Crucifix Choke

Also known as: One-Arm RNC · Crucifix Neck Attack · Lapel Crucifix Choke (gi)

With both of their arms neutralized — one in your legs, one in your hand — the neck is undefended by definition: a one-armed rear naked grip or a lapel wrap finishes what the position already decided.

Submission · Strangle (blood choke) · Gi & No-gi · Difficulty 3/5 · Usually learned at Blue belt

Starts from Crucifix as the attacking player → ends the match (submission).

The details that make it work

  1. Keep the leg-trapped arm stretched away; slack there is their only path back into the fight.
  2. No-gi: one arm wraps the neck, hand finds your own shoulder or their far collarbone, chest expands to finish.
  3. Gi: feed the near lapel across the throat instead — slower, tighter, even harder to defend.

Where it goes wrong

How opponents counter it

Is the Crucifix Choke legal in competition?

Legal in all major rulesets at all levels (IBJJF, ADCC, sub-only). Rules change — always confirm against the current official rulebook for your event.

Same family: Strangle (blood choke)s

Related techniques

All moves from Crucifix · Back to Grapplepedia