Defend yourself against a rape choke

In the video above, a Dad shows us the proper technique to defend yourself against a front choke or ‘rape choke’ in a real-life situation. His daughter demonstrates it for us: The defense technique starts by using your hands clasped together as if you were praying and drive them up between your attackers hands. This could possibly break his grip, but if not, your hands are free to attack his eyeballs with your thumbs.

Defined in Urban Dictionary, a ‘rape choke’ is ‘A type of choke applied from the top position, in which the dominant fighter places one or two hands around the front of the neck of a downed opponent and squeezes his trachea. Commonly used by rapists.’

A more PC term would just to be call this a front choke. It is however a very common attack for a larger person assaulting a smaller one. And it can be brutally effective against a helpless person, but is actually fairly easy to defend with proper technique.

The technique shown is fairly simple and a version of it is taught in most self defense classes gear towards women. It is of course a way to defend yourself in a real-life situation and not actually meant to be used in professional combat sports, against an opponent who is trying to ‘rape choke’ you. Although the term has been used in the heat of combat.

The term actually became popular in MMA when UFC commentator Joe Rogan used the term live when describing Wanderlei’s Silva’s attack on Keith Jardine during their quick fight at UFC 184. Rogan later revealed on a uStream broadcast that he was asked by UFC President Dana White to never use the term again on air and that was the last time it was uttered on a UFC broadcast.