The Triangle Choke is a quintessential submission move in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and is highly effective in both positional control and finishing. Requiring both precision and flexibility, it is executed from the guard by wrapping one's legs around the opponent's neck, with one of the opponent's arms inside this 'triangle' and the other arm outside.
Start from the closed guard position. Secure a grip on your opponent's sleeve and break their posture down. This is to prevent them from sneaking their body away from your guard.
Create an angle by sliding your hip out to one side, and then bring your leg up over their back. Simultaneously, your other leg should be pressing onto your opponent's hip, creating the initial configuration of the triangle.
Defense against a Triangle Choke begins before it is fully locked in. Consistently keeping good posture, carefully managing where your arms are, or trying to stand up and pressure down are effective preventive measures. If you find the choke has been applied, never panic. Protect your trapped arm and try to create space to breathe, then work on freeing your arm or breaking the leg lock.
The best counter to a Triangle Choke is prevention. Avoid putting both hands inside or outside the guard. If caught, posture up immediately, square your shoulders to their hips to avoid being off balance and work on breaking the leg configuration.
In competition, a Triangle Choke can be employed when competitors are at the guard position and the opponent is not mindful of their arm's position. It's a good move when you have adequate strength in your legs and can manipulate your opponent's posture. The Triangle choke is an excellent way to control your opponent while keeping yourself relatively safe. It's also dynamic and can open opportunities for transitioning to other positions or submissions.
Practitioners should consider their own flexibility and the size of their opponent. Often, smaller players can execute this move better due to their flexibility.
Mastering the Triangle Choke in BJJ can provide a game-changing submission in your arsenal. Remember practice makes perfect, but also practice smart. Analyze the situation before applying any technique.