Lapel Tie-Down: Cross Choke

When facing a strong or bigger opponent, it's beneficial to have techniques that allow you to submit them without relying solely on physical prowess. A significant part of the fight is how you use the kimono. This technique involves manipulating the lapels and the grips on the kimono to achieve sweeps or submissions that require minimal physical effort.

1. When your opponent is in your guard, be aware of their weight, distance, and grips. Open the lapel without telegraphing your intentions too much.
2. Continue your guard work, searching for the posture break. If you manage to isolate an arm, feed the lapel to the forearm, close to the end.
3. Your opponent will likely want to recover their arm or re-center. They will need to lift their head and align their spine to do so effectively.
4. While maintaining pressure on their shoulder, wait for them to lift their head. As soon as they do, slide under their ear and perform a scissoring movement.
5. If you pull the lapel, it turns their head towards you. If you push their head, it turns their face away from you. Doing both at the same time creates an 'X' on their neck, which is where you want to apply the choke.
6. You can use your far foot to break their posture down further. This flattens them and makes it hard for them to come up.
7. The key to this choke is discovering the right angle. If you're too centered, it won't work. You need to be perpendicular to your opponent and able to perform the cutting motion where you're choking them with the forearm and the blade of the near arm.