The crucifix is a move designed to immobilize the victim and possibly to wear her out. It is not a submission hold per se. It is also meant to expose and humiliate the victim. When a crucifix is locked on, the attacker has a variety of options to continue the fight from there, denying all such options to her victim. She may choose to apply a vicious headlock submission hold, punch some belly etc.

There are various ways of slipping on a crucifix. It is basically like a reversed crossbody pin.  The victim is on her back with the attacker under her shoulders (so that the victim’s head rests somewhere on her opponent’s mid-section). The attacker has one of her victim’s arms locked with her legs and the other with her arms. Since it’s often possible to restrain one arm with one hand only, the attacker will often have her other arm free to cause a variety of damage with it.

Possible escape: a well-locked on crucifix is difficult to escape. Wiggling your body left and right vigorously may loosen your attacker’s grip though.

Rating: In fighting where strikes and punches are allowed, the crucifix is a killer. The attacker can hit her opponent’s head in a variety of ways there. In wrestling, where such strikes are fortunately not allowed, the hold becomes more of a show-boating demonstration of dominance.