Become Fighter
The triangle choke: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
Trapping one arm and the head inside your legs from guard.
The triangle uses your legs to trap their head and one arm. The trapped shoulder presses on one side of the neck, your leg on the other. It is a leg-driven blood choke and a classic from closed guard.
Details matter: angle, hips and a tight lock. You get the angle first, then the lock, then the squeeze. A rushed triangle often ends up as a failed attempt and a lost guard.
Key points
- Trap one arm inside and the other outside their head. Control the wrist of the trapped arm.
- Open your guard and put one foot on the hip as a pivot.
- Shoot the leg over the shoulder, then angle your hips off to the side of the trapped arm.
- Lock the figure four with the knee behind the knee of the other leg. Do not cross the ankles.
- Pull the head down and squeeze with your knees. Slowly.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Staying square. Angle your hips off the centre line. Squared hips leave a gap and let them lift out.
- Crossing the ankles. Lock with the foot behind the knee. Crossed ankles are weaker and can hurt.
- Squeezing too hard too soon. Squeeze slowly. This choke is strong, and a partner needs time to tap.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Submissions system module of Jiu-jitsu foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Submissions system
- Cross collar choke from guard: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- Kimura and americana: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- The guillotine: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
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Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.