Rear Triangle Bottom

Jan 23, 20269 min read

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%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent’s triangle is fully locked with ankle behind knee and tight pressure on carotid arteries:

If triangle is locked but defender maintains some posture and trapped arm has mobility:

If opponent transitions to armbar or loosens triangle to adjust position:

If defender successfully extracts trapped arm from triangle structure:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Attempting to pull the head out first before addressing the trapped arm inside the triangle

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent tightens triangle and angles hips to finish the choke more effectively, accelerating loss of consciousness
  • ✅ Correction: Focus all initial escape efforts on extracting the trapped arm from inside the triangle before attempting to remove the head

2. Using pure strength to fight the triangle without creating angles or leverage points

  • ❌ Consequence: Rapid energy depletion while the opponent maintains control with minimal effort, leading to exhaustion and inevitable submission
  • ✅ Correction: Utilize strategic movements including rotation, hip movement, and grip fighting to create mechanical advantages rather than relying on muscular force

3. Failing to protect the chin and turning the face toward the choking leg

  • ❌ Consequence: Significantly increased choke effectiveness as the carotid arteries become more exposed to compression, shortening time to unconsciousness
  • ✅ Correction: Immediately tuck chin to chest and turn face toward the non-choking leg to create a defensive structure that buys time for escape attempts

4. Panicking and making erratic movements that assist the opponent’s control and finishing mechanics

  • ❌ Consequence: Uncontrolled movements provide opportunities for opponent to adjust position, tighten the choke, or transition to alternative submissions
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain mental composure, breathe strategically through the restricted airway, and execute deliberate escape sequences methodically

5. Ignoring the opponent’s potential transitions to armbar or other submissions while focused solely on the triangle

  • ❌ Consequence: Getting caught in secondary submissions like armbars when the opponent transitions from the triangle during escape attempts
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain awareness of the entire submission chain including triangle-to-armbar transitions and defend multiple threats simultaneously

6. Failing to control the opponent’s choking leg ankle or knee during escape attempts

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent freely adjusts leg position to optimize choke angle and pressure, preventing effective escape execution
  • ✅ Correction: Establish grip control on the choking leg’s ankle or behind the knee to limit opponent’s adjustments and create escape leverage

7. Attempting to stand up or create large positional changes without first addressing the triangle structure

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent rides the movement easily while maintaining or tightening the triangle, often transitioning to more dominant variations
  • ✅ Correction: Dismantle the triangle structure first through arm extraction and space creation before attempting major positional escapes

Training Drills for Defense

Rear Triangle Survival Drill

Partner applies rear triangle with varying degrees of tightness while defender practices maintaining composure, chin protection, and controlled breathing for timed intervals (30-60 seconds). Focus on staying calm under pressure and recognizing the feeling of different triangle tightness levels before they become critical.

Duration: 5 minutes per partner

Arm Extraction Repetition Drill

Start with rear triangle partially locked and practice extracting the trapped arm using various hand grips, elbow positioning, and shoulder rotation techniques. Partner provides progressive resistance levels to build technical proficiency before speed and power application.

Duration: 10 minutes

Triangle Escape Sequence Flow Drill

Partner applies rear triangle at 50-70% intensity while defender flows through complete escape sequences including arm extraction, posture recovery, and positional escape to turtle or guard recovery. Reset and repeat to build muscle memory for the complete defensive chain.

Duration: 8 minutes per partner

Triangle to Submission Chain Defense

Partner alternates between finishing the triangle, transitioning to armbar, and switching to rear naked choke while defender practices defending multiple submission threats simultaneously. Develops awareness of submission chains and transitions.

Duration: 6 minutes per partner

Positional Sparring from Rear Triangle Bottom

Start in fully locked rear triangle bottom position with defender earning 1 point for successful arm extraction, 2 points for complete escape to neutral or better position. Attacker earns points for submission finish or maintaining control for 2+ minutes. First to 5 points wins.

Duration: 3-minute rounds

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 LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner10%15%5%
Intermediate25%30%10%
Advanced40%45%15%

Average Time in Position: 15-45 seconds before tap or escape

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