Rear Triangle Bottom is a highly compromised defensive position where the practitioner is caught in a triangle choke configuration applied from the opponent’s back control position. This represents one of the most dangerous submission threats in BJJ, combining the control advantages of back mount with the finishing mechanics of the triangle choke. The bottom player faces significant constraints on mobility and breathing, with the opponent’s legs creating a figure-four configuration around the neck and one arm while maintaining back control elements. This position typically occurs when an opponent successfully transitions from standard back control or seated back mount into a triangle configuration, often catching one arm inside the triangle while controlling the back. The defensive player must navigate multiple submission threats including the triangle choke itself, potential transitions to armbars, and the ever-present danger of the rear naked choke. Understanding the escape hierarchy and maintaining composure under extreme pressure are essential for survival and eventual escape from this precarious position.
Position Definition
- Opponent’s legs are configured in a figure-four triangle formation around the defender’s neck and one trapped arm, with the ankle locked behind the knee creating the choking mechanism while applying direct pressure to the carotid arteries on the trapped arm side
- Defender’s back is exposed to opponent with at least one arm trapped inside the triangle structure, severely limiting defensive hand fighting options and posture recovery while the opponent maintains chest-to-back contact creating forward pressure
- Opponent maintains elements of back control including hooks or body triangle combined with the triangle configuration, creating a hybrid control position with multiple submission threats converging simultaneously on the defender
- Defender’s head and trapped arm are enclosed within the triangle’s loop with pressure being applied to the carotid arteries and increasing oxygen deprivation over time, while chin protection and face positioning determine immediate survival duration
Prerequisites
- Opponent successfully transitioned from back control or seated back mount to triangle configuration
- One of defender’s arms became trapped inside the triangle structure during the transition or initial control phase
- Opponent secured the figure-four leg lock with ankle behind knee creating the triangle choking mechanism
- Defender failed to prevent the triangle lock or immediately address the positional threat during the setup phase
Key Defensive Principles
- Immediately address posture and create space between head and choking leg to relieve carotid pressure and buy time
- Focus on extracting the trapped arm from inside the triangle as the primary escape pathway before addressing other threats
- Maintain chin protection by tucking chin to chest and turning face toward the non-choking leg side to reduce choke effectiveness
- Control opponent’s choking leg ankle or knee to prevent them from tightening the triangle and to create leverage for escape attempts
- Stay calm and manage breathing despite restricted airway, avoiding panic that accelerates oxygen depletion and poor decision-making
- Recognize submission sequences (triangle to armbar, triangle to back take) and defend transitions preemptively rather than reactively
- Generate rotation and angle changes to disrupt the triangle’s structure rather than attempting pure strength-based escapes
Available Escapes
Arm Extraction → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Triangle Escape → Turtle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 40%
Rolling Escape → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 8%
- Intermediate: 20%
- Advanced: 35%
Stack Defense → Defensive Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 12%
- Intermediate: 22%
- Advanced: 38%
Posture Recovery → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 20%
- Advanced: 35%
Hand Fighting from Back → Seat Belt Control Back
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 18%
- Intermediate: 28%
- Advanced: 42%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent’s triangle is fully locked with ankle behind knee and tight pressure on carotid arteries:
- Execute Triangle Escape → Back Control (Probability: 25%)
- Execute Arm Extraction → Defensive Position (Probability: 30%)
- Execute Tap Out → Won by Submission (Probability: 45%)
If triangle is locked but defender maintains some posture and trapped arm has mobility:
- Execute Arm Extraction → Back Control (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Posture Recovery → Seat Belt Control Back (Probability: 35%)
- Execute Stack Defense → Turtle (Probability: 20%)
If opponent transitions to armbar or loosens triangle to adjust position:
- Execute Rolling Escape → Closed Guard (Probability: 40%)
- Execute Arm Extraction → Back Control (Probability: 35%)
- Execute Hand Fighting from Back → Defensive Position (Probability: 25%)
If defender successfully extracts trapped arm from triangle structure:
- Execute Triangle Escape → Turtle (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Rolling Escape → Closed Guard (Probability: 30%)
- Execute Back Take Generic → Back Control (Probability: 20%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Shortest escape path to neutral
Rear Triangle Bottom → Arm Extraction → Triangle Escape → Turtle → Turtle to Guard → Closed Guard
High-percentage survival path
Rear Triangle Bottom → Chin Protection → Hand Fighting from Back → Arm Extraction → Back Control → Elbow Escape → Side Control → Side Control Escape → Closed Guard
Counter-attack path
Rear Triangle Bottom → Posture Recovery → Rolling Escape → Closed Guard → Triangle from Closed Guard → Triangle Control → Triangle Choke Front
Conservative defensive path
Rear Triangle Bottom → Defensive Position → Stack Defense → Arm Extraction → Back Control → Technical Standup → Standing Position
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 10% | 15% | 5% |
| Intermediate | 25% | 30% | 10% |
| Advanced | 40% | 45% | 15% |
Average Time in Position: 15-45 seconds before tap or escape
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The rear triangle bottom position represents a convergence of two of the most powerful control systems in grappling—the back control framework and the triangle choking mechanism. From a biomechanical perspective, the defender faces a dual constraint system where the legs create arterial compression while the back position limits rotational escape options. The key to survival lies in understanding the hierarchical nature of the escape sequence: first, you must address the trapped arm, as this is the structural weakness in the triangle configuration when applied from the back. The opponent’s triangle is only as strong as their ability to maintain the arm inside, so your primary objective must be extraction of that limb through strategic hand positioning and elbow frames. Only after arm extraction should you attempt to address the choking leg itself. The systematic approach to defense requires maintaining chin protection throughout, controlling the choking leg’s ankle or knee to limit opponent adjustments, and using small, precise movements rather than explosive panic-driven reactions. Remember that the opponent’s position, while dominant, also constrains their own mobility—use this to your advantage by timing your escape attempts to moments when they adjust or transition between submissions.
Gordon Ryan
Getting caught in a rear triangle is one of the worst positions you can find yourself in during competition, but I’ve escaped it enough times to know it’s not automatically over if you keep your composure and work the right sequence. The first thing I focus on is protecting my chin and immediately grabbing that choking leg—usually at the ankle—because if I can control that leg, they can’t adjust the angle to finish me. My trapped arm is the biggest problem, so I’m working to get that elbow down and start walking my hand across my body to extract it. Once that arm is out, the triangle starts falling apart and I can think about actually escaping rather than just surviving. The mistake I see people make is trying to use strength to just rip their head out, but that doesn’t work against anyone good—they’ll just tighten it up and finish you faster. Instead, I focus on small technical movements: hand fighting, controlling their legs, and creating just enough space to start the extraction process. In competition, I’ve found that staying calm and breathing efficiently through the restriction buys me the time I need to work my escapes systematically. If you panic and start thrashing, you’re done. If you stay technical and work the positions, you can survive and escape even against high-level opponents who have locked this position in tight.
Eddie Bravo
Rear triangle bottom is basically the ultimate nightmare scenario—you’re getting strangled from a position where they have your back and one of your arms is trapped, so you’re dealing with multiple problems at once. But here’s the thing about the 10th Planet approach to this: we train this position specifically because it comes up in our game when we’re hunting for back triangles ourselves, so we know both sides intimately. The key is understanding that the triangle from the back isn’t quite as tight as a front triangle because the angle is different and they don’t have as much hip mobility to squeeze. That’s your window. You need to immediately control that choking leg—grab the ankle, grab behind the knee, whatever you can get—and start working to turn your face away from the choke toward their non-choking leg. Then you’re working that trapped arm out by any means necessary: sliding the hand, dropping the elbow, rotating the shoulder. We drill this with the principle that you never give up on the arm extraction because once that arm is free, the whole structure collapses. I also teach my guys to look for the roll-through escape if the opponent’s triangle isn’t fully locked yet—sometimes you can use their own momentum against them if they’re trying to finish too aggressively. The mental game is huge here too; you have to train yourself not to panic when the blood flow gets restricted. We do a lot of survival drilling where guys hold the position at different tightness levels so you get comfortable with that feeling and don’t tap prematurely. It’s all about staying creative, staying technical, and understanding that even the worst positions have escape routes if you know where to look.