Colin Snow
The sleeper hold, also known as the sleeper, choke, or rear-naked choke, is a highly dangerous move that slows blood supply to the brain and causes the person being choked to pass out. The move is performed by getting behind the opponent and wrapping the dominant arm around their neck, cutting off blood flow to the brain. The sleeper hold has been used in professional wrestling and martial arts, and was once a common technique used by law enforcement to quickly subdue individuals. However, due to the risks of death associated with the move, its use by law enforcement was broadly outlawed in the 1990s. Despite its dangers, the sleeper hold continues to be a popular move in popular culture, with early wrestling stars such as Verne Gagne, Roddy Rowdy Piper, and Brutus The Barber Beefcake known for their use of the move.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Other Names | choke, rear-naked choke, mata leon, lion killer, strangulation, armlock |
| Type of Hold | choking technique |
| Application | get behind the opponent, wrap the dominant arm around the opponent's neck, put the non-dominant hand on the back of the opponent's head, tilt it forward, apply pressure to the sides of the opponent's neck |
| Effect | slows blood supply to the brain, causes the person to pass out |
| Risk | incredibly dangerous, can cause death |
| Use Cases | self-defence, MMA, Krav Maga, Judo, BJJ, WWE, law enforcement |
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What You'll Learn
The sleeper hold is a specific technique in the category of chokeholds
Blood chokes, or sleeper holds, compress one or both carotid arteries and/or the jugular veins without compressing the airway. This causes cerebral ischemia and a temporary hypoxic condition in the brain, resulting in unconsciousness. The sleeper hold is often used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, where it is known as a "rear naked choke". It is also used in other martial arts and combat sports, as well as in self-defence and law enforcement.
The sleeper hold is performed by getting behind your opponent and wrapping your dominant arm around their neck. The non-dominant hand is placed on the back of the opponent's head, and pressure is applied to the sides of the neck, not the throat, to cut off blood flow to the brain. It is important to note that the goal of a sleeper hold is not to restrict air but to slow the blood supply to the brain.
The terminology surrounding chokeholds can be confusing, as different martial arts disciplines use different terms. In Judo, for example, blood chokes are referred to as "strangleholds" or "strangles", while air chokes are called "chokeholds" or "chokes". In forensics, the terms "strangle" and "stranglehold" refer to any type of neck compression, while in law enforcement, they are called "neck holds".
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It is also known as the rear-naked choke
The sleeper hold is also known as the rear-naked choke. This is a specific technique in the category of chokeholds. It is a showy euphemism from pro-wrestling, but the term "put someone to sleep" is common in BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) to describe any blood choke.
The rear-naked choke is considered the "king of submissions" and has become one of the most dramatic applications of suppressing aggression in modern popular culture. It is also one of the inaugural techniques taught to new students of martial arts. The choke involves getting behind your opponent and wrapping your dominant arm around their neck. You then put your non-dominant hand on the back of their head and tilt it forward to maintain control. Pressure is applied to the sides of the opponent's neck, cutting off blood to the brain and rendering them unconscious.
The sleeper hold is highly dangerous and should only be used in extreme situations or under the supervision of a martial arts referee or expert. It is important to release the hold as soon as the opponent goes limp, and to seek medical attention if they remain unresponsive. Failure to do so can result in serious injury or even death, as demonstrated by the tragic case of Bradley Winsor, who died in 2017 after the chokehold was applied to him.
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It is a showy euphemism from pro-wrestling
The sleeper hold is a showy euphemism from pro-wrestling for a chokehold. It is a specific technique in the category of chokeholds, where the main pressure is applied to the arteries on the side of the neck, slowing blood supply to the brain and causing the person being choked to pass out. It is also known as the rear-naked choke.
The sleeper hold is highly dramatic and was used by early wrestling stars such as Verne Gagne, Roddy "Rowdy" Piper, and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake. It is also common in WWE, with at least three or four appearances during any given telecast of Monday Night RAW.
The sleeper hold is an incredibly dangerous move that can cause a person to lose consciousness in 10 seconds and die within 30 seconds. It was once widely used by law enforcement to quickly subdue someone and put them in handcuffs. However, its use was broadly outlawed in the 1990s due to the risks of death.
The sleeper hold is also used in other contexts, such as self-defense and mixed martial arts. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the term "put someone to sleep" is used to describe any blood choke, as it is believed to be less painful and cause a person to fade into unconsciousness, similar to falling asleep.
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It is incredibly dangerous and can cause death
The sleeper hold is a highly dangerous move that can cause serious injury and even death. It is a chokehold that restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness and, in some cases, death within 30 seconds. The move is achieved by applying pressure to the arteries on the sides of the neck, cutting off the blood supply to the brain. This can lead to oxygen deprivation, which can have fatal consequences.
The sleeper hold has been used in professional wrestling and martial arts, but it is incredibly dangerous and should only be performed in extreme situations or under the supervision of a martial arts expert or referee. Even then, it poses significant risks. The move can cause permanent damage to the neck and spine if not executed correctly, and failing to release the hold immediately once the opponent goes limp can be life-threatening.
In one tragic case, a 23-year-old man, Bradley Winsor, died in 2017 after someone applied a sleeper hold on him during a party. Forensic expert Dr. Christopher Milroy testified that the chokehold can cause unconsciousness in 10 seconds and death within 30 seconds. This incident highlights the extreme danger of the sleeper hold.
The sleeper hold was once used by law enforcement as a quick way to subdue individuals, but its use was broadly outlawed in the 1990s due to the risk of death. The hold's potential for serious harm is now widely recognized, and it is essential that anyone considering using this technique understands the immense risks involved.
While the sleeper hold might seem like a dramatic and effective way to subdue an opponent, its potential for causing severe injury or death cannot be overstated. It is a highly risky technique that should be approached with extreme caution and only used in the most dire circumstances, if at all. Even with proper supervision, the sleeper hold can have devastating consequences.
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It is used in self-defence and MMA
The sleeper hold is a self-defence technique that can be used to put an attacker to sleep. It is also used in MMA to take an opponent's submission game to the next level.
The sleeper hold, also known as the sleeper, choke, or rear-naked choke, is a dangerous move that slows blood supply to the brain, causing the person being choked to pass out. It involves getting behind your opponent and wrapping your dominant arm around their neck. You then put your non-dominant hand on the back of their head and tilt it forward to maintain control. Pressure is applied to the sides of the opponent's neck, not their throat, to cut off blood to the brain and make them pass out.
The sleeper hold is a specific technique in the category of chokeholds. It is a showy euphemism from pro-wrestling, but the term "put someone to sleep" is common in BJJ to describe any blood choke. Blood chokes are considered less dangerous and work faster than air chokes, so they are the preferred method in BJJ, Judo, or MMA competitions.
The sleeper hold was once widely used by law enforcement as a quick way to subdue someone and put them in handcuffs. However, its use was broadly outlawed in the 1990s due to the risks of death. When applied correctly, the sleeper hold can cause someone to lose consciousness in 10 seconds and die within 30 seconds. Therefore, it should only be used in extreme situations or under the watch of a martial arts referee or expert.
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Frequently asked questions
A sleeper hold, also known as a choke, sleeper, or rear-naked choke, is a specific technique in the category of chokeholds. It involves slowing blood supply to the brain, causing the person being choked to pass out.
Get behind your opponent and wrap your dominant arm around their neck. Put your non-dominant hand on the back of their head and tilt it forward to maintain control. Apply pressure to the sides of their neck, not their throat, to cut off blood to the brain.
Yes, it is incredibly dangerous and should only be used in extreme situations or under the watch of a martial arts referee or expert. It is important to always release someone the moment they go limp and seek medical attention if they are unresponsive.
While the terms are often used interchangeably, some people in the BJJ community make a distinction between the two. A "choke" refers to submissions that occlude air, while a "strangle" or sleeper hold impedes blood flow.
The sleeper hold was popular in wrestling due to its dramatic effect—the crowd's hero would appear to slip into unconsciousness before rallying for victory. It also provided wrestlers with a rest, as they could stand relatively still while applying the hold.
