Submission: Triangle Choke (Triângulo)

The key aspects of the Triangle Choke

1. Grips and Leg Positioning: The Triangle Choke relies on the proper positioning of your legs, with one leg across the opponent’s neck and the other leg securing the position by locking behind the knee of the first leg. The key to the Triangle Choke is to maintain a strong and stable leg configuration, ensuring that your thigh and calf are pressed snugly against the opponent’s carotid arteries.
2. Control and Connection: Maintaining control of your opponent’s posture and position is crucial when setting up the Triangle Choke. When applying the choke from the guard, use your legs to break down your opponent’s posture and control their upper body. Ensure that one of their arms is inside the triangle configuration while the other is outside, providing optimal constriction of the carotid arteries.
3. Choke Mechanics: The mechanics of the Triangle Choke involve using the legs to constrict the carotid arteries on both sides of the opponent’s neck. To finish the choke, secure the triangle by locking your legs, pulling down on your opponent’s head, and squeezing your knees together. The key to a successful Triangle Choke is to maintain constant pressure and prevent your opponent from alleviating the choke by creating space.
4. Setups and Transitions: The Triangle Choke can be set up from various positions, and developing a fluid and adaptable approach to setting up the choke is essential. Some common positions and setups include:a. Closed Guard: From the closed guard, control your opponent’s posture and manipulate their arms to create an opening for the Triangle Choke. Key setups include arm drags, collar and sleeve control, and utilizing overhooks or underhooks.

   b. Open Guard: The Triangle Choke can be initiated from various open guard positions, such as De La Riva, spider guard, or lasso guard. Use your grips and leg control to create angles and opportunities to shoot for the Triangle Choke.

   c. From the Back: The Triangle Choke can also be applied from the back mount position, known as the rear triangle or “back triangle.” This variation involves securing the Triangle Choke with your opponent’s arm and shoulder inside the triangle, rather than their head and arm.

5. Defense and Counters: As with any submission, it’s important to be aware of your opponent’s potential defenses and counters. Common defenses against the Triangle Choke include posturing up, creating space, and transitioning to a more advantageous position. Developing a deep understanding of the choke mechanics and common defenses will enable you to anticipate and counter these defenses, leading to higher submission success rates.

In summary, the Triangle Choke is a versatile and powerful submission that targets the opponent’s neck. By understanding and applying the principles of grip and leg positioning, control and connection, choke mechanics, setups and transitions, and defense and counters, you can develop a formidable Triangle Choke game that will challenge your opponents and lead to more submission victories. Always remember to approach the Triangle Choke with a systematic and methodical mindset, constantly refining your technique and exploring new variations and setups.