What's A Blood Choke? Donald Williams Explains Derek Chauvin's Hold On George Floyd

The second day of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s trial got underway Tuesday with the prosecution calling Donald Williams, a trained martial arts fighter, to testify about the physical actions that led to the death of George Floyd.

Williams, 33, explained under oath that the move Chauvin used while holding Floyd down is called a “blood choke.” This hold compresses the arteries and veins on the side of the neck that circulate blood to and from the brain, according to Self Defense Tutorials.

At the scene of the killing, Williams had explained to Chauvin that what he was doing was a martial arts move, as Chauvin continued to press his knee on Floyd’s neck. He also testified that Chauvin was using a “shimmy” hold, which restricts the victim’s movements.

Williams explained the photo of Chauvin looking at the camera.

"The only reason why he's looking at me right now is because I told him it was a 'blood choke,'" Williams told the prosecution.

Williams was on his way into Cup Foods when he saw the situation unfold. He told the prosecution that he heard the man on the ground saying that he couldn't breathe and that he was in pain.

Williams also said that after an ambulance arrived, Chauvin had kept his knee on Floyd's neck.

Chauvin, 45, was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of Floyd last May. Chauvin had arrested Floyd for using a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store.

The three other Minneapolis officers involved in Floyd's death — Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao — will be tried separately for aiding and abetting second-degree murder, according to the New York Times.