Rolling crucifix from turtle position. #crucifix#brazilianjiujitsu #chokes
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Standard Crucifix Roll·Sickness Ferro·Added by Admin
Rolling crucifix from turtle. Please hit the red subscribe button!! Thank you Instagram: Sickness81 Instagram: Ferroac…
Standard Crucifix Roll
Genusスタンダードクルシフィックスロール(Sutandādo Kurushifikkusu Rōru)
TransliterationTranslation: standard crucifix roll
Overview
The Standard Crucifix Roll executes the fundamental crucifix escape by bridging explosively and rolling toward the side where the arm is trapped by the opponent's legs, using the rolling momentum to dislodge the leg control and free the arm. [1] The defender bridges high, then commits to a sharp lateral roll, using the body's rotational force to break the attacker's leg grip on the trapped arm. [1],[2] As the arm comes free, the defender immediately works to turn into the attacker and recover a guard or neutral position. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The standard crucifix roll is the fundamental rolling escape from the crucifix position. [1]
Lineage
A standard BJJ crucifix escape. [1]
Competition Record
Used in BJJ competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Breaking the opponent's leg control to advance to a more dominant position
Joints Involved — Hips (posture and pressure), knees (opening the guard with knee-in or standing), hands (grip fighting)
Force Vector — Forward pressure (stack/smash) or backward posture (stand-up break) to open the closed guard
Passing Mechanic — Once the guard is opened, speed passing, pressure passing, or toreando passing advances the position
Position & Entry
From bottom side control — Create frames with the forearms against the opponent's neck and hip, hip escape (shrimp) to create space, insert the knee to recover guard
From underhook escape — Swim the near arm to an underhook, bridge into the opponent and come to knees or reverse
From opponent's transition — When the opponent moves to mount or north-south, use the movement to create space and escape
Variants
Shrimp to guard — framing and hip-escaping to recover full guard or half guard
Underhook escape — winning the underhook and coming to knees or reversing
Bridge to knees — bridging into the opponent and transitioning to turtle or single-leg
Ghost escape — inverting under the opponent to re-guard from the opposite side
Videos
How To Set Up The Crucifix Choke From Turtle Position
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Standard Crucifix Roll·MMA Leech·Added by Admin
Got Crucifix Choke? If you want to spice things up when in top Turtle position, then take a look at this video where I e…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The standard crucifix roll is a back-escape reversal executed from turtle position, initiated when an opponent has trapped or controlled one of the defender's arms. MMA Leech's Professor Gustavo emphasizes precise arm control before entry: the defender must chop and isolate the opponent's arm using a gable grip, then walk the knee between the opponent's elbow and knee to create space for leg entanglement. He details two roll directions—forward (more common) and to the side—with the forward roll requiring the defender to roll over the opponent's shoulder while controlling the wrist and tucking the opponent's hand toward the belly to disable base. Sickness Ferro's Professor Ray Ferrell teaches a similar entry but focuses on seatbelt control and ankle crossing to tighten the squeeze before rolling. Both instructors agree the roll concludes in a dominant position enabling choke attacks; Gustavo emphasizes the figure-four grip and elbow positioning for the crucifix choke, while Ferrell details multiple finishing options including the basic back choke, paper cutter, and Ezekiel choke. Ferrell additionally notes armbar and collar control variations available after the roll completes. Both stress timing and preventing the opponent's arm escape during the transition.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- MMA Leech — How To Set Up The Crucifix Choke From Turtle Position: Detailed mechanics of arm isolation via chop control, gable grip application, knee placement between elbow and knee, forward roll execution over opponent's shoulder, and figure-four crucifix choke finishing with elbow alignment and neck cutting mechanics.
- Sickness Ferro — Rolling crucifix from turtle position. #crucifix#brazilianjiujitsu #chokes: Seatbelt control entry, ankle crossing technique for tightening squeeze, timing of roll execution, and multiple finishing options including basic back choke, paper cutter, Ezekiel choke, and armbar variations from the finished position.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Back escapes must address choke threat while escaping; urgency increases injury risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive/transitional technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— NCAA Folkstyle — Legal, escape scores 1 point, reversal s...
NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓Standard crucifix roll execution: tuck the chin, post the free hand, drive forward over the free-arm shoulder, and roll through until you're facing the opponent in guard (Marcelo Garcia, Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2011)
✓Step 1: protect the neck by tucking the chin and shrugging the shoulder
✓Step 2: post the free hand on the mat in front of you
✓Step 3: drive forward and roll over the posted shoulder, carrying your legs over
✓Step 4: as you complete the rotation, extract the trapped arm from the opponent's leg control
✓Step 5: immediately establish closed guard or half guard to prevent the opponent from re-taking the back
✓The roll direction is always over the free-arm side — rolling over the trapped arm doesn't break the position
✓The entire roll should take 1-2 seconds — it's an explosive, committed movement
✓Drill the crucifix roll from a fully locked crucifix with progressive resistance
Common Mistakes
!Rolling over the wrong shoulder (trapped-arm side) — always roll over the free-arm shoulder
!Not driving with the legs to generate rolling momentum — the legs provide the power; don't rely on upper body alone
!Leaving the chin exposed during the roll — tuck the chin to protect the neck throughout the rotation
!Not extracting the arm as you roll — the arm must be pulled free during the rotation, not after
!Ending the roll on your back without guard — immediately recover guard upon completing the rotation
!Rolling too slowly and allowing the opponent to follow — the roll must be fast and decisive
!Not training the roll from a realistic crucifix position — have your partner fully lock the crucifix before you drill
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Create Space — use frames, hip movement, or leverage to generate room to move
2Disrupt Control — break or weaken the opponent's grips and weight placement
3Execute Escape — apply the specific escape mechanic with timing and commitment
4Recover Position — establish a safe position (guard, standing, or top)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003) [2] Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2007)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003) [2] Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2007)
5CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip escape (shrimping) speed, framing strength, timing
Favours
flexible hips and quick lateral movement
Key muscles
hip flexors, obliques, triceps (framing), core
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I secure the grip before rolling in a crucifix from turtle?
Sickness Ferro emphasizes using a seatbelt grip with your hand grabbing the opponent's wrist while squeezing your knees together tightly. You want to avoid staying in this position too long before rolling, as it gives your opponent time to escape the trapped arm.
What's the key to executing the roll smoothly?
According to Sickness Ferro, you should be on your tippy toes and use that positioning to roll over, then scoop underneath your opponent while maintaining your grip. As you roll, push your arm out to lock their arm in place, then transition to a basic back choke by grabbing the opposite collar.
How do I finish the choke after rolling?
Sickness Ferro explains that after rolling, grab the opposite collar with one hand and pull down while pushing your other arm in behind their head. Keep your arm positioned close to their head rather than stretching for space, and you can make a fist to curl the arm down as you apply pressure.
What should I avoid when setting up the crucifix from turtle?
MMA Leech notes that you don't want your arm too deep initially, as the opponent can track and walk you out. When your leg gets behind their arm, be prepared for them to try controlling your other leg or taking you down.
How does the Standard Crucifix Roll work?
The Standard Crucifix Roll executes the fundamental crucifix escape by bridging explosively and rolling toward the side where the arm is trapped by the opponent's legs, using the rolling momentum to dislodge the leg control and free the arm. The defender bridges high, then commits to a sharp lateral roll, using the body's rotational force to break the attacker's leg grip on the trapped arm.
Where does the Standard Crucifix Roll come from?
The standard crucifix roll is the primary escape taught for the crucifix position, developed through competitive grappling as fighters encountered this position more frequently. It remains the most commonly taught crucifix escape in BJJ and MMA.
Is the Standard Crucifix Roll legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive/transitional technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal, escape scores 1 point (freestyle), reversal scores 1 point; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, escape scores 1 point, reversal scores 2 points
How dangerous is the Standard Crucifix Roll?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — back escapes must address choke threat while escaping; urgency increases injury risk
How do I set up the Standard Crucifix Roll?
The standard setup chain: Create Space → Disrupt Control → Execute Escape → Recover Position.
How do I defend against the Standard Crucifix Roll?
Standard counters include: Heavy Hips — maintain low hip pressure and wide base to absorb the bridge / Grapevine — hook legs inside opponent's thighs to neutralize hip movement / Post Hand — post arm on the mat in the direction of the bridge to maintain balance.
What are the variants of the Standard Crucifix Roll?
Common variants: Shrimp to guard (framing and hip-escaping to recover full guard or half guard); Underhook escape (winning the underhook and coming to knees or reversing); Bridge to knees (bridging into the opponent and transitioning to turtle or…); Ghost escape (inverting under the opponent to re-guard from the opposit…).
How effective is the Standard Crucifix Roll in competition?
Used in BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Crucifix Roll?
Top errors to watch for: Rolling over the wrong shoulder (trapped-arm side) — always roll over the free-arm shoulder / Not driving with the legs to generate rolling momentum — the legs provide the power; don't rely on upper body alone / Leaving the chin exposed during the roll — tuck the chin to protect the neck throughout the rotation / Not extracting the arm as you roll — the arm must be pulled free during the rotation, not after.
What are other names for the Standard Crucifix Roll?
The Standard Crucifix Roll is also known as Sutandādo Kurushifikkusu Rōru, Basic Crucifix Roll, Crucifix Escape Roll.