The front choke is one of the most practical self-defense techniques you can learn. From the guard position on the ground, you can control and finish a fight even when someone is on top of you.
Scott Sullivan teaches the collar choke from guard in the How To Choke Someone Out course. The technique starts with an over-wrap on the arm. Grab the collar, pull his head down, then insert your thumb right along the spine. That grip placement is EVERYTHING — do not grab way down at the bottom of the collar. The thumb goes right on the spine so the choke is tight from the start.
Here is the slick part. Sullivan teaches what he calls the "back door choke." You squeeze the head, then leave a small gap — a back door. The attacker thinks he can escape through that opening. Instead, he goes "right from the frying pan into the fire" and walks himself into the choke.
The actual choking pressure comes from your forearm against the side of the neck, not from your grip. Your hand just puts the forearm in position. Sullivan notes this technique is especially effective for bouncers, police officers, and security personnel — it puts someone to sleep and is "relatively humane" as long as you set them down gently.
For more self-defense techniques including chokes, escapes, and ground control, check out our complete self-defense techniques guide. Get the full course in the How To Win A Street Fight bundle.