Cross Collar Choke
Submission · Mount
A blood choke with both hands in the collar: as your elbows spread, the collar presses both sides of his neck. From mount, sitting high enough that his elbows cannot slide inside your knees, it comes when he leaves his collar open. Open it with one hand and feed the other deep, four fingers inside, as far toward the back of his neck as you can; the first grip decides the choke. Put the second hand in the other side just as deep. Drop your head to the mat beside his, on the side you attack, as a post against the bridge, then bend both wrists so their bony edges cut into the sides of his neck, elbows wide and down, chest low. Pulling toward yourself only lifts his head. If he pushes your elbows, take the S-mount armbar. Close slowly.
How to do it
- Open their collar with one hand and feed a deep first grip with the other: four fingers inside the collar, as far back toward the back of the neck as you can reach.
- Put the second hand into the other side of the collar, just as deep, so both sides of the neck will be pressed; when he guards with both hands, go over your first arm thumb-in, behind his ear, past his fingers.
- Drop your head to the mat beside theirs, on the side you are attacking, to stay balanced so a bridge cannot roll you off.
- Bend both wrists so the bony edges press the sides of the neck, elbows going apart and down, chest low on them; the arms barely move, and the collar closes on both sides of the neck.
Key details
- The deep first grip decides the choke: the deeper it is, the less the second hand has to do.
- Head down beside theirs keeps you from being rolled, because it adds a post on the side they would bridge to.
- Elbows go down and apart; pulling toward yourself only lifts the head.
- Move your head to the side you are attacking, next to theirs, so a bridge cannot roll you off.
- Slide the whole forearm in along his neck first and only then set the fingers: grabbing first and then sliding the grip deeper rarely works.
- While the first hand grips, shift your body slightly toward your free hand: he can only bridge you off on the side of the gripping arm, which cannot post.
Common mistakes
- Sitting up while choking. — Sitting up takes your weight off them, and the bridge throws you off. — Stay low with your head on the mat beside theirs as a post.
- A shallow second grip. — One side of the neck has no pressure, so blood still flows on that side. — Make both grips deep so both sides of the neck are pressed.
- Pulling toward yourself. — It lifts the head but does not close the collar. — Drive the elbows down and apart.
- Squeezing with the arms. — He can push your elbows together and fight the arms, and they tire. — Bend the wrists: he can fight your arms, not your wrists.
If they defend
- They push your elbows. → Their arms rise: S-mount armbar.
- They bridge and turn. → Turning shows the back: technical mount.
How to drill it
Grip fight from mount, 1-minute rounds; then finish slowly on the partner who stops fighting.
Safety
Close slowly.
What comes next