Cross Collar Choke from Mount

Cross Collar Choke from Mount is a finishing attack built around a handful of repeatable controls. Top player has full mount in the gi with both collars accessible and the bottom player attempting standard escapes. Another common starting shape: top mount with the partner defending in 't-rex arms' — elbows pinned to ribs, hands close to the chin, denying access to the lapels. The ideas that hold it together are submission attacks must not compromise the underlying control, the cross-collar is the highest-percentage gi mount strangle, and pop the elbows.

The cross collar choke chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Secure mount maintenance posture before reaching for the choke grips. Feed the first deep collar grip with the choking arm. Secure the second cross grip without lifting off the partner. Keep elbows tight and finish by expanding the elbows outward. If the bottom player begins escaping, return to maintenance posture before re-attempting the strangle. Drive both of the partner's elbows up and away from their ribs to break the t-rex shell. Slide the first hand deep into the lapel, four-fingers-in, thumb-out, palm-up; feed the second hand under or over depending on opponent reaction. Finish by drawing both elbows back to your own ribs while dropping forehead to the mat, rotating wrists into the carotids. Top player has secured a cross-collar grip configuration and is finishing the strangle from mount while maintaining the pin throughout the setup.

Later in the cross collar choke, deep first grip, elbows-to-ribs finish, and feed first then settle tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Lifting off to feed the grips and losing the pin. Racing to finish before the second grip is structural. Feeding the second grip without first establishing depth on the first — the choke has no closing leverage. Pulling the head up to look at the choke, which slackens the wrist rotation. The high-percentage version of cross collar choke from mount is the one you can still chain when the first squeeze is defended.