crossing the legs for an armbar

[ml82]

My instructor says not to, but 10p does. .. Can someone break it down for me? What are the pros and cons?

[David Rosado]

My lowly take on it:

First, 10th doesn't exactly say that crossing is the 100% right way. We cross in spiderweb cuz it offers better control. Or for the x break cuz it just falls into place.

I like crossing my ankles for control. There are a lot of armbar escapes that are nullified by crossing your ankles under the far shoulder. Also, Ronda, the friggin Jesus of armbars, crosses her ankles. She used it to tap Miesha. So, if it's good enough for Ronda, it's good enough for me.

That said, it's more situational than a 100% must every time. But it's definitely not a bad thing to do when it's appropriate.


Your instructor may just be trying to enforce basics for the time being. So don't hold it against him.

[Matt Young]

Rener Gracie did a breakdown recently where he said it was ok to cross the ankles if they are under the far shoulder.

[DanConway]

At a recent grappling event someone asked myself and another group of people what was better : I answered before anyone saying crossed, everyone else straight/flat and was sure to point out that I was wrong.. I assumed it was just because of our spiderweb based game that I found it more ideal... However, in multiple videos recently I have seen high level BJJ players suggesting crossing the legs in many situations.... Im inclined to think not crossing was one of those rules that is meant to give students a higher introductory success percentage, and to be broken with exception, but now more and more exceptions are being realized... I personally love it for so many different reasons, even for just that it keeps their far arm close enough to you to do whichever break you want....

[DanConway]

Interesting update: I searched this topic on most of the big grappling forums, posts older than a few years say straight, posts from the last few years almost all seem to say crossed aslong as you have both arms trapped.. I guess its becoming common place ;]

[Logan Cook]

Crossed is the way to go in my opinion. My instructor told me that he and a lot of other instructors teach new students not to cross their feet in order to emphasize how important squeezing the knees together is in an armbar but that ultimately crossing the feet is the way to go when under the far shoulder.

[ScottRay]

Clarification: Your feet are crossed in spiderweb, they are NOT crossed when finishing an armbar. Spiderweb is a position, armbar is a sub. The details are different.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Different tools for different jobs.

[Gray]

I think Dan is right. Newbs are told to not cross their ankles because it tends to make you splay your legs. Once you are aware enough of the position, you can cross your ankles while keeping your knees pinched.

I personally like crossing the ankles because it stops both the hitch hiker and stops them from pushing your leg into half guard. You are more susceptible to them bridging/scissoring their legs, but if you grab onto a leg you can keep them fairly controlled.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

As a beginner you learn the rules. Always do this. Never do this. To borrow from Josh Waitzkin in The Art Of Learning we "learn form."

As your knowledge, experience, timing, and most importantly your sensitivity develops you begin to understand that there are gray areas, and that perhaps "never" and "always" were simply learning tools placed there to help you develop. We "learn form to leave form." I have instructed my 5 year old daughter to "never cross the road by herself." That doesn't mean that it's wrong for her to cross the road or that one day she won't be able to cross the road all by herself. But for now, it's something I don't want her to branch out into.

It is "safer" and easier to begin your understanding of arm bars with the legs crossed. As you develop and mature as a grappler, you will find moments when it is not only acceptable to uncross your legs, but more efficient and technically superior.