Become Fighter
Cross collar choke from guard: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
A blood choke that uses the gi lapels and a pulling elbow.
The cross collar choke is one of the first submissions taught in gi jiu-jitsu. You grip deep inside the collar with both hands and close the blades of your forearms on the sides of the neck. It cuts blood flow, not air.
Safety rules for every submission in this module: apply slowly, tap early and let go the moment your partner taps or pats. A choke can put someone to sleep in seconds, and a bad lock can tear a joint. Learn each one with a partner and a coach nearby, and never practise it on someone who does not know the rules.
Key points
- First grip: four fingers deep inside the collar, thumb inside, palm up.
- Second grip: the other hand crosses over the first, deep on the opposite collar.
- Close the guard and break posture before you tighten anything.
- The finish is a slow pull of both elbows out and down, like opening a book.
- Release the moment your partner taps, or pats you three times, or speaks.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Squeezing fast. Tighten slowly so that your partner has time to tap. Speed injures the neck.
- Shallow grips. Get the grip deep before you pull. A shallow grip just tugs the collar.
- Ignoring posture. Break posture first. A straight-backed opponent will pull out of the grips.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Submissions system module of Jiu-jitsu foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Submissions system
- The triangle choke: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- Kimura and americana: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- The guillotine: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
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Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.