Finding yourself on the bottom of mounted crucifix represents one of the most precarious situations in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This position combines the vulnerability of being mounted with the additional disadvantage of having one or both arms trapped by the opponent’s legs, creating a scenario where defensive options are severely limited and submission threats are immediate and numerous.
The fundamental challenge of mounted crucifix bottom stems from the removal of your primary defensive tools - your arms. In normal mount bottom, you can create frames, establish defensive grips, and build the structure necessary for escapes. In mounted crucifix, these options disappear as your arms become controlled by your opponent’s leg positioning. This forces you to rely on alternative escape mechanisms involving hip movement, explosive bridging, and strategic arm extraction.
From a survival perspective, the immediate priority is damage control and preventing submission. Your opponent will likely attack your neck with chokes or pursue armbars on your trapped or free arms. Maintaining chin protection becomes paramount, as does keeping your free arm in defensive position to prevent additional control or submission attempts. Understanding which submissions are most imminent allows you to prioritize defensive responses effectively.
Arm extraction represents the first technical goal from this position. This typically involves creating space through hip movement and explosive actions that temporarily disrupt your opponent’s balance and control. Small adjustments in hip angle can create leverage opportunities to slide arms free from leg entanglements. However, these movements must be executed carefully to avoid giving up back exposure or additional submission opportunities.
The positional hierarchy of escapes prioritizes first extracting arms to return to standard mount bottom, then executing traditional mount escapes to return to guard or other more favorable positions. Attempting to escape mount while arms remain trapped typically results in back exposure or submission. This systematic approach to escape - first regain arm mobility, then escape the position - provides the most reliable pathway to safety.
Energy management in mounted crucifix bottom requires careful consideration. Explosive escape attempts consume significant energy and may only provide brief windows of opportunity. Sustained defensive positioning, while psychologically challenging, may preserve energy for critical moments when escape opportunities arise. Balancing these approaches based on time remaining, point differential, and submission threats represents advanced tactical decision-making.
Ultimately, the best defense against mounted crucifix bottom is prevention. Understanding the common entry sequences from standard mount positions, maintaining proper defensive posture with arms protected, and avoiding the arm exposure that enables crucifix transitions reduces the likelihood of entering this dangerous position. When prevention fails, systematic escape techniques and strong defensive fundamentals provide the pathway back to more favorable positions.
Position Definition
- Bottom player is mounted with back on the mat, facing upward toward the opponent who sits on their torso with knees positioned on either side of the ribcage or hips, while one or both arms are trapped by the top player’s legs threaded over or under the arms creating entanglement that prevents normal defensive framing
- Top player’s legs control one or both of bottom player’s arms through various configurations - typically threading legs over the arms near the shoulder or bicep area while maintaining seated mount position with weight distributed to prevent bridging, creating mechanical disadvantage where bottom cannot use arms to defend neck or create escape frames
- Bottom player’s neck remains exposed to attack due to inability to create protective frames with trapped arms, forcing reliance on chin tucking, shoulder elevation, and positioning adjustments to defend against chokes, while free arm (if available) must simultaneously defend against submissions and attempt to address arm entanglement
Prerequisites
- Opponent has established mount control with their weight on your torso
- One or both of your arms have been isolated and trapped by opponent’s legs
- Your defensive framing capabilities are severely compromised or eliminated
- Opponent maintains stable balance preventing immediate explosive escape
- Your mobility is restricted by combination of mount weight and arm entanglement
Key Defensive Principles
- Immediate priority is submission defense - protect neck and remaining free limbs before attempting positional escape
- Arm extraction must precede positional escape attempts to avoid back exposure or deeper control
- Explosive hip movements create brief windows for arm extraction when timed with opponent’s weight shifts
- Never force arm extraction against established control - wait for opponent’s movements to create space
- Chin protection and shoulder positioning are critical for defending against chokes when arms unavailable
- Energy conservation is essential - explosive attempts must be timed strategically rather than continuously
- Accept transitional positions like side control or turtle if they facilitate arm extraction from crucifix
Available Escapes
Arm Extraction → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Bridge and Roll → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 40%
Elbow Escape → Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Upa Escape → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 20%
- Advanced: 35%
Hip Escape → Defensive Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Explosive Bridge to Turtle → Turtle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 40%
Arm Drag Sweep → Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 5%
- Intermediate: 15%
- Advanced: 25%
Rolling Escape → Standing Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 20%
- Advanced: 30%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent attacks neck with choke while arms are trapped:
- Execute Chin Protection → Defensive Position (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Explosive Bridge → Turtle (Probability: 25%)
- Execute Tap Out → Lost by Submission (Probability: 5%)
If opponent isolates free arm for submission attempt:
- Execute Arm Extraction → Mount (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Hip Escape → Defensive Position (Probability: 35%)
- Execute Defensive Framing → Mount (Probability: 20%)
If opponent shifts weight to transition to back control:
- Execute Bridge and Roll → Closed Guard (Probability: 35%)
- Execute Elbow Escape → Half Guard (Probability: 40%)
- Execute Accept Back Control → Back Control (Probability: 25%)
If opponent loosens leg control temporarily:
- Execute Arm Extraction → Mount (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Explosive Bridge to Turtle → Turtle (Probability: 30%)
- Execute Hip Escape → Half Guard (Probability: 15%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Survival to Guard Recovery
Mounted Crucifix Bottom → Arm Extraction → Mount → Elbow Escape → Half Guard → Guard Recovery → Closed Guard
Emergency Turtle Transition
Mounted Crucifix Bottom → Explosive Bridge → Turtle → Sit Through → Single Leg X-Guard → Standing Guard
Accept Back, Escape Back
Mounted Crucifix Bottom → Allow Back Take → Back Control → Arm Drag Sweep → Closed Guard
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 20% | 15% | 0% |
| Intermediate | 35% | 30% | 0% |
| Advanced | 50% | 45% | 5% |
Average Time in Position: 30-60 seconds before submission or position change