Marcelo Garcia is one of the greatest grapplers of all time and is particularly skilled at setting up and attacking from the crucifix position. He has decided to share his best method of attack from the position, one that is actually criminally undervalued in Jiu-Jitsu competition. This is most likely a byproduct of the fact that the crucifix is not a scoring position under any ruleset and the back is relatively close, a position that does earn points and also provides a great opportunity to finish the opponent.
Regardless of how undervalued the crucifix is in general, Marcelo Garcia has always seen the power of the position. He has used it to great effect throughout his career and even against much bigger opponents, something that Garcia has been known for since the very start of his time as an elite competitor. Garcia, like every world-class grappler, has had very specific areas of expertise that he was able to funnel his matches into in order to dominate the opposition. It wasn’t just the crucifix that Garcia was able to excel at of course and he was also well known for his use of the butterfly guard and his ability to finish the north south choke with regularity.
Marcelo Garcia burst on to the competitive scene back in 2003 and made an immediate impact by submitting several opponents and winning the ADCC world championships on his very first attempt. He only built on that legacy further by winning another three gold medals, two silvers, and a bronze at the world’s most prestigious no gi grappling event. After all that he’s achieved, Garcia has become one of the most sought after coaches in the sport and is able to impart the kind of wisdom that only a handful of grapplers on the planet have access to.
The video of Marcelo Garcia sharing his best attack from the crucifix position was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of Bernardo Faria, one of two owners of BJJ Fanatics and the man he uses to demonstrate the technique:
