⚠️ SAFETY: Cross Collar Variations targets the Carotid arteries and blood flow to brain. Risk: Loss of consciousness from blood choke. Release immediately upon tap.
The Cross Collar Choke represents one of the most fundamental and highest-percentage finishing techniques in gi-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This blood choke works by compressing the carotid arteries on both sides of the opponent’s neck using the lapels of their own gi, cutting off blood flow to the brain and inducing unconsciousness within seconds if not defended. The beauty of cross collar variations lies in their versatility—they can be executed from numerous positions including closed guard, mount, side control, and even standing positions. The technique’s effectiveness stems from using the opponent’s gi as a force multiplier, allowing a smaller practitioner to generate tremendous pressure with proper grip placement and body mechanics. Cross collar chokes are particularly valuable because they remain effective against opponents of all sizes and skill levels when executed with proper timing and control. Understanding the full spectrum of cross collar variations—from the basic two-handed version to one-handed attacks and transitional variations—is essential for developing a complete gi submission game.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and blood flow to brain Starting Position: Closed Guard Bottom Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of consciousness from blood choke | High | Immediate upon release, full recovery within 30-60 seconds |
| Trachea damage from improper windpipe pressure | CRITICAL | Weeks to months, potential permanent damage |
| Neck strain from bridging or explosive escape attempts | Medium | 3-7 days with rest |
| Jaw or teeth injury from chin-trapped variations | Medium | 1-2 weeks for soft tissue, months for dental damage |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum to allow tap recognition
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap or audible distress
- Physical hand tap on partner’s body
- Physical foot tap on mat
- Any frantic movement or distress signal
- Absence of movement (potential unconsciousness - release immediately)
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release all grip pressure on both collars
- Remove hands completely from opponent’s neck area
- Allow opponent to recover in position without moving them
- Check for consciousness and breathing immediately
- If unconscious, place in recovery position and monitor closely
- Never re-apply pressure after a tap, even if accidental
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply full pressure until partner is experienced with the submission
- Never grip the windpipe directly - always target sides of neck
- Never use competition speed in training rolls
- Always ensure partner has free access to tap with at least one hand
- Never hold the choke after feeling partner tap or go limp
- White belts should only practice with supervision from upper belts
Key Principles
- Grip Depth and Placement: Four fingers deep inside the collar with thumb outside creates maximum leverage and prevents easy grip breaks
- Crossing Mechanics: The choking power comes from the cross pattern—one hand high, one hand low, creating scissoring pressure on the carotid arteries
- Elbow Position: Elbows should be tight to the body and pointing down, not flaring out, to maximize leverage and prevent opponent’s defensive framing
- Hip Connection: Maintaining tight connection between your hips and opponent’s body prevents space creation and escape opportunities
- Blood Choke vs Air Choke: Target the sides of the neck (carotid arteries) not the front (windpipe) for faster, safer, more technical finishes
- Progressive Pressure: Apply pressure gradually and systematically, allowing time for tap recognition while maintaining control
- Posture Breaking: Opponent must have broken posture for effective finishing—pull them down and forward to close distance and prevent defensive pushing
Prerequisites
- Secure deep collar grips with at least one hand four fingers deep into opponent’s collar
- Break opponent’s posture by pulling them forward and down to prevent defensive framing
- Control opponent’s ability to create space by maintaining tight hip connection
- Establish proper crossing angle with grips positioned at different heights on the collar
- Secure opponent’s head position to prevent turning away from the choke
- Clear opponent’s defensive hand grips from your sleeves or collar before finishing
- Achieve proper body positioning based on starting position (guard, mount, side control, etc.)
Execution Steps
- Establish primary grip: Insert your dominant hand four fingers deep into opponent’s collar on the opposite side (right hand to left collar or vice versa). The thumb stays outside the collar while fingers curl deep inside against their neck. This first grip is critical—it must be deep enough that opponent cannot easily strip it. Pull down slightly to break their posture and prevent them from sitting up or creating distance. (Timing: Take 2-3 seconds to secure grip depth) [Pressure: Light]
- Break posture completely: Using your primary grip and your legs (if in guard) or body weight (if on top), pull opponent’s head down and forward into your chest or the mat. Their spine should be rounded and their head should be lower than their hips. This broken posture is essential—without it, they can create frames and prevent your second grip. Control their head by pulling it to your chest or shoulder. (Timing: Maintain constant pulling pressure for 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Clear defensive grips: Before attempting your second grip, identify and strip any defensive grips opponent has on your sleeves or collar. Use your free hand to peel their fingers off or use circular motions to break their grip structure. This step is often overlooked but critical—if opponent controls your second hand, they can prevent the finish. Be patient and systematic in clearing these obstacles. (Timing: 1-2 seconds per grip strip) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Secure second collar grip: With your free hand, reach across and insert it into the opposite collar (same side as your first hand, but lower/higher). This creates the cross pattern. Your second grip should also be four fingers deep with thumb outside. The key is creating different heights—if first grip is high near their neck, second grip goes lower near their chest, or vice versa. This height differential creates the scissoring action needed for the choke. (Timing: 2-3 seconds to ensure depth and positioning) [Pressure: Light]
- Create crossing angle and pressure: With both grips secured, pull your elbows tight to your body and spread them apart horizontally while simultaneously pulling opponent’s collars in opposite diagonal directions. Your hands should move away from each other while your elbows stay tight. This scissoring motion compresses the collars against the sides of their neck, targeting the carotid arteries. The pressure should be on the sides of the neck, never on the windpipe directly. (Timing: Apply pressure over 2-3 seconds progressively) [Pressure: Firm]
- Finish with body positioning: Depending on your position, use your body to enhance the choke. From guard, arch your hips up and squeeze your knees together. From mount, drive your chest down into opponent’s face. From side control, sprawl your hips back and drive your shoulder into their jaw. The choke should feel tight but controlled—maintain steady pressure rather than explosive yanking. Watch for the tap and release immediately when it comes. Total finishing time should be 3-5 seconds to allow recognition of the submission. (Timing: Hold finish position for 3-5 seconds maximum) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Gripping your sleeves to prevent second hand from reaching collar (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Strip their grips systematically by peeling fingers off or using circular hand motions. Be patient—establish dominant collar grip first, then address their sleeve grips before attempting second collar grip. Use your weight to pin their arms if possible.
- Creating strong frames with arms to push away and prevent posture break (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Attack the choke when they’re already compromised—during passing attempts, after failed sweeps, or when they’re focused on other attacks. Use your legs (in guard) or body weight (on top) to overwhelm their frames. Break down one arm at a time rather than fighting both simultaneously.
- Tucking chin tightly to protect neck and prevent collar access (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Attack over the chin—the choke still works even with their chin tucked, it just requires deeper grips and more pressure. Alternatively, use the chin-trap variation where you intentionally include their chin in the choke, creating extreme discomfort. Never try to forcefully remove their chin as this can cause injury.
- Turning head away from the choke to relieve pressure (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Follow their head turn by adjusting your grip angles. If they turn away, your choke becomes more like a bow and arrow angle—use this to your advantage by pulling in the direction they’re turning. Alternatively, use your legs or free arm to control their head position and prevent the turn.
- Standing up or bridging explosively to create space (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Maintain tight hip connection and follow their movement. If in guard, squeeze your knees and climb your body up theirs. If on top, sprawl your hips back and drive your weight down. Their explosive movement often helps tighten the choke if you maintain your grips and stay connected to their body.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary target of a properly executed cross collar choke, and why is this important for safety? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The primary targets are the carotid arteries located on both sides of the neck, not the windpipe in front. This is critical for safety because blood chokes that target the carotid arteries are faster, more humane, and much safer than air chokes that crush the windpipe. Carotid compression causes unconsciousness within 3-8 seconds, while windpipe pressure can take 30+ seconds and risks serious trachea damage. A properly applied blood choke allows the opponent to tap quickly before any injury occurs, whereas windpipe pressure causes panic, pain, and potential permanent damage to the throat structures.
Q2: What should you do immediately upon feeling your training partner tap during a cross collar choke? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Immediately release all pressure on both collar grips and remove your hands completely from the opponent’s neck area. Do not maintain grips or slowly release pressure—the release must be instant and complete. Check that your partner is conscious and breathing normally. If they show any signs of distress or unconsciousness, place them in recovery position and monitor closely. Never re-apply pressure after a tap, even if it was accidental or unclear. Safety protocols require instant release regardless of the situation, and developing this automatic response through drilling is essential for safe training.
Q3: Why is grip depth so critical for cross collar chokes, and what defines a proper deep grip? A: Grip depth is critical because shallow grips can be easily stripped by the opponent, wasting the entire setup and allowing them to escape or counter. A proper deep grip means inserting all four fingers inside the collar until they reach or pass the middle of the opponent’s neck, with the thumb remaining outside for structural strength. The fingers should curl around inside the collar with knuckles against their neck. This depth provides two advantages: first, it’s mechanically difficult for the opponent to strip even with both hands, and second, it positions the collar material directly over the carotid arteries for maximum effectiveness when you apply the crossing pressure during the finish.
Q4: What is the mechanical difference between a cross collar choke and a standard collar choke, and why does the cross pattern work? A: A cross collar choke uses two grips on opposite collars (right hand to left collar, left hand to right collar) at different heights, creating an X or scissor pattern. When you pull these grips in opposite diagonal directions while keeping elbows tight, the crossing collar material compresses both sides of the neck simultaneously from different angles. This scissoring action is much more effective than parallel pulls because it prevents the opponent from relieving pressure by turning their head in either direction—no matter which way they turn, one side of the cross tightens. The height differential (one grip high, one low) is crucial because it creates the angle needed for the scissoring compression rather than just pulling the collar material straight across.
Q5: Why must you break your opponent’s posture before attempting to finish a cross collar choke from guard? A: Breaking posture is essential because an opponent with upright posture can create strong frames with their arms, defend their collar with hand fighting, and maintain the distance needed to prevent effective grips. When their posture is upright, their spine is straight and their core muscles can generate maximum pushing force to create space and strip grips. By breaking their posture—pulling their head down to your chest and rounding their spine—you eliminate their ability to generate pushing force, trap their arms in disadvantageous positions, and close the distance needed for your collar grips to generate choking pressure. Attempting the submission without breaking posture first almost always results in failure and wastes energy on a low-percentage attack.
Q6: What are the signs that you’re applying a dangerous windpipe choke instead of a safe blood choke, and how should you correct this? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Warning signs of a windpipe choke include: the opponent making coughing, gagging, or choking sounds; their face showing signs of pain rather than drowsiness; the choke taking more than 10 seconds to cause any effect; and your grips feeling like they’re compressing the front of the throat rather than the sides of the neck. If you notice any of these signs, immediately reduce pressure and adjust your grips. The correction is to ensure your collar grips are pulling from the sides of the neck at diagonal angles, not straight across the front. Your forearms and wrists should be positioned on the sides of their neck, and the pressure should feel like it’s compressing the arteries on both sides simultaneously. A properly applied blood choke causes rapid drowsiness and loss of consciousness without pain or choking sensations.
Q7: How do you properly defend and strip a cross collar choke once your opponent has one grip established? A: The defense must be immediate and systematic. First priority is preventing the second grip, as one grip alone cannot finish the choke. Control your opponent’s free hand by gripping their sleeve or wrist, preventing it from reaching your collar. Simultaneously work to strip the established grip by using both hands if necessary—grip their wrist with one hand and peel their fingers off with the other, or use circular motions to break their grip structure. Second priority is improving your posture by sitting up or pushing their head away, creating distance that makes the choke mechanically less effective. If both grips are established, immediately address the finishing mechanics by creating frames between their arms and your neck, keeping your chin tight to your chest, and working to stand up or create significant distance to reduce the compression on your carotid arteries.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The cross collar choke represents a perfect case study in mechanical efficiency and leverage principles that define effective Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The fundamental mechanism is beautifully simple: by creating a crossing pattern with the gi lapels at different heights, you generate a scissoring compression that simultaneously attacks both carotid arteries from opposing angles, making it nearly impossible for the opponent to relieve pressure by turning their head in either direction. The critical technical element that most practitioners overlook is the relationship between elbow position and choking leverage—when your elbows remain tight to your body and pull in opposite diagonal directions, you maximize the transmission of force through the collar material into the sides of the neck. Conversely, when elbows flare outward, you lose approximately seventy percent of your leverage regardless of grip quality. From a safety perspective, the cross collar choke is one of the safest submissions when properly applied because it targets blood flow rather than airway, inducing unconsciousness rapidly and reversibly within five to eight seconds with no lasting effects when released immediately. However, improper application targeting the windpipe can cause serious trachea damage, which is why grip placement on the sides of the neck is absolutely non-negotiable. The submission’s versatility across multiple positions—from guard to mount to back control—makes it an essential component of any complete gi-based attacking system, and its effectiveness against opponents of all sizes makes it particularly valuable for smaller practitioners who understand leverage principles.
- Gordon Ryan: Cross collar chokes are absolutely fundamental to gi competition, and the difference between sport application and training application is massive and needs to be understood by everyone practicing this technique. In competition, I’ll hold a properly applied cross collar choke for twenty to thirty seconds if necessary because opponents at high levels will try to survive as long as possible before tapping, hoping you’ll burn your grips or make a mistake. But in training, you absolutely cannot do this—you need to apply the choke slowly enough that your partner can recognize the danger and tap before any real pressure builds up. The biggest mistake I see competitors make with cross collar chokes is trying to force them from bad positions or without proper setup. In modern high-level competition, everyone knows the basic defenses—sleeve gripping, posture fighting, chin tucking—so you can’t just grab collars and expect it to work. You need to set it up as part of combination attacks. My approach is using collar grips to break posture and threaten the choke, which forces opponents to defend with their hands, which then opens up armbars, triangles, and other attacks. When they focus on those submissions, the collar choke becomes available again. The mount variation is particularly high-percentage in competition because your weight makes it nearly impossible for opponents to create the frames they need to defend, and you can transition between collar chokes and other mount attacks very fluidly. One crucial competition detail: if you’re going to attack cross collar chokes, your entire guard and top game needs to be built around establishing and maintaining collar grips early, because waiting until the perfect moment to grab collars rarely works against good opposition. But again, in training, we need to be extra careful with these because they’re so effective—tap early when caught, release immediately when you feel the tap, and never use these techniques to prove anything or assert dominance in the gym.
- Eddie Bravo: The traditional cross collar choke is definitely fundamental, but what interests me more is how we can innovate on it and integrate it into no-gi conceptual frameworks even though it requires the gi. At 10th Planet we obviously focus primarily on no-gi, but when we do train in the gi, we approach collar chokes with a different mentality than traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools. Instead of seeing the cross collar as a standalone fundamental technique, we see it as part of a larger system of dilemma creation and combination attacks. The opponent has to make choices—defend the collar grips or defend position, protect their neck or protect their arms, maintain posture or prevent sweeps. Every choice they make should open up something else for you. What I love about the gi environment is how it slows the game down and forces you to think about grips and control in ways that translate back to no-gi through conceptual understanding. The cross collar choke teaches you about angle creation, pressure management, and creating convergent attack systems where multiple submissions threaten simultaneously. One innovation we’ve explored is using collar grips from rubber guard positions, where traditional schools might focus only on triangles and omoplatas—the collar grips from mission control or New York can create extremely tight chokes because your legs control their posture completely. From a safety culture perspective, which is huge for us at 10th Planet, the cross collar choke is great for teaching new students about the difference between pressure submissions and crank submissions, and how to apply controlled pressure progressively. We drill these extensively with the specific instruction to apply them over ten to fifteen seconds in training, which builds muscle memory for controlled application. Too many schools just let students rip submissions in live training without building that control first, which leads to injuries and people not tapping when they should because they don’t trust their training partners. Building a culture where everyone applies submissions slowly and releases immediately on the tap is absolutely essential for longevity in this sport.