| abstract | - There are two kinds of chokes. Blood and air. The air choke is when someone is choked unconscious by cutting off his air supply. The air to the lungs is suspended. In fiction the person chokes and flails in silence, and after maybe thirty seconds he is rendered unconscious. In reality, cutting off someone's air supply would take several minutes and he'd be at full strength the whole time. Do not choke someone this way (Fridge Logic: If you're reasonably athletic and don't smoke, you can probably hold your breath for over a minute voluntarily. Try it; there's no risk. Why should a choke hold be any different?) The blood choke is when someone is choked unconscious by cutting off his blood. The supply of blood to the brain is suspended. In fiction the person goes cross-eyed and immediately succumbs to unconsciousness. In reality, the process takes a few seconds and the victim understands what's happening and can protest, in the brief window available. Do choke someone this way, if you know what you're doing. If you don't, you can kill someone. Sometimes a blood choke causes the collapse of the arteries carrying blood to the brain and, inevitably, death. This is why cops no longer employ "The Sleeper Hold". It kills. It's possible for a karate chop to be a form of a choke. If a blow to the neck is intended to hit the carotid artery and briefly interrupt blood flow it's a stunning blood choke. If it's a blow to the side of the neck it's intended to strike the vagus nerve and is a Pressure Point strike. The typical depiction of a karate chop is a Tap on the Head. Instant Sedation is very common. Compare Tap on the Head where unconsciousness is rendered with a blow, The Paralyzer (Vulcan nerve pinch included). Also, the Vorpal Pillow, where a choke hold causes instant death. This is a choking trope.
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