Crucifix

What it is

The crucifix is a control position where you lie across your opponent's back, usually underneath them and face up, with one of their arms trapped between your legs and the other controlled by your arms. Both arms are tied up, so they cannot defend their neck or turn to face you. It most often comes from the top of turtle, when an arm is left loose.

What you want from here

• On top of turtle: they leave their near arm out from their knee and you can hook it with your legs.
• From the back, when they peel your hooks and an arm comes free.
• On bottom: free the arm trapped by the legs first, or it stays two of their limbs against one of yours.

Key details

• Trap the arm deep with your legs, above the elbow, so it cannot slide out.
• Control the other arm with both of your hands. With both arms tied up the neck is open for a choke, and either arm can be armlocked: the leg-trapped arm with your legs, the other with your arms.
• Keep your chest tight to their back. If you slide off to the side they roll out and face you.
• Legal finishes only: chokes and armlocks. Cranking the neck from the crucifix is illegal at every belt and is not taught.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: trapping the arm at the wrist instead of above the elbow. They pull it free and turn in.
• Mistake: on top, reaching for the choke before the second arm is controlled. They block with that hand and escape.
• Mistake: on the bottom, rolling toward the trapped arm. You roll deeper into the position.

How it is escaped or passed

• They pull the trapped arm out by straightening it toward their own hips.
• They tuck the free arm and turn toward you to get their back to the mat.

Gi and no-gi

In the gi you can use their lapel to choke from the crucifix; in no-gi the finishes are the arm-in chokes and the armlock, and the trapped arm slides out more easily, so the leg lock on it must be tighter.