Key Takeaways
- A 3-part BJJ DVD explaining how the crucifix position works in Gi and No-Gi.
- It features details on controlling the position, as well as a variety of entries from standing and the ground.
- Offers a great system of attacking with the crucifix from guards and bottom positions.
- BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.5 out of 10.
MASTERING THE CRUCIFIX ALEXANDRE PEREIRA DVD HERE:
There is something about the crucifix position that makes it so much better to use than the traditional hooks and seatbelt back control. I feel that spreading someone’s arms from behind, rendering them powerless to resist, pretty much sums up what BJJ is all about – control.
There are pros and cons to playing the crucifix position, but then again, the same is true for every position we use in Jiu-Jitsu. The Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD is one of the rare DVDs covering this position in modern days, and probably the only one that actually contains useful information. As a crucifix player, I highly recommend it!
The Ultimate Back Control
I’ve never been a big fan of the traditional back control a.k.a. back mount in BJJ. While obviously advantageous and dangerous, it never clicked for me and I always found it boring, even when I spent time specializing in the straight jacket system.
That said, I found out that you don’t have to be traditional about back attacks, as long as you don’t mind sacrificing hooks (and potentially, points) for a much better control position that offers much more direct submission threats.
For me, there are three back control positions I tend to gravitate to – the crucifix, the Truck, and the rear triangle. The first two are essentially the same thing, just done at different levels of the body. They also happen to be my absolute favorite method of dealing with people, especially since I am a smaller framed grappler.
Sacrificing the potential of points (which you don’t have to do) is a very acceptable thing for me, given the amount of control I get from the crucifix, and the host of different energies that can get me there, without the predictable and often impossible requirement of getting hooks in. The Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD offers plenty of useful insights into how it all works.
Judo & BJJ Black Belt Alexandre Pereira
Alexandre ‘Alex’ Pereira is a grappler who holds black belts in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. Currently the head coach and founder of Carlson Gracie KJiu-JItsu Peniche in Portugal, Alex has spent the last decade spreading the sport that changed his life across Europe.
During his life-long grappling career, Pereira spent time training with the who-is-how of Jiu-Jitsu, including legends such as Eddie Bravo, Andre Galvao, Rafa and Gui Mendes, Erik Paulson, and Marcos Flexa. You see how the style of someone who has learned from so many different specialists translates to extreme grappling competency on the mats.
Competition-wise, Pereira has not spent too much time competing at the black belt, although he has some outstanding results during his colored belt days. Instead, he is focused on teaching, both at his academy and a bunch of camps around the world. His Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD offers a glimpse of his unique Jiu-Jitsu game and teaching style.
Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD Review
The three-part instructional called ‘Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD’ contains about two hours of quality material on the crucifix position. It covers setups, control, submissions, and different uses, with Alex taking the time to demonstrate things in Gi or No-gi, depending on the context and best practices.
Part 1 – The Role of the Kimura Grip
I love playing the crucifix position, but I have not found any viable instructional that has any meaningful contribution to my crucifix game so far. For the most part, anything past Marcelo’s original system is a variation of his work, just watered down and made pretty useless.
Alex Pereira has the potential to change that with this Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD. He did change my mind by first, offering a different perspective to the crucifixion control through the prism of the Kimura grip and Kimura trap system.
The first part of his instructional emphasizes the power of the Kimura grip configuration and its key role in holding and finishing from the Crucifix position. While ideal, I liked that Alex recognizes that this position is not always available so he also offers a position zero concept of control that eventually leads to the Kimura, but begins with initial shoulder grips.
This part also features Alex’s notes on critical concepts on using your legs to get the most out of the Crucifix, as well as transitions from control to direct submission finishes.
Part 2 – Entering the Crucifix
Once control is covered, the focus of the Alexandre Pereira Crucifix DVD shifts towards entries. Alex begins with the turtle, the quintessential position for setting up crucifixes.
Pereira recognizes the value of the modern turtle defense system and how difficult it can be to set up direct crucifix entries from there, which I really appreciated, and has follow-ups and dilemma threats to solve it. He likes to use guard setups to conquer top control via the crucifix, combining different angles of threats against turtled opponents.
Innovative and highly useful top position entries from side control, knee on belly, and the back mount also feature in this part of the DVD. Depending on the concepts he shares, Alex switches between Gi and No-Gi throughout the instructional.
Part 3 – Standing & Bottom Crucifix Attacks
Standing crucifix entries tend to be a double-edged sword – if you mess up the control, you end up conceding a takedown and perhaps even a pin. However, for those willing to take the risks, there’s a masterclass on countering the single leg and some Judo throws using crucifixes in the final part of the Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD.
To me, the second portion of this value was particularly useful, as it addresses the counter-attacking uses of the crucifix, from bad spots such as bottom mount or side control. Alex has some invaluable ideas to share that will make your escapes, and your guard game much more dangerous by integrating the crucifix and the threats it brings.
Trap Systems in BJJ
If you want to be a good grappler, and by good I mean efficient, regardless of your size, you need to consider becoming a trapper. And no, this isn’t just a tactic that small grapplers can use – one of the first people to open my eyes to it was Cyborg Abreu, and he is a really big guy.
There are plenty of instances of traps in Jiu-Jitsu, with the Kimura trap being arguably, the most popular and widespread one. The idea behind it is that you can use the Kimura grip to transition between different positions without ever losing control. It turns the Kimura into a lot more than just a submission hold and can allow you to build an entire game around it, even if you are new to the sport.
Other examples of trap systems also exist, such as the guillotine, the inside Ashi Garami, the triangle, leg rides, etc. All of these can help you master plenty of Jiu-Jitsu positions faster by having a common denominator to look for in each, or, even better, to hold on to.
In terms of the back mount, the crucifix position is one of the positions available through the Kimura trap system, that allows you to capitalize on the versatility of this grip configuration by staying behind your opponent. This aspect is covered in detail in the Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD.
FULL DOWNLOAD: MASTERING THE CRUCIFIX ALEXANDRE PEREIRA DVD
Make Them Believe!
The next time you find yourself struggling with retaining the back, just give up on the hips! Instead, go for the crucifix and force your opponent into believing that there is, in fact, a better way of controlling and attacking from the back. The Mastering The Crucifix Alexandre Pereira DVD is a great starting point to get you on your way to making the Crucfux position your specialty.
Side Control Crucifix Attacks To Make Yourself Enemies In The Gym
