Crucifix | Shoulder Control For Chokes

Enhancing control from the crucifix position involves tying up one of the opponent's arms to limit their mobility and create opportunities to attack the neck for chokes. To maintain control over the opponent's shoulder line:

1. Prevent the opponent from connecting their hands by controlling the far arm. This can be done by gripping the wrist, over the knuckle line, or using the opponent's gi to tie up their arm.
2. Use the free hand to scoop under the opponent's armpit, pulling their shoulders back and repositioning your body underneath to occupy the space behind their shoulders.
3. If the opponent starts to turn or hug your legs, use a quarter or half Nelson to bring them back and regain the seatbelt grip.
4. When the opponent's shoulders begin to slip, switch the bottom leg back and assist their shoulder to go further down to gain more control over the leg.
5. Bring the heel to the buttocks, locking the opponent's arm in a bent position without holding the ankle.
6. Place the foot on the floor and scrape the opponent's hand back, lifting it up and placing it behind your toes as a placeholder.
7. Reach with the leg to bite the opponent's wrist, not just the hand, and sneak the toes around the other side to put the opponent in an Americana position.
8. Control the opponent's other hand and use Americana pressure by pulling the hips underneath to expose the shoulder line for choke attacks.
9. Apply bone-to-bone pressure with the blade of the radius against the opponent's chin, skipping it off and lifting to walk the hand up for one-arm chokes.
10. Create a gap behind the opponent's head to avoid pushing their defense and allow for the completion of the choke.
11. Pull the opponent on top to create the gap, and as they try to slide down, adjust your body to get behind them, hold the ridge at the top of their scapula, and project your chest forward to finish the choke.

This method of control allows for a secure position to work on the opponent's neck and execute chokes effectively.