SAFETY: Cross Collar Choke from Modified Mount targets the Carotid arteries. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to temporary loss of consciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The Cross Collar Choke from Modified Mount exploits the asymmetric base of Modified Mount to create a stable platform for establishing deep collar grips without risking positional loss. Unlike standard mount where both knees are down and bridging can disrupt grip work, the posted leg in Modified Mount anchors the attacker’s base, allowing them to commit both hands to collar penetration while remaining structurally sound against escape attempts. The position’s natural rotation toward the posted leg side aligns the attacker’s torso for optimal cross-grip mechanics, with the across-body knee maintaining heavy downward pressure that restricts the defender’s breathing and frame creation.
From a strategic standpoint, this choke functions as a high-percentage finishing option when the defender commits to keeping their arms tight against armbar threats from Modified Mount. By threatening the collar choke, the attacker creates a dilemma: defend the choke by bringing hands up, which exposes the arms to isolation and armbar attacks, or keep arms tight and absorb increasing choke pressure. The finishing mechanics require patience and grip depth rather than explosive force, making this a technically rewarding submission that rewards methodical practitioners who understand collar grip penetration and the biomechanics of bilateral carotid compression from an asymmetric platform.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries Starting Position: Modified Mount From Position: Modified Mount (Top) 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 targeting the windpipe instead of carotids | Medium | 1-2 weeks for minor irritation; months for severe damage |
| Neck strain or whiplash 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 guard or 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 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
Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | game-over | 58% |
| Failure | Modified Mount | 27% |
| Counter | Closed Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute and finish | Escape and survive |
| Key Principles | Grip depth over grip speed - a shallow grip cannot finish re… | Deny the first grip - strip or block collar insertion before… |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Grip depth over grip speed - a shallow grip cannot finish regardless of squeezing power, so prioritize getting past the collarbone before closing
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Posted leg anchors your base during grip fighting, allowing aggressive forward lean without positional risk
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Across-body knee maintains control pressure so both hands can focus entirely on collar penetration
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Elbows must stay tight to the opponent’s neck to create the scissoring compression on the carotid arteries
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Patient incremental grip advancement defeats frantic speed - walk your fingers deeper with each micro-adjustment
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Create submission dilemmas by threatening armbar when they defend the collar, forcing them to choose which attack to address
Execution Steps
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Establish Modified Mount base: Settle into Modified Mount with your posted leg providing a wide stable base and your across-body kn…
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Secure first deep collar grip: With your top hand (same side as posted leg), feed your fingers palm-up deep into the far-side colla…
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Consolidate first grip and create pressure: Once the first grip is deep, pull your elbow tight to the side of their neck and drop your forehead …
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Feed second collar grip: With your bottom hand, feed palm-down into the near-side collar, threading your fingers under your o…
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Close the scissor and apply bilateral compression: With both grips established deep past the collarbones, begin the finishing squeeze by pulling your e…
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Expand chest and maintain until tap: To maximize finishing pressure, expand your chest outward while keeping your elbows driving toward t…
Common Mistakes
-
Gripping the collar too shallow near the chest instead of deep behind the neck past the collarbone
- Consequence: Shallow grips create a windpipe-crushing airway choke rather than a clean blood choke, which is painful but slow and allows extended defensive time
- Correction: Feed fingers deep until they pass the collarbone and reach behind the neck. You should feel the collar fabric wrap around the back of their neck, not just bunch at the front of their chest
-
Rising up on your knees to get leverage for the choke instead of staying chest-to-chest
- Consequence: Elevating your hips creates space under your body that the defender uses to frame, shrimp, and recover guard, losing the position entirely
- Correction: Keep your hips heavy and chest low throughout the choke sequence. The finishing power comes from elbow adduction and chest expansion, not from rising up and pulling
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Attempting to muscle the choke with grip strength rather than using proper forearm angle and elbow positioning
- Consequence: Forearm fatigue sets in quickly, grips weaken, and the choke fails while you have exhausted your hands for subsequent submission attempts
- Correction: Focus on driving elbows toward the mat and expanding your chest to create the compression. The choke is a structural squeeze using skeletal leverage, not a grip-strength contest
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Deny the first grip - strip or block collar insertion before it passes the collarbone, as prevention is far easier than escape
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Two-on-one grip fighting - use both hands to address one collar grip at a time rather than splitting attention
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Chin tuck protects the neck from collar tightening and reduces available space for grip insertion
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Escape toward posted leg side where the asymmetric base creates structural vulnerability
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Recognize the point of no return - tap early when both grips are deep rather than fighting a locked submission
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Frame on hips not chest - pushing against the attacker’s chest while mounted exposes your arms to isolation
Recognition Cues
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Attacker feeds one hand palm-up into the far-side collar while maintaining chest pressure from Modified Mount
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Attacker’s weight shifts forward toward your head as they lean in to insert collar grips past the collarbone
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You feel the collar fabric tightening around the back of your neck as the attacker pulls the first grip deep
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Attacker drops their forehead beside your head and you feel forearm pressure against the side of your neck from the first grip
Escape Paths
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Two-on-one grip strip on the deepest collar grip followed by immediate hip escape toward the posted leg side to recover half guard before the attacker can re-establish the grip
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Bridge toward the posted leg side when the attacker commits forward weight for grip insertion, using the momentum shift to create space for hip escape to closed guard or half guard
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Turn toward the attacker while framing on their hip to prevent re-mounting, transitioning to turtle position if necessary to escape the collar grip threat entirely
From Which Positions?
Match Outcome
Successful execution of Cross Collar Choke from Modified Mount leads to → Game Over
All submissions in BJJ ultimately converge to the same terminal state: the match ends when your opponent taps.