Triangle Control Bottom represents one of the most powerful submission positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where the bottom practitioner has locked their legs around the opponent’s neck and one arm, creating an imminent choking threat. This position is reached from various guard positions, most commonly closed guard, when the opponent’s posture is broken and one arm is isolated. The triangle configuration creates a mechanical advantage where the practitioner’s legs compress the carotid arteries while trapping one of the opponent’s arms across their own neck, amplifying the choking pressure.
From a strategic perspective, triangle control is not merely a submission position but a highly dynamic platform for launching multiple attacks. The position offers exceptional control over the opponent’s upper body while simultaneously threatening the choke, armbar transitions, and omoplata variations. Advanced practitioners understand that the triangle itself is often a forcing mechanism—creating defensive reactions that open pathways to other submissions. The position’s power lies in its ability to control distance, limit the opponent’s defensive options, and create a submission chain that becomes increasingly difficult to escape as time progresses.
The biomechanics of triangle control favor the bottom practitioner significantly, as the leg muscles are substantially stronger than the neck and arm muscles the opponent must use to defend. Proper angle adjustment and hip positioning are critical—the practitioner must angle their body approximately 30-45 degrees relative to the opponent’s centerline to maximize choking pressure while minimizing the opponent’s ability to posture or stack. This position exemplifies the fundamental BJJ principle of using superior leverage and positioning to overcome strength disadvantages, making it equally effective for practitioners of all sizes when executed with proper technique.
Position Definition
- Both legs wrapped around opponent’s neck and shoulder, with one leg crossed over the other behind opponent’s neck, creating a closed triangle configuration that controls head position and restricts movement
- One of opponent’s arms trapped inside the triangle across their own neck, while the other arm remains outside, creating asymmetric pressure that amplifies the choking mechanism through their own trapped limb
- Practitioner’s hips angled 30-45 degrees off centerline relative to opponent’s torso, with the choking leg’s knee pointing toward opponent’s trapped shoulder to maximize arterial compression and minimize escape angles
- Practitioner’s upper body positioned to pull opponent’s head down and forward into the triangle, maintaining head control through grips on the back of the head, neck, or opponent’s sleeve/wrist
- Opponent’s posture broken forward with their head pulled down toward practitioner’s chest, preventing them from creating the vertical space needed to relieve choking pressure or extract their trapped arm
Prerequisites
- Successful isolation of one of opponent’s arms inside guard position using arm drag, overhook, or collar sleeve control
- Breaking of opponent’s posture to bring their head and shoulders forward, eliminating vertical base
- Initial triangle lock with legs secured around neck and shoulder, with ankle crossed behind opponent’s neck
- Hip angle adjustment to create proper choking geometry at 30-45 degrees off centerline
- Control of opponent’s head or posture through grips to prevent escape attempts and maintain pressure
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain tight triangle lock with ankles crossed behind opponent’s neck, squeezing knees together to compress carotid arteries
- Keep hips angled 30-45 degrees off centerline with choking leg’s knee directed toward trapped shoulder
- Pull opponent’s head down and forward constantly to prevent posture recovery and maintain choking pressure
- Control the angle by adjusting hip position—too straight reduces choking pressure, proper angle maximizes arterial compression
- Keep elbows tight to body and maintain grips to control opponent’s posture and prevent explosive escape attempts
- Use the trapped arm as a lever by pulling it across opponent’s neck to amplify choking pressure
- Maintain active leg pressure throughout—the submission comes from sustained compression, not explosive squeezing
Available Escapes
Triangle Choke Front → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Triangle to Armbar → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Triangle to Omoplata → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Triangle to Back → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Switch to Triangle → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Inverted Triangle → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to Omoplata → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent attempts to stack by driving forward and lifting hips:
- Execute Triangle to Omoplata → Omoplata Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Triangle to Back → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent attempts to posture up vertically or pull head back:
- Execute Triangle to Armbar → Armbar Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Triangle Choke Front → Won by Submission (Probability: 75%)
If opponent successfully extracts trapped arm:
- Execute Triangle to Back → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Transition to Omoplata → Omoplata Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent turns shoulder inward to defend choking pressure:
- Execute Triangle to Omoplata → Omoplata Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Triangle to Armbar → Armbar Control (Probability: 55%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Direct finish path
Closed Guard → Triangle Control → Triangle Choke Front → Won by Submission
Armbar transition path
Closed Guard → Triangle Control → Triangle to Armbar → Armbar Control → Armbar from Guard → Won by Submission
Omoplata chain path
Closed Guard → Triangle Control → Triangle to Omoplata → Omoplata Control → Omoplata from Guard → Won by Submission
Back attack path
Closed Guard → Triangle Control → Triangle to Back → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 45% | 40% |
| Intermediate | 70% | 65% | 60% |
| Advanced | 85% | 80% | 75% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The triangle is fundamentally a position of mechanical dominance where the strongest muscles in the human body—the legs—are employed to compress the weakest structural point—the neck. The critical element most practitioners misunderstand is the relationship between angle and pressure. A triangle locked with the body parallel to the opponent creates approximately 40% of maximum choking potential. By angling the hips 30-45 degrees and directing the choking leg’s knee toward the trapped shoulder, we create a vector of force that efficiently compresses both carotid arteries simultaneously. The second principle is understanding the triangle as a control position rather than merely a submission. From this platform, we create a trilemma: defend the choke and expose the arm to armbar, defend the armbar and expose the shoulder to omoplata, or defend both and concede positional advancement to the back. This systematic approach transforms the triangle from a single attack into a submission ecosystem.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, the triangle is one of my highest percentage submissions because it works at all levels when you understand the modern defensive responses. Most guys at the elite level will immediately recognize the triangle threat and attempt to posture or stack. This is where the transition game becomes crucial—I’m not just hunting the choke, I’m using their defensive reactions to flow into armbars and omoplatas. The key is maintaining constant forward pressure on their head while keeping my hips mobile. If they posture up, I’m already swimming my arm over for the armbar. If they stack, I’m already rotating to omoplata or taking the back. The triangle control position gives you time because the opponent knows they’re in immediate danger—use that psychological pressure to force mistakes. My competition data shows that once I lock the triangle, I finish or advance position 78% of the time, making it one of the most reliable offensive positions in my game.
Eddie Bravo
The triangle from the 10th Planet perspective is about creating angles and using the position dynamically. We don’t just lock it and squeeze—we’re constantly adjusting, creating new angles, and threatening transitions. One game-changer is the concept of the ‘dead orchard’—when you lock the triangle, instead of immediately going for the finish, you can control their posture and work rubber guard concepts, chill dog, or transition to omoplata. The triangle becomes a hub position rather than just a submission. Another key innovation is using the triangle as a sweep mechanism—if they defend well, you can often use their defensive pressure to come up and take top position or the back. In no-gi especially, the triangle is incredibly effective because you don’t have gi grips to worry about, and the skin-to-skin contact creates better friction for control. Train the triangle as a position you can hang out in comfortably for 30-60 seconds while you pick them apart, rather than as a one-shot explosive attack.