Guillotine choke guard pull dangerous

[SamBruin7]

I recently injured my neck while doing guillotine choke guard pull technique training. The guy who was doing it on me pulled a little too agressively and I heard two pops. The pain wasn't too bad so I continued training but when a guy did a double ankle sweep and I fell back hard, my neck did a wicked whiplash due to my neck not being strong enough to support my head. My neck has never felt the same since for about a month now and I got it checked out by a spine surgeon who found disc bulging and a slightly torn disc capsule.
I told him how I initally injured my neck and he was shocked that we were actually practicing the guard pull after the guillotine choke. He said that's just asking for a neck injury and if your neck muscles aren't strong enough, the ligaments will tear like they did in my case.
Now I'm just starting physical therapy and hoping I can return to rolling soon.:icon_sad:

 

[Mikey Triangles]

This only happened because, I'm assuming, you're both reasonably new to BJJ. If either of you were more experienced it would not have caused that injury.

First off, when someone yanks on your head in that position and you don't have a developed neck you need to go with it. sounds like you tried to fight it. Also he shouldn't have been yanking like that as it's not necessary to either finish the choke or achieve closed guard with the choke.

finally, you need to do some basic neck excersizes to strengthen your neck and avoid this kind of injury in the future.

 

[FLoWitheGo**]

Like Mikey said, practice neck bridges. Start by coming up off your knees and rolling your neck but use your hands for posts if your new to this. Eventually your neck will become stronger and you'll be able to do it without posting your hands and just tripoding using your neck. Being in a sport like bjj and not exercising your neck is asking for injury.

 

[SamBruin7]

Yeah I started training 3 months ago and I did resist a little bit on the choke. But regardless, this move is dangerous especially if you don't have a strong enough neck. I'm starting physical therapy tomorrow and will be doing it for a month and if my neck is better by then I'll try more agressive strenghtening like bridges. I'm not going back to rolling until my neck is 100% and stronger than before. I've had injuries all over my body due to playing various sports since I was little and even had 3 surgeries to repair torn ligaments but this neck injury is the scariest by far. I even had loss of feeling down my left arm due to the disc bulge pinching a nerve but it's gotten better now. So learn from me guys and really strengthen your necks!

 

[Mikey Triangles]

Yeah I started training 3 months ago and I did resist a little bit on the choke. But regardless, this move is dangerous especially if you don't have a strong enough neck. I'm starting physical therapy tomorrow and will be doing it for a month and if my neck is better by then I'll try more agressive strenghtening like bridges. I'm not going back to rolling until my neck is 100% and stronger than before. I've had injuries all over my body due to playing various sports since I was little and even had 3 surgeries to repair torn ligaments but this neck injury is the scariest by far. I even had loss of feeling down my left arm due to the disc bulge pinching a nerve but it's gotten better now. So learn from me guys and really strengthen your necks!

no offense, but if you give the wrong genius a Wiffle Bat to practice his swing it can be dangerous too.

 

[shironinja]

Wish I'd read stuff like this before I started training although I probably would have needed to learn my lessons like you did.

When I transitioned from standup and was first doing jiu-jitsu / MMA it seemed like I would get a new injury every month and eventually led to taking a break from grappling for over a year!!

Looking back the majority of that was due to me not being loose enough.

Now though the past six months I've been training again it's just ... awesome and different. I feel relaxed and would train every day if I could. People will be guillotine-choking + pulling guard you in the future so it probably wouldn't make sense to fear it (after you heal) 'cause it isn't that dangerous. I try not to give up my neck anymore but if it happens then gently lay your opponent to the ground (don't slam them ...lol) and see if you can work the escape.

If you can't then there is no shame in tapping.... no harm no foul.

 

[Newbjitsu]

I can't lie. I don't like training the standup portion of BJJ. To me, it's more dangerous. Yes, I do practice breakfalls. Yes, I know trainging judo/wrestling is essential, doesn't mean I like it. The more serious injuries I've had were during Judo training.

I'd love to be good at standup and it would really help my game. But, I also don't want injuries from it that hold back my ground game.

 

[Thaiboxer10000]

i only stretch a little bit before jumping into rolls sometimes, if i stretch only one thing its the neck.

 

[johnkreese]

A similar thing happened to me. He got me to lose my balance a bit, and my training partner capitalized on it and got me in a guillotine. Now my neck cracks all the time! I don't really feel that much pain or stiffness, but I make sure I spend a good 5 minutes before class warming my neck up. This guy does have sick guillotines. He gets them really tight.

I agree it could be dangerous. That's why it's important to practice your stand up and learn how to take the fall when someone gets you in one of these. The first thing I do if i make a mistake and the guy grabs my head is try to to grab his pants. That way he cant pull guard.


Oh, and good luck. I hope things work out, and you're rolling soon.