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Triangle Choke: A Complete Guide to Setups, Mechanics, and Reliable Finishes

The triangle choke is a cornerstone submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that uses your legs to strangle the opponent by isolating one arm and the neck. Students study it because it works in gi, no-gi, and MMA, appears from guard and top transitions, and offers a powerful hub for chaining into armbars, omoplatas, and back takes. This page explains how the triangle choke works, where it shows up, crucial finishing details, common mistakes, and how to study it more effectively.

What Is the Triangle Choke and Where It Fits

The triangle choke is a leg-based strangle that compresses the opponent’s neck using your thigh on one side and their own trapped shoulder on the other, blocking the carotid arteries for a blood choke. In its classic form from guard, you control the opponent’s posture, pass one of their arms across your centerline, and lock your legs in a figure-four around their neck and arm. When timed well, the triangle choke can be both a formidable submission and a control position that leads to sweeps and transitions.

You’ll most often see the triangle from closed guard, open guard, and modern guards like K-guard, shin-to-shin, and De La Riva. It also appears from scrambles and front headlock reactions when opponents post an arm inside your legs. On top, mounted and rear triangles become available during armbar attempts, back attack transitions, and when an opponent turns to their side to defend. In MMA and self-defense contexts, the triangle choke is valued because it neutralizes posture and striking while creating finishing pressure.

Variants you may encounter include the mounted triangle choke, rear triangle choke, leg triangle choke from back triangle configurations, flying triangle choke entries from standing, and creative finishes like the teepee triangle choke when you cannot angle effectively. Each variation relies on the same core principles: posture control, angle creation, tight leg configuration, and a clear choke path.

Triangle Choke Videos on BJJ University (Top 20 Videos, Top 10 Courses)

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Modern Guard Systems Bundle by Neil Melanson

$547.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This video is a promotional introduction for the Modern Guard Systems Bundle by Neil Melanson, who is known for his unique perspective on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) due to his catch wrestling base. The video highlights his innovative approaches to guard retention, focusing on sneaky attacks such as the shoulder pin, K guard, and triangles. The bundle mentioned in the video contains over 12 volumes of Neil's full-length instructional videos.

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Systematically Attacking The Back by Gordon Ryan

$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video features ADCC double gold champ, Gordon Ryan, sharing his signature back attack system consisting of strangles, armlocks, triangles and combinations. Gordon explains and demonstrates these techniques, detailing how he and his coach, Professor John Danaher, have developed them. These methods have been instrumental in his success, including achieving multiple submission wins as a black belt. The video also includes real-time gym breakdowns of Gordon's proven submission game.

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The Pillars of Defense: Back Escapes by Gordon Ryan

$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics

In this instructional video, Gordon Ryan elaborates on a complete back control escape system. His method includes hand fighting, breaking body triangle, and the introduction of defensive strategies from the straight jacket position. He further explains the techniques with the help of live sparring breakdowns, which he uses to analyze and demonstrate the maneuvers in action. These systems and strategies are the ones he uses at the elite levels of no-gi grappling.

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Systematically Attacking Triangles by Gordon Ryan

$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics

In this instructional video, Gordon Ryan teaches viewers how to systematically attack a triangle. He presents an 8-part masterclass that covers all variations, setups, and finishes for the technique, with rolling footage and commentary included for additional clarity. The course includes various triangle variations such as the front triangle, side triangle, reverse triangle, and back triangle. It also demonstrates how to execute these techniques from numerous positions while highlighting ideal finishing mechanics.

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Systematic Submission Dilemmas: High Level Triangle and Leg Lock Combos by Craig Jones

$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics

In this instructional video, Craig Jones, one of the top no-gi grapplers globally, offers an in-depth explanation of his lethal submission system. The video emphasizes combining triangle chokes and leg locks. Jones details various techniques that allow for the best control and potency from different positions. The video also includes live-rolling footage wherein Jones provides step-by-step analysis of the presented concepts.

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How To Kill My Game: Shutting Down The Over Under Pass by Bernardo Faria

$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This video tutorial is by Bernardo Faria, a 5-time BJJ World Champion. He teaches how to shut down the Over Under Pass, a common attack position, by guiding you through the full mechanics of it and identifying key weak points. Understanding and exploiting these weak points help with maintaining your guard. Faria then provides specific instruction on various techniques like the Bury, the Rocking Chair Sweep, and the Inverted Triangle to keep the passer off-balance and pose a potential threat. These techniques also help to prevent being 'smashed' on the bottom during the pass. The video is instructional and contains BJJ content.

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The Yoku Sankaku Side Triangle by Neil Melanson

$190.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video features Neil Melanson, a globally respected and renowned grappling instructor, discussing and teaching on the intricacies of mastering the Yoku Sankaku, a particular form of side triangle. Different methods of transitioning into the sankaku from common positions such as the half guard, k guard and side control are thoroughly explained by Neil. He also highlights how to further utilize this position to lead to other various submission combinations such as armbars, kimuras, and toe holds, among others. His teaching methodology has been shaped by experience in various grappling arts, aiming to provide the most effective techniques.

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Breaking The Triangle: Escapes, Counters & Sneaky Submissions by Joshua You

$179.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This instructional video titled "Breaking The Triangle: Escapes, Counters & Sneaky Submissions" by Joshua You deep dives into mastering the techniques of escaping, countering, and executing sneaky submissions from a triangle position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The video emphasizes capitalizing on unfavorable positions and using them to an advantage. Joshua You presents a step-by-step approach to these techniques based on his extensive experience and knowledge of this specific position.

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Old School Machado Jiu Jitsu by Rigan Machado

$127.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This instructional grip video taught by Rigan Machado focuses on tactics and techniques surrounding the Handcuff Guard position. He demonstrates advanced techniques like the 'Invisible Triangle' and how to transition smoothly into a Spider Guard. Additionally, he details variations of the Butterfly Sweep while emphasizing Gi use and body control. He also covers how to execute an Omoplata or transition into high level leg locks from sitting positions.

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The Science of Filthy Triangles by Neil Melanson

$127.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video is an instructional content about the Science of Filthy Triangles by renowned BJJ and catch-wrestling coach, Neil Melanson. He presents how to setup and execute various forms of triangle chokes, comprising reverse triangle, corner lock triangle, hand choke triangle, etc., from common positions such as open guard, closed guard, and mount. He simplifies key triangle choke concepts under Melanson’s Law, emphasizing its efficient integration with other submissions such as kimura shoulder lock.

Core Mechanics and High-Percentage Entries

  • Break posture first: The bjj triangle choke depends on collapsing the opponent’s posture so they can’t easily stack or pummel their arm back to safety. Use your hands behind the head, collars or neck ties, knees pinched, and your core engaged to keep their head below your hips.
  • Create the angle: Rotate your body so you face the opponent’s trapped shoulder, not square to their chest. Hip escape, underhook the leg, or post your foot on the hip to turn. Angling exposes the carotid line and frees your choking thigh to bite across the neck.
  • Clear the shoulder line: Move the opponent’s trapped arm across your centerline. Your goal is to use the shoulder as one side of the strangle. Grips on the wrist and triceps, combined with head control and hip movement, help you cross and keep the arm in.
  • Lock, then adjust: Shoot your leg over their shoulder and lock a loose triangle first to establish control. Then make incremental adjustments—pull the head, underhook the far leg to stop stacking, scoot your hips, and re-bite deeper—before finishing.

Common entries include:

  • Closed guard snap-down to wrist control, stuffing one arm in and one arm out before shooting the triangle.
  • Overhook/underhook guard where you off-balance, pull the head, and kick the leg over the shoulder.
  • Hip bump to triangle when the opponent posts an arm to stop your sit-up sweep.
  • Lasso or collar-and-sleeve in gi to force inside arm exposure.
  • K-guard and shin-to-shin entries in no-gi to flow from leg entanglements to upper-body triangles.
  • Front headlock reactions when opponents thread an arm between your legs to post.

Triangle Choke Transitions (10 Videos, 2 Courses)

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Old School Machado Jiu Jitsu by Rigan Machado

$127.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This instructional grip video taught by Rigan Machado focuses on tactics and techniques surrounding the Handcuff Guard position. He demonstrates advanced techniques like the 'Invisible Triangle' and how to transition smoothly into a Spider Guard. Additionally, he details variations of the Butterfly Sweep while emphasizing Gi use and body control. He also covers how to execute an Omoplata or transition into high level leg locks from sitting positions.

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Enter The X Verse by Chris Newman

$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video features Chris Newman, a BJJ Black Belt instructor, teaching effective variations of X Guard, specifically how to use the X Verse system. Newman shares several unique grips that can help off-balance opponents and demonstrates two skill-specific drills for refining essential concepts and movements. The video also covers transitions into match-ending triangles and highlights Chris Newman’s overhead sweep, encouraging practitioners to integrate these techniques into their X Verse arsenal. Whether you're a beginner or a Black Belt looking to modernize your X Guard, this instructional video is a helpful resource.

Finishing Details, Counters, and Troubleshooting

  • Bite and knee line: The thigh across the neck must sit deep, close to your opponent’s jawline. Curl your toes back and point your knee toward the sky to increase bite. Your bottom leg’s knee should be tight under their trapped shoulder to remove daylight.
  • Angle, angle, angle: If your triangle isn’t finishing, you’re likely too square. Grab the shin of your choking leg, plant your free foot on the hip, and rotate. Underhooking your opponent’s far leg with your arm will also turn your hips and prevent stacking.
  • Lock behind the knee: When possible, clasp your figure-four behind your knee rather than on the calf or ankle. A deeper lock shortens the triangle and boosts pressure.
  • Head control is non-negotiable: Use a palm-to-palm grip, gable grip, or the crown/occiput pull to break posture. Short, repeated tugs are better than one long pull. Keep your elbows tight so their head can’t pop up.
  • Shoulder line management: If the trapped arm is creeping back across, re-stuff it with your elbow and hip motion before you squeeze. Think “position, then pressure”: don’t burn out by squeezing early.
  • Stack defense: Underhook the far leg to off-balance and angle. If they still stack, post your free hand on the mat to pivot, or sit up and sweep by rotating toward the underhooked leg. From there, finish on top with a mounted triangle.
  • Strong-posture opponents: Switch to the teepee triangle choke by closing both legs upward if angling is difficult, or transition to armbar and omoplata when their elbow position gives it away. The triangle is a hub—use it to threaten multiple finishes until one opens cleanly.
  • Safety considerations: The triangle is a blood choke, but powerful neck cranking can occur if you pull excessively on the head while misaligned. Apply pressure gradually, follow tap etiquette, and avoid yanking the head if your angle isn’t set. In training, prioritize clean carotid pressure over spinal torque.

Triangle Choke Sweeps (3 Videos, 1 Courses)

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Relentless Closed guard Attacks by Steffen Banta

$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This video tutorial outlines different self-defense techniques from the closed guard position, taught by Steffen Banta, an up-and-coming BJJ competitor. The video emphasizes controlling the opponent's posture, balance, and weight to execute moves effectively. Banta elaborates on several sweeps, including the flower sweep, scissor sweep, and lumberjack sweep, as well as submission holds like the omoplata and the triangle. The video also shows Banta applying these techniques in actual sparring sessions.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

  • Squeezing before structure: Students often try to finish with poor angle or shallow leg position. Fix by adjusting first—grab your shin, pivot, and bite deeper—then squeeze.
  • Forgetting to control the head: Without posture control, opponents stand and stack. Keep a consistent grip behind the head and use your core to curl their posture down.
  • Locking too early on the foot: Aim to lock behind your knee. If your legs are short or opponent is large, use the hip-post and shin-grab sequence to tighten the circle before relocking.
  • Letting the trapped arm slide back: Bracket their wrist with your hip and elbow, use mini hip escapes to keep it across, and add a cross-collar or neck tie to deny posture while you adjust.
  • Staying flat on your back: A flat back equals weak angles. Sit up on your elbow, underhook the far leg, or pivot off your posted foot to rotate your hips toward their trapped shoulder.

Triangle Choke Escapes (6 Videos, 3 Courses)

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The Pillars of Defense: Back Escapes by Gordon Ryan

$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics

In this instructional video, Gordon Ryan elaborates on a complete back control escape system. His method includes hand fighting, breaking body triangle, and the introduction of defensive strategies from the straight jacket position. He further explains the techniques with the help of live sparring breakdowns, which he uses to analyze and demonstrate the maneuvers in action. These systems and strategies are the ones he uses at the elite levels of no-gi grappling.

PREMIUM
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Breaking The Triangle: Escapes, Counters & Sneaky Submissions by Joshua You

$179.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This instructional video titled "Breaking The Triangle: Escapes, Counters & Sneaky Submissions" by Joshua You deep dives into mastering the techniques of escaping, countering, and executing sneaky submissions from a triangle position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The video emphasizes capitalizing on unfavorable positions and using them to an advantage. Joshua You presents a step-by-step approach to these techniques based on his extensive experience and knowledge of this specific position.

PREMIUM
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C4C PJJ Fight Functional Jiu-Jitsu by Chad Lyman

$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video features Chad Lyman, a well-respected officer and BJJ black belt, coaching fundamental concepts and techniques for escaping the most common pinning position in grappling - side control. Techniques such as the ghost escape, the reverse triangle, and octopus guard are covered, with the objective of reversing position, getting back to feet, or gaining a stronger guard. Chad’s teachings stress the importance of proper frames, barriers, and body motions that work against all body types and can be used both on the mats against talented grapplers and in real-world self-defense situations.

What to Study First

  • Posture breaks and entries from closed guard: Learn to recognize the one-in, one-out arm pattern that signals a triangle opportunity. Drill snap-downs, wrist control, and overhook setups.
  • Angle creation mechanics: Practice grabbing your shin, posting on the hip, and pivoting until it’s automatic. Reps matter more than strength here.
  • Finishing parameters: Memorize the checklist—head down, arm across, bite deep, angle, lock behind the knee, squeeze with your legs and hips, not your adductors alone.
  • Follow-ups: Pair your triangle with armbars and omoplatas. If a triangle stalls, switch proactively. This mirrors how top competitors structure their “triangle hub” game.
  • Variations worth previewing: Mounted triangle choke and rear triangle choke to finish after sweeps or back attacks; flying triangle choke for advanced students comfortable with safe stand-up entries; teepee triangle choke as a bailout when angle is hard to achieve. If you’re exploring arm triangle bjj systems from top (e.g., mount or side control), note the conceptual overlap—angle, shoulder line, and head control—even though the mechanics differ from the leg triangle.

Triangle Choke Guard Retention (3 Videos, 3 Courses)

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Modern Guard Systems Bundle by Neil Melanson

$547.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This video is a promotional introduction for the Modern Guard Systems Bundle by Neil Melanson, who is known for his unique perspective on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) due to his catch wrestling base. The video highlights his innovative approaches to guard retention, focusing on sneaky attacks such as the shoulder pin, K guard, and triangles. The bundle mentioned in the video contains over 12 volumes of Neil's full-length instructional videos.

PREMIUM
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How To Kill My Game: Shutting Down The Over Under Pass by Bernardo Faria

$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This video tutorial is by Bernardo Faria, a 5-time BJJ World Champion. He teaches how to shut down the Over Under Pass, a common attack position, by guiding you through the full mechanics of it and identifying key weak points. Understanding and exploiting these weak points help with maintaining your guard. Faria then provides specific instruction on various techniques like the Bury, the Rocking Chair Sweep, and the Inverted Triangle to keep the passer off-balance and pose a potential threat. These techniques also help to prevent being 'smashed' on the bottom during the pass. The video is instructional and contains BJJ content.

PREMIUM
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The Gauntlet Grip by Drew Weatherhead

$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video instructs viewers on the techniques of the 'Gauntlet Grip' system, an open guard concept developed by Drew Weatherhead. The concept provides control over an opponent, with multiple attack options. The video includes detailed instructions for setting up triangle chokes and tips on using the closed circle and spider tension. Additionally, it shows how to combine the Gauntlet Grip with techniques such as the spider guard, De La Riva, tomoe nage, dummy sweeps, and arm drags for increased control and attack options.

Using BJJ University to Learn the Triangle Choke Faster

BJJ University is a free, curated learning hub that organizes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu resources so you can study more efficiently. Use the navigation menu to browse categorized videos, short clips, breakdowns, and instructional resources by instructor, technique, position, category, and training topic. You’ll find classic closed-guard triangles, modern leg-in entries from guards like K-guard, and finishing details that carry over to mounted and rear variations.

Start at the Triangle Choke main page to compare different teaching styles and drill orders. Then branch into related positions like closed guard, open guard, and back attacks, and explore instructors known for clear triangle systems. Build a playlist of entries, troubleshooting clips, and finish-focused drills you can revisit before class or competition.

Bookmark BJJ University, and share it with teammates, beginners, and friends who want reliable, free BJJ learning resources. Consistent, organized study—paired with purposeful drilling—will turn the triangle choke from an occasional catch into a dependable finishing tool.

FAQs

Is the triangle choke legal in gi and no-gi?

Yes, the triangle choke is legal for all belt levels in both gi and no-gi under standard rulesets. Always confirm local or event-specific rules, especially for variations like flying triangle entries.

How do I finish if my legs are short or my opponent is broad-shouldered?

Angle more aggressively, grab your shin before locking, and underhook the far leg to turn their posture. If needed, transition to teepee pressure or switch to armbar or omoplata when their elbow alignment exposes it.

What’s the fastest way to improve my bjj triangle choke?

Drill posture breaks and angle creation daily. Record a simple checklist—head control, arm across, deep bite, angle, knee-behind-knee lock—and review after each roll to pinpoint where the attempt failed.

How do I stop getting stacked while finishing?

Underhook the far leg immediately, pivot off your posted foot, and scoot your hips away to create an angle. If the stack continues, sweep by turning toward the underhooked leg and finish from a mounted triangle.

What’s the difference between a leg triangle choke and an arm triangle choke?

A leg triangle uses your legs around the opponent’s neck and one arm, typically from guard or transitions like mount and back. An arm triangle choke uses your arms and shoulder pressure from top positions such as mount or side control. The conceptual goals—angle, shoulder line, and carotid pressure—are similar, but the mechanics and grips differ.

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