| Usage | Only to be used when absolutely necessary by skilled practitioners |
| Danger | Extremely dangerous and potentially lethal |
| Origins | |
| Technique | Chokeslam |
| Description | Grabbing opponent's throat and forcefully throwing or slamming them to the ground |
| Controversies | Considered a restricted move in many martial arts schools |
| Effectiveness | Highly effective for self-defense against larger opponents |
The chokeslam is an advanced grappling technique found in traditional Japanese martial arts styles. It involves grabbing the opponent's throat with one or both hands and violently slamming or throwing them to the ground. While a highly potent self-defense maneuver, the chokeslam is also considered a dishonorable and unethical technique due to its potential to cause serious injury or death.
The origins of the chokeslam can be traced back to classical Jujutsu and Judo schools in feudal Japan. These hand-to-hand combat systems developed specialized grappling techniques for close-quarters self-defense, particularly against armored or armed opponents.
The chokeslam specifically emerged from certain Jujutsu lineages that emphasized powerful throwing and takedown techniques. By grabbing the opponent's throat, the practitioner could generate tremendous force to hurl them forcefully to the ground. This move was prized for its devastating effectiveness, but also condemned as overly brutal and dishonorable.
Executing a proper chokeslam requires significant skill and timing. The practitioner must first secure a tight grip around the opponent's throat, typically with the fingers and thumb pressing into the carotid arteries on either side of the neck. They then explosively lift the opponent off the ground, using their legs and core to generate rotational force.
The final slamming motion involves driving the opponent's head, neck and upper back into the ground with tremendous impact. If performed correctly, this can cause severe injuries including fractures, brain trauma, and even death by asphyxiation or blunt force.
The chokeslam is considered one of the most powerful grappling techniques in Japanese martial arts. In the right circumstances, it can be used to overwhelm even much larger and stronger opponents. This makes it a valuable self-defense tool, especially for smaller or weaker practitioners.
However, the chokeslam's extreme lethality also makes it highly controversial. Many martial arts schools have banned or restricted its use, concerned about the potential for accidental killings. Even when executed correctly, the chokeslam can easily go wrong and result in catastrophic, unintended consequences.
The ethics of the chokeslam have long been debated within the Japanese martial arts community. Proponents argue that it is a necessary technique for true self-defense, allowing the vulnerable to neutralize larger threats. Critics counter that its indiscriminate brutality violates the principles of Bushido and makes it unfit for honorable warriors.
Some schools have developed methods to "tame" the chokeslam, limiting the amount of force used or only allowing it in the most dire circumstances. Others have removed it from their curriculum entirely. Ultimately, the chokeslam remains a source of tension - a powerful but dangerous tool that challenges the moral foundations of traditional Japanese martial arts.
Despite its controversial reputation, the chokeslam has been employed by skilled Japanese warriors and martial artists throughout history. Legendary Jujutsu masters like Tsutsumi Hōzan and Matsudaira Katsunosuke were known to use the technique to devastating effect.
In more recent times, the chokeslam gained notoriety during the Boshin War of the late 19th century, when it was utilized by skilled swordsmen to overwhelm samurai opponents in close-quarters combat. A handful of 20th century martial artists also kept the chokeslam in their arsenals, though most modern schools have phased it out.
Today, the chokeslam persists primarily in certain traditional Jujutsu and Judo lineages, passed down to advanced students after years of intensive training. Its use remains highly restricted, with practitioners risking expulsion or criminal charges for irresponsible application of the technique.
