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Cross Collar Choke: Roger Gracie's Championship Guide
Roger Gracie won ten world titles largely with this one choke, against the best black belts alive. Fundamentals beat complexity.
The Choke Roger Gracie Built a Career On
The cross collar choke is one of the oldest submissions in BJJ. Both hands grip the collar in a crossed position. You pull down and out. The collar closes on both carotid arteries at once.
Roger Gracie won ten world titles. He finished a remarkable number of them with this exact choke, from mount, against the best black belts alive. It's the clearest proof that fundamentals beat complexity.
Getting the Grips
- Slide your first hand deep into their collar, four fingers inside, thumb outside.
- Feed your second hand into the opposite collar, under your first arm.
- Keep both elbows tight to your body.
- Pull your elbows toward the mat while flaring your wrists.
Depth matters more than strength here. A shallow first grip makes the choke impossible to finish, no matter how hard you pull.
From Mount vs From Guard
From mount, gravity helps you. Your weight drives the choke down. From closed guard, you need to break their posture first, then pull them into the choke. The grips stay identical. Only the leverage changes.
Common Mistakes
- Shallow first grip. This is the single biggest reason the choke fails.
- Pulling with your arms instead of dropping your elbows and flaring your wrists.
- Letting your opponent posture up before you finish.
Defending the Cross Collar Choke
Fight the first grip before it goes deep. Once a hand is buried in your collar, tuck your chin and turn toward the free side. Prevention works far better than escape with this one.
Our mount position guide covers where Roger finished most of these. Our closed guard guide covers the bottom variation.
Tagged with:#cross collar choke#gi#mount#submissions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my cross collar choke never finish?
The first grip is almost certainly too shallow. Your hand needs to be deep in the collar, near the back of their neck. No amount of pulling fixes a shallow grip.
Is the cross collar choke better from mount or guard?
Mount is stronger because gravity adds to the pressure. From guard you must break their posture first, which adds a step, but the grips and finishing mechanics are identical.
Is the cross collar choke legal at white belt?
Yes. It is a blood choke rather than a joint lock, so it is legal at every belt level under IBJJF rules.
How do you defend the cross collar choke?
Fight the first grip before it goes deep. Once a hand is buried in your collar, tuck your chin and turn toward the free side, since prevention works far better than escaping a finished grip.
Sources & Further Reading
About the Author
Mohsin AyubBJJ practitioner, 6 years — Gracie Barra
Founder & Editor, BJJ Sportswear
Mohsin has trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for six years at Gracie Barra and has competed at IBJJF-affiliated tournaments. He writes about competition, gear, and athlete careers, and founded BJJ Sportswear to help grapplers find equipment and information they can trust.
- Six years training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Barra
- Competed at IBJJF-affiliated tournaments
- Writes on BJJ competition, gear testing, and athlete careers
This article was last reviewed and updated on 2026-08-01.