In 2013, Yarden Gerbi (ISR) created history by becoming the first Israeli player to win a world title. And she did it in a spectacular fashion, choking her opponent in the final, Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA) with a largely unknown choke that involved Gerbi using her own jacket skirt, reminds “Judo Inside”.
Judo fans around the world quickly dubbed this the “Gerbi Choke”, but some BJJ fans would point out that it’s basically what is known as the Peruvian Necktie.
The IJF banned this technique, deeming it dangerous because of the use of the jacket skirt. Judoka being judoka quickly devised new ways to do such a choke without involving the jacket skirt.
One approach involved a headlock that trapped at least one of uke’s arms, making it a kind of sankaku but with the arms rather than the legs. (It’s also commonly referred to as kata-sankaku). After securing that lock, tori would then place on leg on the back of uke’s head and the other on uke’s back, much like how Gerbi did her choke. Since this did not involve the jacket skirt, it was deemed legal. Amandine Buchard (FRA) likes to do this version.
Another approach, involved what is called a “trap choke” where instead of a kata-sankaku, tori takes hold of the back of uke’s collar with one hand and uke’s far lapel with the other. As with the kata-sankaku, one of uke’s arms is trapped. From there, tori would sit down and place one leg on the back of uke’s head and the other on uke’s back. Axel Clerget (FRA) likes to do this version.
Apparently, both these versions are now deemed illegal by the IJF. The technique was discussed in a referee meeting ahead of the Budapest Grand Slam, and it was decided that it would no longer be allowed. A “matte” would be called once it is applied.
Watch the top 10 chokes HERE
