The cross-collar choke from mount is a classic gi submission leveraging the opponent’s lapels to apply direct pressure to the carotid arteries. It is a fundamental attack from mount, effective at all levels, and forces the defender to address your grips, opening up further attacks.
Start
Mount
End
Submission
Prerequisites: Maintaining mount · Breaking opponent’s posture · Basic collar grip establishment · Weight distribution in mount
Steps
1
Establish deep first collar grip
With your left hand, open their right lapel and slide your right hand palm-up deep into their collar, aiming to get your thumb behind their neck. Keep your elbow tight to their chest and knuckles to the mat for maximum depth.
2
Anchor your base and prevent bridging
Widen your knees and drop your hips low, keeping your toes active and weight centered to counter their bridging attempts.
3
Insert second collar grip
Feed your left hand palm-up into their left collar, threading underneath your right arm. Grip as deep as possible, aiming for a symmetrical grip with both wrists crossing under their jaw.
4
Adjust angle and chest pressure
Slide your chest forward and down, bringing your head to the mat next to theirs on the same side as your bottom grip. This increases choke pressure and prevents head movement.
5
Flare elbows and pull wrists
Pull both hands toward the floor while flaring your elbows outward, creating a scissoring motion. Keep your wrists rigid and forearms vertical for maximum blade pressure.
6
Apply finishing pressure
Drive your chest forward and down as you pull the collars, maintaining tight elbow flare and deep grips. Hold until you feel the tap or see the opponent go limp.
Key details most people miss
The depth of the first grip is critical; your hand should reach behind their neck, not just the collarbone.
Keep your elbows tight to your body during grip establishment to avoid armbar counters.
Head placement next to theirs on the bottom grip side prevents them from turning and relieves their defensive options.
The finishing motion is not just a pull—flare elbows out and drive your chest forward to maximize artery compression.
Common mistakes
If you grip shallow on the first collar, the choke will lack leverage and be easily defended.
If you sit upright while finishing, opponent can bridge and roll you over, reversing mount.
If elbows are not flared outward, the choke becomes a neck crank and loses effectiveness.
If you reach too far across for the second grip, you expose your arm to an upa or armbar counter.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent frames on your hips and bridges to off-balance you.
You do: Widen your knees, drop hips lower, and maintain chest-to-chest pressure to stabilize mount.
They try: Opponent tucks their chin and blocks your second grip.
You do: Use your head to drive their chin up, or threaten an Ezekiel choke to force their hands to defend elsewhere.
They try: Opponent attempts to trap and bridge over your arm during grip setup.
You do: Keep your elbows tight and base wide; if trapped, release grip and post to prevent reversal.
They try: Opponent grabs your sleeve to block the finishing motion.
You do: Circle your wrist to break the grip, or switch to a single-collar choke or armbar as a follow-up.
Drill prescription
6 rounds × 2 min; 50% resistance; goal: secure both grips and finish the choke 5 times per round without losing mount.
How the masters teach it
Roger Gracie
Emphasizes ultra-deep first grip and patient, incremental pressure for a nearly inescapable finish.
Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
Saulo Ribeiro
Focuses on base stability and head placement to prevent escapes and maximize leverage.