Crossing your ankles in the arm bar.

[Jekyll]

Neil Adams advocates crossing the ankles for extra control of the other guy's body in jujigatame.
Is there any reason not to do this if foot locks are allowed?

[MrMcFu]

I find the hold is tighter and I can exert more pressure with my ankles uncrossed. Pushing the knees together makes up for the ankle crossing, IMHO

[SLJ]

I was taught never to cross, although I do sometimes from my guard when the guy remains upright and I have the arm nearly fully extended.

[Aesopian]

In the standard armbar from the top, you don't want to cross your feet or your knees flare out and the pressure is lessened. From the guard though, there are plenty of times when crossing is permissable, with the triangle/armbar combo being the most extreme case of such.

[Kidnemo]

Aesop has broke the capsules of the correct.

I would say, atleast for me, if I have the submission locked in correctly from the start I don't feel the need to cross 'em.

[Yrkoon9]

Crossed or uncrossed doesn't matter as much as you might think. People want to get stuck on the trivial details when they really need to be more worried about body positioning.

I have heard people say that crossing the feet takes pressure away from the squeeze of the knees. I don't think so. You are probably sitting down right now at a computer. Squeeze your knees together. Now cross your legs and squeeze your knees together. Not your ankles. Your knees. Feel any difference?

Just to note: Roger broke Jacare's arm last year with the ankles crossed.

[Aesopian]

In summary, go to class and armbar as many people as possible, trying both ways. Return and post judgment.

[Te No Kage!]

Can you still get your heel against the head though if you're crossing your ankles? I thought trapping the head tight was an important part of preventing escapes.

[J-Lau]

Ankles crossed versus uncrossed doesnt really matter as much as how your legs are in relation to their arms.

And FYI, watch Rickson armbarring Takada, he crosses his ankles. You know, if you think Rickson knows best.

[Shuma-Gorath]

In the standard juji-gatame armbar, if you cross your feet it is possible for the person to push them over their head and sit up. If the lock is tight then there might not be time for this, but you don't want to lose it over something that minor.