SAFETY: Cross Collar Choke from Body Triangle targets the Carotid arteries. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to temporary loss of consciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The cross collar choke from body triangle combines the mechanical control advantage of the body triangle with the direct choking power of crossed collar grips. Unlike a standard rear naked choke, this attack uses the gi collar as the primary choking mechanism, making it available whenever the opponent wears a gi. The body triangle’s constant rib compression forces the defender to manage breathing difficulty while simultaneously defending their collar, creating a multi-layered offensive threat that is extremely difficult to address.
From the body triangle, the attacker’s legs are fully committed to lower body control through the figure-four lock, which frees both hands entirely for collar work. This is a significant advantage over hook-based back control, where one or both hands often assist with positional maintenance. The attacker feeds one hand deep into the cross-side collar with four fingers inside, then works the second hand to the opposite collar. The finish comes from pulling the elbows back toward the hips while expanding the chest, creating a scissoring action across both carotid arteries.
This submission is particularly effective as a complement to the rear naked choke and bow and arrow choke from body triangle. When the defender tucks their chin to defend the RNC, the collar grips become accessible. When they fight collar grips, the neck opens for the RNC. This creates a decision tree where every defensive choice opens a different submission pathway, making the body triangle an elite finishing platform in gi grappling.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries Starting Position: Body Triangle From Position: Body Triangle (Bottom) Success Rate: 58%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carotid artery compression leading to temporary loss of consciousness | High | Immediate recovery if released promptly; potential for serious injury if held past unconsciousness |
| Trachea damage from improper hand placement or windpipe-focused pressure | Medium | 1-2 weeks for minor irritation; months for severe tracheal damage |
| Neck strain from defensive reactions against the choke | Low | 3-7 days |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum application time in training
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (saying ‘tap’ or any verbal signal)
- Physical hand tap on partner’s body or mat
- Physical foot tap on mat or partner
- Any distress signal including facial expressions or loss of resistance
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release both collar grips upon tap signal
- Open body triangle and disengage controlling position
- Allow partner space to recover breathing and circulation
- Check partner’s alertness and ensure full recovery before continuing
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply full choking pressure during initial learning phases
- Never hold the choke past the tap signal under any circumstances
- Never use competition speed or intensity in basic drilling
- Never practice on partners with neck or circulation issues without instructor supervision
- Always ensure partner has clear access to tap with hands or feet despite body triangle control
Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 58% |
| Failure | Body Triangle | 27% |
| Counter | Closed Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute and finish | Escape and survive |
| Key Principles | Use the body triangle’s breathing restriction to force defen… | Protect the collar with at least one hand at all times, prev… |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Use the body triangle’s breathing restriction to force defensive errors that expose the collar
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Feed the first grip deep into the cross-side collar with four fingers inside before pursuing the second grip
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Keep chest-to-back pressure constant to prevent the defender from creating space to turn and face you
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Finish by pulling elbows toward your hips while expanding your chest, creating a scissoring action across both carotids
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Chain collar attacks with RNC threats so every defensive response opens a different submission
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Maintain the body triangle squeeze throughout the choking sequence to compound breathing restriction with blood choke pressure
Execution Steps
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Secure body triangle and establish upper body control: Lock your body triangle tight around the opponent’s lower ribcage with the foot deep behind your kne…
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Feed the first deep collar grip: With your choking-side hand, reach over the opponent’s shoulder and feed four fingers deep inside th…
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Consolidate first grip and set angle: Once the first grip is deep, pull your elbow down toward your hip to take up slack in the collar. Ad…
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Work the second collar grip: Bring your other hand over or under the opponent’s opposite shoulder and feed four fingers inside th…
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Set the choking angle: With both grips secured, position your wrists against the sides of the opponent’s neck targeting the…
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Execute the finish: Pull both elbows back toward your hips while simultaneously expanding your chest forward into the op…
Common Mistakes
-
Hunting collar grips before the body triangle is fully secured and locked
- Consequence: Opponent escapes back control entirely because legs were not committed to positional maintenance, wasting the collar grip setup work
- Correction: Always verify the body triangle figure-four lock is tight and secure before releasing upper body grips to begin collar work
-
Gripping the collar too shallow with only fingertips instead of deep four-finger insertion
- Consequence: Shallow grips slip under pressure, require excessive hand strength to maintain, and create a windpipe choke instead of a blood choke
- Correction: Feed fingers deep inside the collar past the second knuckle, grip the fabric firmly, and pull all slack out before attempting the second grip
-
Applying pressure to the front of the throat instead of the sides of the neck
- Consequence: Creates a painful but ineffective air choke that may cause tracheal injury without producing a clean submission, and gives the opponent more time to escape
- Correction: Position wrists against the lateral sides of the neck and finish by pulling elbows toward hips rather than squeezing hands inward toward center
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Protect the collar with at least one hand at all times, preventing deep four-finger grip insertion
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Keep your chin tucked and shoulders hunched to reduce collar access around the neck
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Strip grips early before both hands are set, as the choke becomes nearly impossible to defend once both collars are secured
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Manage breathing despite body triangle restriction to maintain mental clarity for grip defense
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Work to turn toward the attacker to reduce choke effectiveness and begin guard recovery
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Prioritize tapping early when the choke is locked rather than fighting through arterial compression
Recognition Cues
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Attacker releases seatbelt or upper body control to begin feeding a hand over your shoulder toward the collar
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You feel fingers sliding inside your collar fabric on one side of your neck, pulling the collar tight against your skin
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Attacker’s elbow drives down toward their hip after gripping your collar, removing slack from the fabric
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Body triangle squeeze intensifies as the attacker uses leg pressure to distract you from collar defense
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Second hand begins working toward the opposite collar, creating a crossed-grip configuration across your throat
Escape Paths
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Strip collar grips early using two-on-one defense, then work to clear body triangle through hip movement and figure-four lock attacks
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Turn into the attacker by rotating toward them, using the turn to disrupt collar alignment and recover to closed guard or half guard
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Attack the body triangle lock by pushing the foot out from behind the knee, removing positional control before addressing collar grips
From Which Positions?
Match Outcome
Successful execution of Cross Collar Choke from Body Triangle leads to → Game Over
All submissions in BJJ ultimately converge to the same terminal state: the match ends when your opponent taps.