Shimewaza

Shime-waza, also transliterated shime-waza, are a class of grappling techniques used to apply a choke or strangling pressure to an opponent. The term comes from shime, to choke or constrict, and waza, technique. In practice, shime-waza involve securing a neck grip and compressing the neck or airway, typically by using the opponent’s gi (collar, lapel, and sometimes sleeve) or by wrapping the arms around the neck. They can be executed from standing clinch through to the ground, and are a core element of judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where they are classified as a separate category from pins and joint locks.

Within shime-waza, techniques are broadly categorized by their primary mechanism: blood chokes (carotid compression) which cut off arterial blood to the brain, and airway chokes (air passage obstruction). Common examples include hadaka-jime (naked choke), Juji-jime (cross choke), Kata-juji-jime (one-arm cross choke), and okuri-eri-jime (sliding lapel choke). Some schools also teach sode-jime (sleeve choke). The exact grips and setups vary by art and lineage, and many chokes can be applied from various positions, such as guard, mount, or from back-control.

Safety and rules: In sport contexts, shime-waza are permitted under refereeing protocols that require timely progress and immediate cessation if the opponent taps, signals surrender, or shows signs of danger. Training emphasizes control, tapping, and respecting anatomical limits to minimize risk.