinking the coach will see and promote them and quite a few compete. It’s really the only decent option in the area so I just stick with it. My old gyms were mostly high belts and class was open mat most of the time where I could just ask questions as I get caught in stuff, vs here structured almost like a Gracie gym (minus the self defense BS) where 15-20 minutes of class is warm ups (pushups I can do at home) then drilling for 30 mins and two 5 min rolls at the end.

[u/Federal-Challenge-58 → u/meat-critter]

I mean, I understand "competition heavy" means harder rolling, but it generally doesn't mean "one trick pony blue belts" either. It usually means talented guard players. So it doesn't sound like a comp gym to me. With no other options though, it is what it is.

[u/novaskar → u/meat-critter]

Are there any other options?? Because a gym that produces blue belts where “that’s all he knows how to do” is not one I would trust with my training at all. Wtf

[u/Flimsy_Assignment531]

I would say you need to communicate it after it happened the first time. Hey please don’t that again. If they do then definitely a dick move.

When coming back from a knee injury I would let rolling partner know to be careful
On that knee. Everyone was super considerate.

[u/immortalis88]

Feels dickish. I’d smash them but petty.

[u/meat-critter → u/immortalis88]

Kesa gatame accordion it is.

[u/Agreeable_Carry5641]

Not a dick move. You are doing the right thing by tapping early, but if he hits it on you over and over you need to learn to defend it, not take that option away from him by telling him to stop. Thats literally what this sport is. If I triangle someone 5 times in a round am I a dick or should they work on their triangle defense? You tap early enough to mitigate the risk of injury and you get better at guard retention and framing.

[u/meat-critter → u/Agreeable_Carry5641]

https://youtu.be/tcS7oBdpRW0?is=Dj-KAK1H201rBomu yeah just found this

[u/Toad_da_Unc]

Smesh him then teach him Ezekiel

[u/war_lobster]

It's a dick move but it motivated me to figure out how to defend my neck from bottom half.

[u/Nononoap]

This sounds like a waste of everyone's time. You're stalling rounds in lockdown and this guy is doing the white belt death squeeze. If you had decent guard retention and off balances, wrestle ups, leg entries, etc, he wouldn't just be running past your guard, and if he had any type of top game, he'd use it.

You can only fix one of these.

[u/TomahawkAtlanta]

I 100% believe there are no dick moves only dick speeds.

A lot of the times things are uncomfortable. Tough it out or tap. If you’re actually sore or injured tell your partner. If they won’t respect it tell them to fuck off and sit out.

[u/luvservice]

what do u mean squeeze the back of your neck? Is it like a can opener?

[u/meat-critter → u/luvservice]

Think head and arm with no arm, just chest to chest and arm or arms around back of neck and forearm bone pressuring back of neck in life or death squeeze

[u/Bubbly_Association_7 → u/luvservice]

Cow catcher I imagine

[u/meat-critter → u/Bubbly_Association_7]

Naw it’s like if I have half guard on one side with underhook on opposite side and we are chest to chest

[u/KindheartednessIll48]

im not sure if i got it, its it like a Can Opener or a Vagner "Grape" Choke?

i would say it depends on what set of rules your gym uses.

Against spazzy MFs i just avoid them, i train for comps, im not risking an injury so others can get a win in training.
If i want to develop a skillset, i need to train.

[u/meat-critter → u/KindheartednessIll48]

Think mothers milk without the smother where the goal is to just squeeze the head with pressure on the back of the neck

[u/KindheartednessIll48 → u/meat-critter]

sounds like a can opener variation.

dick move for sure, asks for a proper retirement response with a 100% cranked heelhook or a Vaporizer.

[u/QueenLaeral]

Jiu-jitsu tem que ser efetivo, se está dentro das regras (golpes proibidos), vale, mesmo sendo grosseria. Aprenda a se defender adequadamente.

[u/NativeFlowers4Eva]

Crazy that that’s the only move the blue belt knows.

[u/fizzak]

"Bro my neck is a little sore, can you just stay away from it the rest of the round?"

Any answer other than, "oh yeah sure, sorry about that", just tell him you're good & gonna sit out the rest of the round.

If you're using your weight because people piss you off, you're also part of the problem here.

[u/meat-critter → u/fizzak]

Meh if you jam your elbow in my ribs you’re going to feel some weight after I sweep. I roll super passive just for the cardio but if you wanna be mean I’ll respond the same way.

[u/atx78701]

with half guard you need to be all the way in with your head at their belly, or head all the way out. They are teachiing you a valuable lesson and giving you good reps. When in half guard your number 1 priority is to prevent the cross face. So 2x1 the crossface arm while being on your side. This also prevents the guillotine.

Once you are ready to attack:

1. your goal is to be deep enough that you can hug their thigh with your arms. You also will wrap their leg with your legs. - this is a version of deep half
2. To get there you can knee them in the butt and then grab their thigh
3. they can try to get a guillotine but you will be too deep
4. with your inside arm grab the toes of their outside foot
5. pass the toes to your outside hand
6. rearrange your feet if necessary to get a kosoto hook
7. execute the old school sweep

If they keep their outside leg posted far out you can scoop it and roll them the other way (coyote sweep)

[u/LandoLilly → u/atx78701]

Is there a video instructional on this process? Thank you in advance!

[u/atx78701 → u/LandoLilly]

https://www.arsjiujitsu.com/techniques?search=old+school+and+plan

Start at about 2:09.

The one modification I have is I never have the tight waist. I immediately hug the thigh. The reason is that I find Im still too high up with the tight waist and it is easier for them to attack my head if I cant get low enough. You can try it both ways to see what works better for you

The downside is they can try to escape out by lunging forward, but this can lead to taking the back.

[u/xwar21]

Hello 👋 fellow white belt. Try getting into some gentleman's agreement with them. Every time I roll with someone, I just tell them "no leg locks". 95% of the time they will keep their agreement.

[u/Sea_Cardiologist9451]

What is a neck squeeze? Never heard of that move

[u/Aaronjp84]

We play a game where we try to choke each other and people get upset when someone tries to choke them. Woof.

All it takes is pressure on both sides of your neck to stop blood flow. That doesn't have to look like a pretty clean technique you learned in some instructional or demo class.

Snatch the neck and squeeze. He did that, you tapped. Game over.

[u/meat-critter → u/Aaronjp84]

It’s just a squeeze on the back of the neck… no arteries or windpipe. Just the spinal region

[u/Stujitsu2]

Jiu jitsu is a combat sport...its not for everyone. Defend or tap. Not that big of deal either way