What is the Buggy Choke?

The Buggy Choke is a submission technique in jiu-jitsu typically executed from a non-dominant position, such as the bottom of side control. It's regarded as an embarrassing submission to get caught in due to its counterintuitive nature, especially as it can turn a seemingly dominant position into a losing one for the opponent. This move was popularized by the Ruotolo brothers and can be used effectively not just for submission but also to force opponents to react defensively, thus creating an opportunity to escape or improve position.

Craig Jones and Nicky Rod discuss the Buggy Choke in an episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, where they describe it as both effective and frustrating for the opponent. While it's known to work on certain people, many will abandon their position at the first sign of danger to avoid being caught in this submission. Nicky Rod mentions that this move can be underestimated, but it has limited defenses once applied correctly 1 2.