History Main / ChokeHolds

* While ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' prefers to sedate his targets, he's been known to strangle them into unconsciousness. Acceptable, considering what he plans to do with them doesn't really require them to be in the best health anyway. [[spoiler:His brother]] was considerably more fond of the sleeper hold, although his goals were basically the same.

* Blood chokes are part and parcel of martial arts and UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts. If an MMA fighter taps out half a second after an arm goes 'round his neck, it's because he's about to pass out.
** Most choke holds in MMA were introduced in popularized by UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu. While it draws its techniques from other martial arts (especially UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} and UsefulNotes/CatchWrestling), BJJ has made chokeholds into its bread and butter. The most famous of all it's the Rear Naked Choke, or how it's called in Portuguese, ''Mata Leão'' ([[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "The Lion Killer"]]).

** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'': The famous elevator fight scene has a large mook restraining Captain America with a choke hold while other thugs electrocute him with stun batons.

** ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'': Vision puts Clint in a headlock when he comes to bust Wanda out of the Avengers Compound. Wanda breaks Clint out of the hold by using her powers to force Vision to phase.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Darth Vader's Force Choke appears to be a long distance mystical air choke. Slow, unpleasant, unstoppable. Very dark-sidey. But apparently just non-lethal enough that it was okay for Luke to use it in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' as long as he didn't actually kill anyone.
** The expanded universe explains that it actually collapses and crushes the windpipe, which explains, to a degree, why it works faster than normal.

* The blood choke variant is how Phelan Kell wins a mutually unarmed zero-G duel against a Clan battle armor trooper (a so-called "Elemental", i.e. a significantly bigger and stronger genetically engineered {{super soldier}}) during his Trial of Bloodright in the ''{{TabletopGame/BattleTech}}'' novel ''Lost Destiny''. Even once the hold is established, he still has to hang on for dear life for quite a while and collect some bruises before his opponent finally succumbs. Notably, the Elemental does not realize what's happening until the last few seconds, thinking instead that Phelan is trying (and failing) to break his neck--fatal results in Trials of Bloodright are so common that it rarely occurs to contestants to prepare against nonlethal attacks. It's noted that the only reason it worked was because of the zero G environment, which prevented the Elemental from gaining enough leverage to use his superior strength and weight against Phelan. And it was still a close call

InstantSedation is very common. Compare TapOnTheHead where unconsciousness is rendered with a blow, TheParalyzer ([[Franchise/StarTrek Vulcan nerve pinch]] included). Also, the VorpalPillow, where a choke hold causes instant death. See also HangingAround, which is basically a choke hold done to oneself using an inanimate object like a rope or cord.

* In ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'', [[spoiler:during the love scene between Guts and Casca, Guts ends up having a flashback to his traumatic rape at the hands of Donovan, which nearly results in Casca getting strangled to death before he manages to snap out of it]].

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' 3rd Edition had a wizard/sorcerer spell called Choke, which worked similarly to the Force Grip Darth Vader liked using in ''Franchise/StarWars''. It was pathetically underpowered and useless.
[[/folder]]

* This was a regular staple of Jack Bauer on ''Series/TwentyFour'' to the point of being something of a SignatureMove and known in some circles as the "patented Jack Bauer sleeper hold." Notably, it was generally depicted realistically, as described in the trope description, rather than the "immediate unconsciousness" variant so often seen in television. The ''24'' wiki indicates that it was used a total of 13 times on the series, and this despite the fact that it didn't first appear until the third season. It even came with its own CatchPhrase.

** A form of the "sleeper hold" variant comes up in ''Yoda: Literature/DarkRendezvous''. WeakButSkilled Padawan Scout has a particular move where she can grab someone's throat, cut off the blood flow, and render them unconscious in seconds without permanently damaging them. She uses it in Jedi Initiate tournaments to great effect. Scout is herself [[NeckLift grabbed and held up by the neck]] later in the novel, and later still is on the receiving end of a Force Choke, and in the narration we see her struggle to breathe and think past the reduced blood flow.

* ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution''--one of the non-lethal takedowns.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid''. Snake can sneak up on guards, grab them by the neck, and throttle them unconscious. When they wake up, they're perfectly fine. Handled ''slightly'' realistically in that Snake can kill a guard by throttling him until his neck breaks. In [=MGS3=], if guards are hungry and weak, Snake can instantly knock them out with an UnnecessaryCombatRoll.
** After beating Sniper Wolf for the first time, Snake himself got knocked out this way though.

* In some of the later ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'' games, Sam uses a choke hold as a non-lethal takedown of enemies he has grabbed. The older games had him [[TapOnTheHead hit them on the head with]] [[PistolWhipping his pistol.]]
* The ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' series plays this in a realistic way with the fiber wire; granted, it's very quick and easy, but the fact that 47 suddenly crushes his victim's windpipe very forcibly means ''it's always fatal''.
** Played [[ZigZaggedTrope somewhat straight]] in ''[[VideoGame/HitmanAbsolution Absolution]]'', which adds chokeholds; while {{mook}}s go down in about six seconds, the player ''must'' to surprise them, enemies ''always'' struggle and have to be wrestled, and 47 has to option of forcing too hard to kill by a neck break. The ''Videogame/WorldOfAssassinationTrilogy'' allows 47 to non-lethally choke out people at a much faster rate.

* In ''VideoGame/SpidermanEdgeofTime'', regular mooks can do perform a chokehold to the titular superhero restraining his movements. It also drains Spiderman's health slowly as he is getting electrocuted at the same time while other mooks can provide additional damage with no problems.

* {{VideoGame/Yakuza}}:
** In the introduction tutorial for Majima's "Thug style from ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'' were are taught to use the "Essence Of Choking", which unlike most examples of this trope is not only a counterattack HEAT move, but also mixed in with a NeckSnap for good measure. The HEAT move has Majima dodge an attack, get behind the poor mook, put them in a chokehold before snapping their neck[[note]]If that wasn't enough, not only is there a meaty [[SickeningCrunch crunch]] but the opponent is left drooling after the snap[[/note]]. Due to being ''Yakuza'' the move is usually non-fatal and the enemies will get right back up (unless the HEAT action is used to knock them down). The HEAT move can also be done if your behind your opponent too.
*** Interestingly enough it's animation is actually reused in the stealth segments involving Majima and Makoto, where after spotting a mook that can't be sneaked past with Makoto, Majima decides to let Makoto go, sneak up behind them on his own and with a series of QuickTimeEvents, puts them through the "Essence of Choking".

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': In the climax of the Season 1 finale, Lestat de Lioncourt restrains Louis de Pointe du Lac by enveloping his arm around his lover's neck from behind and then squeezing it forcefully. Although Lestat doesn't intend to kill Louis, he's still applying ample pressure to cause Louis pain, as seen by the latter's distressed facial expression as he struggles to free himself from Lestat's suffocating grip.

* Subverted by ''Series/{{Angel}}''. Someone tries to air choke the titular character only to learn, to his dismay, that that doesn't work on vampires.
** The demon tentacles one: "Yeah...vampire...strangling...not gonna happen." *Slashes tentacle with knife*

* While ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' prefers to sedate his targets, he's been known to strangle them into unconsciousness. Acceptable, considering what he plans to do with them doesn't really require them to be in the best health anyway. [[spoiler:His brother]] was considerably more fond of the sleeper hold, although his goals were basically the same.
* In an episode of ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', a sleeper hold accidentally kills someone.
* Ray Langston does it to a suspect on ''Series/{{CSI}}'' "Blood Moon", all the while going on with his doctor's expertise about what's it's doing to the guy.
* The patient of the week in one episode of ''Series/{{House}}'' stymies the team until it turns out that he's a masochist whose sex-play includes being repeatedly choked by his Mistress. Among other things, this has caused damage to the arteries in his neck.
* ''Series/BreakingBad'' includes a rather brutal and realistic choke early in the series. It takes some time and the resulting corpse is quite unattractive.
* In episode 2.04 of ''Series/OrphanBlack,'' [[spoiler:Prolethian daughter Gracie attempts to smother Helena with a pillow. Thinking she's succeeded, she walks away...only to have Helena lock her in a choke hold and whisper "Shhhh. Go to sleep."]]
* This was a regular staple of Jack Bauer on ''Series/TwentyFour'' to the point of being something of a SignatureMove and known in some circles as the "patented Jack Bauer sleeper hold." Notably, it was generally depicted realistically, as described in the trope description, rather than the "immediate unconsciousness" variant so often seen in television. The ''24'' wiki indicates that it was used a total of 13 times on the series, and this despite the fact that it didn't first appear until the third season. It even came with its own CatchPhrase.
-->'''Jack Bauer''': Don't fight it.
* In the first episode of ''Series/GLOW2017'', one wrestler uses this technique to shut up her complaining sparring partner.
* On ''Series/LostInSpace2018'', John Robinson uses one to take out a guard in "Ninety-Seven," and takes out a bunch of others by good old-fashioned fisticuffs.
* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** ''Series/{{Iron Fist|2017}}'':
*** In "Target Iron Fist," Walker subjects Joy Meachum to one after Joy decides to rifle through her papers and other possessions, against her warnings not to do so.
*** In "War Without End," Danny subjects Davos to a sleeper hold after drugging him, to keep him under control until the drug kicks in.
** ''Series/{{Luke Cage|2016}}'': During the climactic fight in "Can't Front On Me" between Luke, Misty, Shades, Mariah, and Bushmaster, Luke gets Bushmaster into a chokehold and prepares to slowly choke the life out of him, until Misty points out that he isn't going to be viewed as better than him if he finishes his foe off. Luke relents, and this allows Bushmaster to get out of the hold and escape.
** ''Series/WandaVision'': When the two Visions face off in the finale, Hex Vision (created by Wanda) gets White Vision (the original Vision, reactivated by Hayward) into a headlock. In an inversion of the ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' instance, White Vision gets out of the hold by phasing his head through Hex Vision's arms.

* Attempted and somehow inverted in ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'', where Mac attempts to knock Charlie out with a sleeper hold and instead ends up passing out himself.
-->'''Charlie''': Your head of security just choked himself out.

[[folder: Anime And Manga]]

[[folder: Film]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]

* In ''Film/StarTrek2009'', Kirk goads Spock into getting angry, [[CurbStompBattle leading to a brutal beatdown]] which culminates in Kirk getting a chokehold. Spock only stops when his father, Sarek, demands that he does so.

Of course, real life isn't as clean.

* Alex is hesitant about the idea in ''Fanfic/TheSecretReturnOfAlexMack'', but eventually gets backed into a corner by an opponent immune to electricity, and uses her telekinesis to pinch his carotid artery closed. It eventually becomes one of her standard takedown methods.

*** Interestingly enough it's animation is actually reused in the stealth segments involving Majima and Makoto, where after
spotting a mook that can't be sneaked past with Makoto, Majima decides to let Makoto go, sneak up behind them on his own and with a series of QuickTimeEvents, puts them through the "Essence of Choking".

** In ''[[VideoGame/Yakuza1 Yakuza Kiwami]]'', when fighting Majima make sure the Mad Dog isn't behind Kiryu or he'll eagerly let the Dragon of Dojima know the "Essence of Choking".

** In the introduction tutorial to Majima's "Thug" style from ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'' has him use the "Essence of Choking", which is basically this trope mixed in with NeckSnap for good measure, however it's usually used as a counterattack HEAT action, instead for stealth. Where Majima nonchalantly dodges a punch thrown by the enemies, gets behind them as they try to look for him, puts them in a chokehold and then snaps their neck[[note]]If that wasn't enough not only is there a meaty [[SickeningCrunch crunch]] but the opponent is left drooling after the snap[[/note]]. Due to being ''Yakuza'' the move is usually non-fatal and the enemies will get right back up (unless the HEAT action is used to knock them out). The HEAT move can also be done if your behind your opponent too.

spotting a mook that can't be sneaked past, Majima sneaks up behind them with a series of QuickTimeEvents and once close puts them in a chokehold and snaps their neck.

** In the stealth segments for ''VideoGame/LostJudgment'', Yagami's stealth takedown involves kicking the back of the enemies' legs to get them down before putting them on a choke hold, Kaito on the other hand just opts to punch their lights out.

** In the introduction tutorial to Majima's "Thug" style from ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'' has him use the "Essence of Choking", which is basically this trope mixed in with NeckSnap for good measure, however it's used as a counterattack HEAT action, instead for stealth. Where Majima nonchalantly dodges a punch thrown by the enemies, puts them in a chokehold and then snaps their neck[[note]]If that wasn't enough not only is there a meaty [[SickeningCrunch crunch]] but the opponent is left drooling after the snap[[/note]]. Due to being ''Yakuza'' the move is usually non-fatal and the enemies will get right back up (unless the HEAT action is used to knock them out). The HEAT move can also be done if your behind your opponent too.
*** Interestingly enough it's animation is actually reused in the Stealth segments involving Majima and Makoto, where after a series of QuickTimeEvents he sneaks up on an enemy, puts them in a chokehold and snaps their neck.
** In ''[[VideoGame/Yakuza1 Yakuza Kiwami]], when fighting Majima make sure the Mad Dog isn't behind Kiryu or he'll eagerly let the Dragon of Dojima know the "Essence of Choking".
** In the stealth segments for ''VideoGame/LostJudgement'', Yagami's stealth takedown involves kicking the back of the enemies' legs to get them down before putting them on a choke hold, Kaito on the other hand just opts to punch their lights out.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' episode "Ghosts of the Sargasso", Brock teaches Hank, over a walkie-talkie, on how to perform a blood choke. He then uncannily instructs Hank to [[TooDumbToLive "let go of [his] own throat"]].

* ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'': Played for Drama when Tanjiro tries to stop Sanemi from harming Nezuko. Obanai responds by forcefully holding Tanjiro down with his elbow and violently chokes him in a manner similar to how Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd. This forced Giyu to stop Obanai by grabbing his left arm, freeing Tanjiro. Obanai was rebuked by Kagaya for his actions to Tanjiro.

* ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'': Played for Drama when Tanjiro tries to stop Sanemi from harming Nezuko. Obanai responds by forcefully holds Tanjiro down with his elbow and violently chokes him in a manner similar to how Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd. This forced Giyu to stop Obanai by grabbing his left arm, freeing Tanjiro. Obanai was rebuked by Kagaya for his actions to Tanjiro.