The cross choke from mount seems simple enough, so why do so many people have trouble finishing it? And why is it that Roger Gracie can defeat so many elite BJJ fighters with such a simple technique?

Nic Gregoriades from the Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood, and Roger's first black belt has put together an indepth look at the cross collar choke from mount in this video. Nic takes a look at proper mount position, balance, weight distribution, defeating your opponent's neck protection, how to properly take a grip on the lapel, mainting mount and preventing sweeps, and finally applying the finish.

This video is the first in an ongoing series called BJJ Building Blocks, where we will be taking a detailed look at fundamental techniques and what makes them work, as well as common mistakes.