Setting up the triangle choke from the guard?

[RedStorm]

Hello all,

I am a white belt in bjj and have been training for close to year. My problem is that I feel my weakest submission is the triangle choke. I feel my progress with all other submissions (chokes, armbars, kimuras, americanas etc.) are where they need to be at this point in my jiu jitsu progress but my trianlge is lagging behind. I drill it all the time, but I just have trouble finding the opportune time to try it except when its pretty much given to me by a noob who tries to pass my guard by placing one hand under my leg and leaving the other inside. Any recommendations? I dont dabble to much with other guard variations, I usually keep it closed and transition to a standard open guard and the occasional spider when I need to. Should I be trying to use a rubber guard more?

Thanks in advance and goodluck on all of your training.

-RedStorm

[Lefty]

I'm also pretty crappy at triangles because of my limited flexibility, so I always fake triangles and set up armbars. I think a big key to good triangle is to scoot you body to the side before trying to lock it, use the hands to pull the head in and tie up your foot, and to ride up high on your shoulder blades. As for which guard to use, I couldnt tell you.

I have mad respect for guys like lister and Nog, the speed at which they can slap a triangle on at is sick and they seem to be able to be able to pull it out of any guard.

[BulldogWrestler]

One guard is as good as the next.

Couple of things to realize with the triangle (or any other submission) is that you can't force it. The submission is there to be applied in certain situations, not necessarily whenever you want it to.

With that said, shifting your hips under and out of your opponent is essential to create the space necessary to get your legs there and also create the pressure needed to properly apply the lock. Another key that a lot of new students fail to grasp is that you have to get your opponent down into the space you create before you receive him with your legs (when applying the triangle). This can be done by tugging a gi, pulling his head, pushing his knees out from beneath him as you create space, or any number of things.

A lot of the triangles you see in mma are not properly applied (and often for good reason - it's difficult applying a triangle when an opponent knows it can happen and you are in a battle moving 1000000 miles an hour). You can get the triangle without making the space, but it won't be as effective and it will be a lot more difficult to do so.

Momentum, space, pressure. Those are the keys to the triangle. Not flexibility.

If you have any questions, let me know. I know that might have seemed a bit vague.

[WI Crippler]

I have trouble applying a triangle choke as well. Even though I drill the move it seems to be too hard for me to apply in a real grappling situation. I am alot taller than the other guys in my class, and while it helps to get my foot locked under my knee, there is still alot of space for the smaller guys to pull out of. I am like lefty, I use the threat of triangle choke, to set up an armbar.

[Vanno]

Personally, I think some submissions work better for certain body types. I'm short limbed, and long torsoed, so I use more armbars, chokes, and neck cranks. With that said, the occasonial triangle is doable. I find that pushing the oponents arm and shoulder down before throwing the leg helps a bunch. Also, if you are short legged, or inflexible, you really need to whip your hips so that you are almost perpendicular to the guy's neck. With longer legged types, it is a lot more important to keep tight to your opponent's body.

[Kimuralex]

lol this is a board doomed with people who have trouble witht he triangle....i too have problems with the triangle but the only triangle i ever got was from a rubber guard..http://www.lockflow.com/article_view.php?id=1859
except of grabbing the collar i grabbed my own foot and planted it right on the shoulderlbade/neck area..the hardest part of this move is to get your other leg around his head...the good thing about this rubber guard move is that it can be transitioned into omoplata/gogoplata/armbar and stuff but yea i been having trouble with the triangle too

[moxsum]

I consider myself pretty good at the triangle as i seem to get them on people a lot, however i am pretty flexible so that may help.

I like to grab the guys wrist when hes in my guard and push it back and then bring my leg under his arm and over his neck, its also really important to contol the arm thats trapped.

I also like to setup the triangle from mount, ive found its very effective. You just climb up on the guy, get one leg past his arm and around his neck, push his arm down, wrap the other leg around. Ive tapped guys with a triangle on the mount, not even under the guy.

[cameronb]

The triangle more of a "**** I ****ed up with the [insert]" and then you can transition to it. I don't think I have ever gotten it when I was simply going for it. Most of the time I will mess something up and then Im in position and will slap it on.

The best advice I could give you is make sure you pull the head down right away, as it is easy to slip out otherwise. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. :redface:

[RedStorm]

Thanks for the advice all. I'll work on it.

[chrisman]

This will be hard to describe in words but I'll give it a shot.

A triangle choke will require a more advanced setup against an experienced grappler but you can try the following:

Beginning from the closed guard get control of both of your opponents wrists. Place your right heel (for example) on your opponents left hip. Keep your right knee tight to your opponents upper body for the rest of the move. In one quick move, pull your opponents left hand towards you while pushing his right wrist down between your legs. At this point you should be using your right heel you planted on your opponents hip to begin raising your hips (keep your right knee tight to his body). Your left leg should now be able to clear your opponents right arm to wrap arounf his neck. Your hips should be as high as possible (near your opponents upper chest / neck). You can now place your left knee at the side of your opponents head while curling your calf behind his head. Keep hooking your opponnets head tightly with your left leg while you lock your legs in a figure four. If you attacked quickly and did not give your opponent a chance to posture you should be able to lock your legs in a figure four.

Now that you've got the lock here are a couple of tips to finish. Assuming your opponents left arm is trapped: angle your body as though you are trying to look into your opponents right ear. This will tighten the lock considerably. To adjust you body position you can try to reach out with your left hand to grab you opponents right leg to pull your body at the correct angle (this will not be possible if your opponent keeps his leg out of reach). Make sure you keep your opponents arm across his body. Pinch your knees together and pull the head if necessary. This should do it.

Drill it a little to get used to the quick sequence of moves.

Chris