Crucifix Control
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Crucifix Back Control·John Will
A basic Intro to the Crucifix position
Crucifix Back Control
SubFamilyクルシフィックスバックコントロール(Kurushifikkusu Bakku Kontorōru)
TransliterationTranslation: crucifix back control
Overview
The Crucifix Back Control subfamily covers the extreme back control position where the controlling fighter traps both of the opponent's arms — one arm with the legs and the other with the arms — leaving the opponent completely immobilised. [1] The crucifix is one of the most dominant control positions in all of grappling because the defender has no arms available for defence, making them completely vulnerable to strikes (in MMA) and chokes. [1],[2] The position requires significant skill to establish but provides near-total control once secured. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
The crucifix is used in both BJJ and MMA competition; Chan Sung Jung famously submitted Dustin Poirier via twister from a crucifix setup at UFC 2012. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Controlling the opponent from behind — seatbelt grip and hooks restrict movement while exposing the neck
Joints Involved — Attacker's hooks (inside the opponent's thighs), seatbelt arm (over-under chest control), hips (body triangle or hooks)
Force Vector — Rearward control — opponent cannot see or effectively counter attacks from behind
Positional Mechanic — Back control is the highest-value position — direct access to rear chokes with minimal defensive options for the opponent
Position & Entry
From arm drag or duck under — Create an angle behind the opponent, secure seatbelt grip, insert hooks to establish back control
From turtle (opponent turtles) — When the opponent turtles to avoid guard pass, take the back by inserting hooks and securing the seatbelt
From sweep (taking the back during the sweep) — During a sweep, circle behind and establish back control instead of ending on top
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Back control is dominant position; enables rear chokes (Danaher 2021)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, back control with hooks or body triangle s...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal — back control leads to pin or submission opp...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— 4 from sweep
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — dominant position for ground-and-po...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— UWW — Legal — back exposure is the primary scoring mechan...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The crucifix from back control traps both of the opponent's arms — one arm trapped between the legs, the other controlled by the seatbelt arm — creating a completely defenceless position (Danaher, Back Attacks, 2018)
✓The crucifix is the most dominant variant of back control because the opponent has no hands to defend chokes
✓Entry: from back control, trap one arm between your legs (triangle the arm with your legs), then control the other arm with your hands
✓The crucifix exposes the opponent's neck completely — they cannot hand-fight against the choke
✓From the crucifix, attacks include: neck cranks, rear naked choke (with no hand defence), and wrist locks
✓In MMA, the crucifix allows devastating ground strikes — the opponent's face is completely unprotected
✓The crucifix can be entered from turtle as well as from standard back control
✓The crucifix is a fight-ending position in MMA — several UFC fights have been finished from this control
Common Mistakes
!Not trapping both arms — the crucifix requires control of both; one free arm allows defence
!Losing the arm trap between the legs — the leg triangle on the arm must be tight
!Attempting chokes before both arms are fully controlled — secure the crucifix first, then attack
!Not maintaining back connection — the crucifix still requires chest-to-back contact
!Over-extending to reach the second arm and losing the first — secure one arm, then methodically trap the second
!Not training crucifix entries — the transition from back control or turtle to crucifix requires specific drilling
!Using the crucifix only defensively (holding) without attacking — the position offers immediate finishing opportunities
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Achieve Position — transition into this position through passing, sweeping, or scrambling
2Stabilize — establish controlling grips and weight distribution
3Maintain — adjust to the opponent's escape attempts to hold position
4Attack — launch offensive techniques from the stabilized position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2011)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [3] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
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] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [3] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
5CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hook control, seatbelt grip endurance, hip connection
Favours
long legs for deep hooks, strong grip for seatbelt
Key muscles
hip adductors, biceps, forearms, core
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the downstream position make it harder for my opponent to escape crucifix back control?
John Will explains that when the crucifix is positioned downstream, it makes the opponent's escape significantly more difficult compared to other angles.
What weight distribution mistake should I avoid in crucifix back control?
John Will warns against putting too much weight in the center of your opponent's body, as this allows them to collapse and arm roll you over in that direction.
How does the Crucifix Back Control work?
The Crucifix Back Control subfamily covers the extreme back control position where the controlling fighter traps both of the opponent's arms — one arm with the legs and the other with the arms — leaving the opponent completely immobilised. The crucifix is one of the most dominant control positions in all of grappling because the defender has no arms available for defence, making them completely vulnerable to strikes (in MMA) and chokes.
Where does the Crucifix Back Control come from?
The crucifix position has roots in wrestling and was developed as a finishing position in BJJ and MMA. Its devastating effectiveness in MMA, where it allows completely undefended ground-and-pound, has made it one of the most feared positions in the sport.
Is the Crucifix Back Control legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, back control with hooks or body triangle scores 4 points; IJF: legal — Legal — back control leads to pin or submission opportunities; ADCC: legal — Legal, back mount scores 3 points (4 from sweep); Unified MMA: legal — Legal — dominant position for ground-and-pound and rear naked choke; UWW: legal — Legal — back exposure is the primary scoring mechanism in wrestling; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Crucifix Back Control?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — back control is dominant position; enables rear chokes (Danaher 2021)
How do I set up the Crucifix Back Control?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Position → Stabilize → Maintain → Attack.
How do I defend against the Crucifix Back Control?
Standard counters include: Hand Fight — grip-fight the choking hand to prevent the rear naked choke / Shoulder Walk — walk shoulders to the mat to escape back control / Turn into Guard — rotate to face the attacker and recover guard position.
What are the variants of the Crucifix Back Control?
Common variants: Back control with hooks (both feet hooked inside the opponent's thighs); Body triangle back control (legs locked in a figure-four around the torso); Rear mount (mounted on the back with both hooks, opponent face-down); Chair sit back control (sitting behind the opponent with hooks, upright position).
How effective is the Crucifix Back Control in competition?
The crucifix is used in both BJJ and MMA competition; Chan Sung Jung famously submitted Dustin Poirier via twister from a crucifix setup at UFC 2012.
What are common mistakes when doing the Crucifix Back Control?
Top errors to watch for: Not trapping both arms — the crucifix requires control of both; one free arm allows defence / Losing the arm trap between the legs — the leg triangle on the arm must be tight / Attempting chokes before both arms are fully controlled — secure the crucifix first, then attack / Not maintaining back connection — the crucifix still requires chest-to-back contact.
What are other names for the Crucifix Back Control?
The Crucifix Back Control is also known as Kurushifikkusu Bakku Kontorōru, Crucifix, Crucifix Position, Jūmonji Gatame (十文字固).