The D’Arce choke or inverted arm triangle choke is named after American grappler Joe Darce, who made the choke famous in the early 2000’s thanks to its brutal and efficient effectiveness.
The D’Arce choke, which like the arm triangle involves a figure four of your arms around your opponent’s neck and one of their arms, is a great submission from a common position in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The D’Arce choke is a great addition to any BJJ practitioner’s arsenal since it is simple and effective and is a great answer to a takedown attempt. Even if you are unable to finish the D’Arce choke, the position allows you to stop your opponent’s takedown, allows you to pour your weight onto them and force them to turtle, and threatens them enough that they may hesitate or even decide not to attempt a takedown.
Not just limited to a single position, the D’Arce choke is effective from half-guard top, side control, mount, turtle, or even knee-on-belly. It is a truly utilitarian submission.
Here is great teacher Stephan Kesting’s guide to landing the D’Arce choke submission from half guard top.
Start: Half guard top
Step 1: Get whizzer overhook on far-side arm
Step 2: Reach arm with whizzer overhook through until hand reaches past opponent’s neck
Step 3: Hold behind opponent’s head with both hands and clinch their head forward and in towards you
Step 4: Keeping opponent’s head clinched, figure four arms and reach near-side hand towards far-side shoulder
Step 5: Drive weight forward towards opponent
Finish: Submission by D’Arce Choke