Crucifix from Taking the Back

Crucifix from Taking the Back is a transition between related positions built around a handful of repeatable controls. Attacker has dragged the opponent's arm during the collar drag and the arm has become trapped between the legs. Another common starting shape: the bottom player is in a berimbolo with the opponent posting the near arm down to defend. It is worth attempting once comfortable with: Killing deep half to crucifix. The ideas that hold it together are trap the arm during the transition, crucifix is a back-control variant, and an opponent's leg grab is a gift that exposes a trappable arm.

The crucifix chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Trap the dragged arm between the legs as the back is taken. Triangle the legs to lock the arm. Climb onto the back with the free hand searching for collar grip. Finish with a collar choke or armlock from the crucifix. Trap the posted arm between the legs as you complete the spin. Triangle the legs around the trapped arm. Use the free arm to control the head and finish from crucifix. As the opponent reaches for the leg, sit back and use the trapped arm as a lever to arm-drag him into the crucifix line. Attacker has finished in back control with one arm trapped between the legs in a crucifix configuration, ready for collar attacks.

Later in the crucifix, the crucifix is a natural extension of front-headlock back exposure, back-attacks, and front-headlock tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Letting the trapped arm escape before the legs lock. Forgetting the collar grip while securing the arm. Failing to switch the choking arm and losing the strangle alignment. Not falling cleanly to the hip so the trapped arm can slip free. The high-percentage version of crucifix from taking the back is the one you can still chain when the next position is contested.