Cross-Collar Choke
- BJJ
- Submissions
- intermediate
- Closed guard
- 4 steps
Feed both hands deep into the collars and flare the elbows to strangle from guard. Also known as the X-choke or the Cross-collar from guard. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 4 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.
When to use it
Use the cross-collar choke in the gi when the opponent is broken down in your closed guard. Feed the first hand deep before they can posture up. It also lands as they hunch forward to defend a sweep.
Step by step
- 01
Control posture in guard
Break them down so you can reach the collar without being posted out of.
- 02
First grip deep
Thread one hand deep into the collar, thumb inside, fingers on the cloth behind the neck.
- 03
Second grip & break down
Feed the second hand under the first into the other collar and pull their posture down to you.
- 04
Flare the elbows & finish
Pull them in, turn the palms and drive the elbows down and out to close the strangle on both sides of the neck.
Key details
- Get the first grip as deep as possible. Depth is what makes the choke tight.
- The cutting pressure comes from the blades of the wrists, not crushing with the arms.
- Pull them in and flare the elbows; do not just pull straight back.
Common mistakes
- Shallow grips that put pressure on the jaw instead of the neck.
- Letting the opponent posture up before the second grip is in.
- Pulling with the hands without flaring the elbows to cut.
Common counters
Opponents posture up, strip the first grip, or push your top elbow up and across to take the bite off the neck. A shallow first grip only presses on the jaw. Get the first grip deep and flare the elbows to finish.
How to drill it
In closed guard with your partner broken down, feed the first grip as deep as you can, then the second, and finish slowly, ten reps. Then work three rounds of two minutes where your partner fights the grips.
Related techniques
- Triangle ChokeBJJTrap the head and one arm and strangle with your legs in a figure-four around the neck.
- Armbar from GuardBJJIsolate an arm, swing a leg over the head and extend the hips to attack the elbow.
- Kimura from GuardBJJTrap a posted arm, figure-four the wrist and rotate the shoulder to finish.
- WristlockBJJTrap their hand flat against your body and bend the wrist forward to load the small joint.
- Scissor SweepBJJLoad a shin across the body and scissor the legs to sweep the opponent and come up on top.
- Hip Bump SweepBJJSit up, reach over the shoulder and bump your hips to roll the opponent over into mount.
Train it with the AI coach