The carotid is right under the skin on the sides of the neck. Academically, I suspect you absolutely could reach it with a push pin.
In Jiu Jitsu, you're taught to squeeze on the sides of the neck for a choke. The goal is not to cut off the air supply via the throat so much as the blood supply to the brain via the carotids. Many people pass out in 20-30 seconds of directed relatively gentle pressure on the carotids.
We were recently talking about choke holds in Krav Maga, and it’s shockingly fast when the sides of the neck are squeezed. Within about 5 seconds, for me, I start to get tunnel vision and a profound sense of panic.
SEJeff|7 years ago
In Jiu Jitsu, you're taught to squeeze on the sides of the neck for a choke. The goal is not to cut off the air supply via the throat so much as the blood supply to the brain via the carotids. Many people pass out in 20-30 seconds of directed relatively gentle pressure on the carotids.
tonyarkles|7 years ago