Cross Collar Choke: Complete BJJ Technique Guide

# Cross Collar Choke: Complete BJJ Technique Guide

## What is the Cross Collar Choke?

The Cross Collar Choke is a fundamental Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique that every practitioner should master. Whether you're a white belt just starting out or an experienced grappler refining your game, understanding the mechanics and timing of this technique will elevate your BJJ.

## How to Perform the Cross Collar Choke

Here's a detailed breakdown based on expert instruction:

# Cross Collar Choke

Okay, guys, let's talk a bit about the color choke or a cross -color choke,

okay? So basically, we're using the colors, okay? The easiest way to actually work

on this is I have to dig one hand on his collar.

Very important, don't stay with your hand flat like this on his neck. You have to

always turn so you can put the sharp, the blade of your forearm on his neck.

and you choke, okay? That is few variations from this. You could also hold from the

top. So basically I'm going with this hand on the top and I'm holding, let's turn

a little bit, I'm holding this material here, okay? And now I'm using this blade,

which is this part of my arm,

to actually choke him. Okay.

Also, you can do cross -stroke like this. Sometimes with his arm inside,

so I can hug his arm around and hold the collar. Okay.

And now once I hip -scape a little bit, I have exposure on the collar here,

so I can very easy grab the collar and close my elbow and now I have a cross

choke from here as well. Okay?

But for sure the most traditional is from close guard. Also from mount.

Okay? So once you are in the mount you're going to fix his gear a bit so you

have a lot of material to grab. You're going to go one hand out the way next to

his neck, turning your wrist, exactly what I said. Okay.

And then you're going to use the other hand to grab the top part here of the

ghee. Also, if you don't have such a strong grip, you can go thumb inside the

collar.

And now since I'm up, I don't have much base here. So I should always post my

forehead on the floor. So I can base myself with the forehead. And then I can

choke with the cross choke, okay? Cross color choke. These are the most basic cross

color choke. Of course, I could do the cross color choke also from side control or

knee on belly. So if I'm on the neon belly,

I could cross my hand exactly like that. And then thumb inside the collar.

Don't choke him from here up. Try to actually turn him on the side so you can

have a better choke and he cannot flip you so easy, all right? So this is a brief

explanation about the cross -stroke or color choke, which is we use the ghee to

choke. If you think about the ghee, it's like a rope around your neck.

If you find a way to grab it, you can very easy end up choking your opponent,

okay? Of course, takes practice, takes strong grips, but this is something you can

develop with time on the mat. Okay. So see you next lesson, guys.

## Key Points to Remember

When drilling the Cross Collar Choke, focus on these essential details:

1. **Positioning** — Your body position determines your success rate

2. **Timing** — Wait for the right moment, don't force it

3. **Grip** — Secure proper grips before committing to the technique

4. **Finish** — Follow through completely once you initiate

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many practitioners struggle with the Cross Collar Choke because they:

- Rush the technique without proper setup

- Neglect the importance of base and balance

- Forget to control their opponent's reactions

- Don't drill both sides equally

## When to Use the Cross Collar Choke

The Cross Collar Choke works best when:

- Your opponent's weight distribution creates an opening

- You've set up the technique with proper grips

- You can commit fully to the movement

- You have a follow-up ready if the initial attempt fails

## Track Your Cross Collar Choke Progress

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*This technique guide is based on instruction from Professor Henrique, covering the Cross Collar Choke as part of the JitsAI Fundamentals Course.*