Crucifix
The Crucifix is a powerful pinning and submission position in BJJ and wrestling where the top player controls the turtled opponent's body, trapping one arm with their legs while applying a neck crank, choke, or armlock. The name comes from the spread-arm appearance of the bottom player β their arms are extended and controlled, leaving them virtually defenseless. It is one of the most dominant control positions in grappling.
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Contents
What Is the Crucifix?
In the crucifix position, you are behind and slightly to the side of a turtled opponent. Your legs (or one leg) trap one of the opponent's arms from behind β typically the near arm β while your upper body controls their back and neck. This leaves the opponent unable to post with the trapped arm, severely limiting their defensive options.
The crucifix is distinct from standard back control: rather than both hooks in (standard back mount), the crucifix uses a leg entanglement to trap an arm, giving you superior control over that arm and enabling arm-specific submissions (armbars, kimuras, neck cranks) alongside chokes.
Entries
From Turtle Position (Most Common)
- Your opponent is in turtle position (on all fours). You are beside or behind them, perpendicular to their body.
- Reach under their near-side arm and thread your inside leg (or both legs) around that arm.
- Use your outside leg to hook their far hip or thigh to prevent them from rolling away.
- Your near arm controls their neck β either with a choking grip or just maintaining head/neck control.
- Complete the position by sitting back: your trapped-arm leg controls pull the arm up; your body is alongside theirs.
From Back Control (Arm-Trap Transition)
If you have back control and the opponent defends chokes by pulling your arm down or tucking their chin, you can transition to crucifix by sliding one hook out and threading it around their near arm. This moves you into crucifix while maintaining control of the back.
From a Failed Clock Choke
When the opponent defends the clock choke by rolling away from the choking arm, their roll can be exploited by following them and entering the crucifix as their arm comes free during the roll.
Maintaining Control
Key control points in the crucifix:
- Arm trap: Your legs must maintain the arm entanglement tightly. Hook the elbow tightly β if the opponent slips their arm out, you lose the position.
- Head/neck control: Use your upper arm to control the neck β either with a choking grip or a head collar tie. Head control prevents the opponent from turning toward you.
- Hip pressure: Drive your hips toward the opponent to prevent them from standing up or turning into you.
Submissions from Crucifix
Rear Naked Choke / Arm-In Rear Choke
With neck control already established, the most direct submission is a rear naked choke or an arm-in variant. The opponent's inability to post with the trapped arm makes defending the choke significantly harder.
Neck Crank
Drive your arm under the opponent's chin while pushing their head away with your body. Neck cranks are legal in most submission wrestling formats but restricted in gi BJJ β always check ruleset before drilling neck cranks at speed.
Arm-Trapped Kimura
The trapped arm creates a natural kimura opportunity. Overhook the trapped arm and apply a figure-four (kimura) grip to attack the shoulder joint. This is available in both gi and no-gi.
Armbar
Extend the trapped arm and transition to an armbar by adjusting hip angle. The opponent cannot pull their arm back because it's already captured between your legs.
Clock Choke (Gi)
In the gi, use the opponent's collar for a clock choke variant while maintaining the crucifix arm control. The combination of arm trap and clock choke is extremely difficult to defend simultaneously.
Escaping the Crucifix
- Don't get there: The best escape is prevention. When in turtle, protect your arms by keeping your elbows tight to your body and not leaving an arm available for threading.
- Roll toward the trapped arm: If caught in early crucifix, immediately roll toward the side of the trapped arm. This can relieve pressure and help pop the arm free before the position is locked in.
- Stand up: If the top player's leg control is not tight, attempting to stand (driving hips back into them) can disrupt the position.
- Tap early: Once fully locked in crucifix with an active choke or armbar in progress, tapping early is far better than a submission injury.
Competition Use
The crucifix is used regularly in gi and no-gi competition at all levels. It is especially effective against opponents who habitually turtle to escape takedowns or guard passes without moving dynamically. Common competition sequences:
- Takedown β opponent turtles β crucifix entry
- Guard pass β opponent gives up back, turtles β crucifix
- Clock choke attempt β opponent rolls away β crucifix follow-up
β‘ Training Tips
- Drill the crucifix entry from turtle daily β the leg threading motion must be reflexive.
- Chain the crucifix with clock choke attempts: clock choke baits the roll, crucifix catches the roll.
- Work on maintaining control when the opponent tries to stand β hip pressure and neck control are your anchors.
- In no-gi, the arm-in rear choke and kimura are your primary submission threats from crucifix.
- Practice the crucifix on both sides β being one-sided creates a predictable pattern.
The crucifix control position is legal. Most submissions from it (rear chokes, kimuras, armbars) are legal at appropriate belt levels. Neck cranks are restricted in IBJJF gi competition β do not use neck crank submissions in IBJJF events.
Standard back control uses two hooks (both feet inside the opponent's thighs) and focuses on rear naked choke. The crucifix traps one of the opponent's arms with your legs, giving you arm-specific attacks (armbar, kimura) alongside choke options, at the cost of standard back mount stability.
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