Cross Collar Choke - Fundamentals Made Easy
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Cross Collar Choke From Mount·Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu
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Cross Collar Choke From Mount
Species十字絞（マウントから）(Juji-jime — From Mount)
TraditionalTranslation: Cross Strangle — From Mount
Overview
The cross collar choke from mount uses the dominant mount position to apply a crossed-grip lapel strangle with gravity-assisted pressure. [1],[2] From mount, the attacker feeds both hands deep into the collar, crosses the forearms, and drops weight forward while squeezing to compress both carotid arteries. [1] The mount position limits the defender's hip escape options, making this one of the highest-percentage gi submissions from top position. [2]
History & Origin
The cross collar choke from mount is a classical application of juji-jime (十字絞) executed from the top-mount position, one of the most dominant positions in grappling. Jigoro Kano codified juji-jime within the Kodokan judo shime-waza syllabus, and the mounted cross collar choke is the most direct application of this technique — the practitioner's bodyweight assists the choking pressure. [1] In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the cross collar choke from mount was a staple of Helio Gracie's teaching, as mount was considered the ultimate dominant position in the Gracie self-defence methodology. [2] Renzo Gracie and Royler Gracie identify the mounted cross collar choke as one of the fundamental submissions that demonstrates the principle of using positional dominance to amplify technique. [3] The technique featured prominently in early UFC and Vale Tudo events, where Royce Gracie and other BJJ practitioners used mount-based collar chokes against larger opponents. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The cross collar choke from mount uses gravity and positional dominance to enhance the collar grip strangle, making it extremely difficult to defend. [1]
Lineage
The mounted cross collar choke was a signature attack of early BJJ practitioners, used by Royce Gracie in UFC 1 (1993). [1]
Competition Record
The mounted cross collar choke has been used in UFC and IBJJF competition since the earliest events. Royce Gracie submitted several opponents with this technique at UFC 1-4. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within seconds
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), glenohumeral joint of the trapped arm (if arm-in), nuchal region
Force Vector — Lateral squeeze creates inward pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously
Choking Mechanism — Vascular strangle — occludes carotid arteries and jugular veins, distinct from airway (tracheal) chokes
Position & Entry
From closed guard (gi) — Secure deep cross-collar grip, feed second hand to the opposite collar, close elbows and squeeze
From closed guard (no-gi) — Break posture, wrap neck with arm, secure the choking configuration using head and arm control
From open guard — Use spider or collar-sleeve grips to break posture, transition to the choking position
Variants
Palm-up palm-down cross collar — standard gi choke with opposing hand rotations
Deep collar cross choke — fingers inserted deep past the label for maximum leverage
Loop choke variant — one collar grip feeds the loop for a tighter neck compression
Videos
ROGER GRACIE Shows How To Do the Perfect Cross Choke From Mount
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Cross Collar Choke From Mount·Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
Roger Gracie Explains How To Do the Perfect Cross Choke From Mount - Roger Gracie teaches How To Do the Cross Choke From…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The cross collar choke from mount is executed by establishing a high, controlling mount position before initiating the submission. Both Jordan Teaches Jiu-Jitsu and Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics emphasize the critical importance of positioning and grip depth. Jordan stresses feeding one lapel to the opposite hand while pulling slack and achieving maximum depth—wrapping the wrist around the neck such that the hard part of the wrist contacts the soft part of the neck rather than the trachea. The second hand must grab the remaining lapel flap as close as possible to the first hand, with elbows positioned underneath rather than over the chin to avoid crushing the face. Jorge Gracie (via Bernardo Faria) adds nuanced positional details: maintaining a high mount prevents the opponent's elbows from creating space, and the attacker must stay slightly to the defending side when securing the first arm to resist bridge escapes. Jorge emphasizes feeding the entire arm through the collar before establishing the grip, and notes that the second hand often requires going behind the ear to bypass the opponent's two-handed defense. Both instructors agree that the finish involves bringing the elbows together tightly—opening the elbows enlarges the choking hole and is a common mistake—and that head placement on the mat or body positioning provides mechanical advantage for the finish.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Jordan Teaches Jiu-Jitsu — Cross Collar Choke - Fundamentals Made Easy: Detailed grip mechanics: feeding one lapel to the other hand with maximum depth, positioning the wrist on the soft part of the neck, grabbing the second lapel flap close to the first hand, and keeping elbows underneath the chin. Emphasized the common finishing error of opening elbows rather than tightening them.
- Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics — ROGER GRACIE Shows How To Do the Perfect Cross Choke From Mount: Advanced positional and defensive considerations: maintaining high mount to prevent elbow escape, body positioning to resist bridge escapes, inserting the entire arm before gripping, using behind-the-ear grip placement to bypass two-handed collar defense, and the relationship between mount height and vulnerability to specific escapes.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Mount cross choke adds gravity and body weight to the strangle, increasing finishing pressure
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFRestricted
— no-gi competition only — technique requires gi
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— technique requires gi — not applicable in MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The cross-collar choke from mount is considered the most technically pure submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — Roger Gracie's signature technique (Gracie & Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)
✓From mount, the first hand feeds deep into the collar while driving the elbow to the mat beside the opponent's head — this secures the deep grip and maintains mount
✓The second hand crosses over and grips the opposite collar — the forearms now form an X across the opponent's neck
✓The mount position adds body weight to the choke: drive your head forward toward the mat above the opponent's head — this adds the weight of the head and shoulders to the forearm pressure
✓The mounted cross-collar creates a classic dilemma: the opponent must either accept the choke or expose their arms trying to escape — creating armbar opportunities
✓Roger Gracie's instruction: 'Keep the first grip at all costs. The second grip finishes the choke.' — the deep first grip is the battle
✓The mount provides the best platform for the cross-collar: the weight pins the opponent, the legs prevent bridging, and both hands are free to attack the collar
Common Mistakes
!Losing mount while inserting the first grip — maintain base throughout; the grip entry should not compromise positional control
!Not placing the elbow on the mat — the first hand's elbow must post on the mat beside the opponent's head to anchor the grip and maintain mount
!Sitting too high — stay low on the mount with the hips forward; sitting high creates space for the opponent to bridge
!Not driving the head forward for the finish — the head drives toward the mat above the opponent's head, adding weight to the choke
!Pulling the elbows outward — the elbows pull toward the attacker's own chest, not out to the sides
!Allowing the opponent's arms inside — if both elbows are inside your frame, they can bench-press and bridge; keep at least one arm trapped
!Not combining with the armbar — when the opponent reaches up to defend the choke, the armbar is open; the cross-collar and armbar are complementary from mount
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinkingTwo-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locksTurn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressurePosture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle
Setup Chain
1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied
2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat
3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)
4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Juji-jime
1BookKodokan Judo — Juji-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Juji-jime
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKodokan Judo — Juji-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Juji-jime
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip or squeeze strength, positional control
Favours
strong upper body for sustained compression
Key muscles
forearms, biceps, pectorals, core stabilisers
Notes
The cross collar choke from mount is the most fundamental gi submission from the mount position. Uses both hands gripping deep into the opponent's collar with the knuckles pressing into the carotid arteries. Taught in every BJJ school as the first mount submission. (Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University; Gracie & Danaher, Mastering Jujitsu)
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should I wrap my arm when setting up the cross collar choke from mount?
You need to wrap yourself around as deep as possible—deeper than most people initially think. Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu emphasizes that you want to get your wrist and forearm on the soft part of the opponent's neck rather than on the trachea, which requires going much deeper than feels natural at first.
Should my elbow go over or under the chin when finishing the cross collar choke?
Your elbow should go underneath the chin, not over it. Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu explains that placing your elbow over the chin will crush the opponent's face, whereas going underneath and bringing your elbows together creates a pure choke without facial pressure.
What's the most common mistake people make when finishing the cross collar choke?
The most common mistake is opening your elbows during the finish instead of bringing them closer together. Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu recommends putting your head on the mat for base and pulling your elbows in toward your body to get the finish, rather than spreading them apart.
When should I focus on getting my second hand grip during the cross collar choke?
Focus on getting your whole arm deep through the opponent's defense first before worrying about the grip. Roger Gracie (via Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics) explains that once one arm is in deep, the opponent will use both hands to defend that side, so establish depth and position before securing the second hand grip.
How should my body position change between controlling the mount and finishing the choke?
Stay tall and deep initially to prevent escape, then drop your body down low when you're ready to finish. Roger Gracie emphasizes that staying very tall keeps the opponent from bridging you off, but when executing the choke, your body goes all the way down while staying low to prevent them from pushing you away.
How does the Cross Collar Choke From Mount work?
The cross collar choke from mount uses the dominant mount position to apply a crossed-grip lapel strangle with gravity-assisted pressure. From mount, the attacker feeds both hands deep into the collar, crosses the forearms, and drops weight forward while squeezing to compress both carotid arteries.
Where does the Cross Collar Choke From Mount come from?
The cross collar choke from mount is a classical application of juji-jime (十字絞) executed from the top-mount position, one of the most dominant positions in grappling. Jigoro Kano codified juji-jime within the Kodokan judo shime-waza syllabus, and the mounted cross collar choke is the most direct application of this technique — the practitioner's bodyweight assists the choking pressure.
Is the Cross Collar Choke From Mount legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: restricted — N/A (no-gi competition only — technique requires gi); Unified MMA: restricted — N/A (technique requires gi — not applicable in MMA); FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Cross Collar Choke From Mount?
Danger rating 8/10. Mount cross choke adds gravity and body weight to the strangle, increasing finishing pressure
How do I set up the Cross Collar Choke From Mount?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Cross Collar Choke From Mount?
Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.
What are the variants of the Cross Collar Choke From Mount?
Common variants: Palm-up palm-down cross collar (standard gi choke with opposing hand rotations); Deep collar cross choke (fingers inserted deep past the label for maximum leverage); Loop choke variant (one collar grip feeds the loop for a tighter neck compres…).
How effective is the Cross Collar Choke From Mount in competition?
The mounted cross collar choke has been used in UFC and IBJJF competition since the earliest events. Royce Gracie submitted several opponents with this technique at UFC 1-4.
What are common mistakes when doing the Cross Collar Choke From Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Losing mount while inserting the first grip — maintain base throughout; the grip entry should not compromise position… / Not placing the elbow on the mat — the first hand's elbow must post on the mat beside the opponent's head to anchor t… / Sitting too high — stay low on the mount with the hips forward; sitting high creates space for the opponent to bridge / Not driving the head forward for the finish — the head drives toward the mat above the opponent's head, adding weight….
What are other names for the Cross Collar Choke From Mount?
The Cross Collar Choke From Mount is also known as Juji-jime — From Mount, Mounted Cross Choke, Mount Juji-jime, Mount Collar Choke.