Triangle from De La Riva

SAFETY: Triangle from De La Riva targets the Carotid arteries and jugular veins. Risk: Neck strain or cervical spine compression. Release immediately upon tap.

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The Triangle from De La Riva is a sophisticated blood choke that capitalizes on the unique angular control provided by the De La Riva guard position. This submission represents a fundamental offensive option from one of modern BJJ’s most dynamic open guard systems. The De La Riva hook on the opponent’s leg creates natural off-balancing opportunities while the opposite leg controls posture and distance, establishing perfect conditions for transitioning to the triangle position. The technical challenge lies in transitioning from the linear De La Riva guard structure to the circular enclosure required for an effective triangle choke. Success depends on precise timing, grip manipulation, and understanding how to use the De La Riva hook as a pivot point rather than abandoning it prematurely. When executed correctly, this technique combines the sweeping threat inherent in De La Riva with a finishing submission, creating a true dilemma for the opponent.

Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and jugular veins Starting Position: De La Riva Guard From Position: De La Riva Guard (Bottom) Success Rate: 52%

Safety Guide

Injury Risks:

Injury	Severity	Recovery Time
Neck strain or cervical spine compression	Medium	1-2 weeks
Loss of consciousness from blood choke	High	Immediate recovery if released promptly, potential complications if held too long
Shoulder or rotator cuff strain from arm trap	Low	3-7 days

Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum from initial lock to any significant pressure

Tap Signals:

• Verbal tap or vocal distress
• Physical hand tap on partner’s body or mat
• Physical foot tap on mat or partner
• Any sudden change in resistance or body going limp

Release Protocol:

1. Immediately open legs and release triangle configuration
2. Release arm trap and posture control
3. Allow partner to return to neutral position with full neck mobility
4. Check partner’s consciousness and neck comfort before continuing

Training Restrictions:

• Never apply sudden jerking motions to the neck
• Never use competition finishing speed during drilling or light sparring
• Always ensure partner has at least one arm free to tap
• Release immediately upon any tap signal without testing tightness

Outcomes

Result	Position	Probability
Success	game-over	60%
Failure	De La Riva Guard	25%
Counter	Open Guard	15%

Attacker vs Defender

	Attacker	Defender
Focus	Execute and finish	Escape and survive
Key Principles	Use De La Riva hook to off-balance opponent forward while co…	Maintain strong upright posture against the De La Riva hook …
Options	6 execution steps	4 defensive options

Playing as Attacker

→ Full Attacker Guide

Key Principles

• Use De La Riva hook to off-balance opponent forward while controlling posture with opposite leg

• Break opponent’s defensive grips before attempting triangle transition

• Pivot on the De La Riva hook to create angular entry for triangle lock

• Secure high triangle position with knee behind opponent’s head before tightening

• Control trapped arm across body to prevent opponent’s posture recovery

• Angle body perpendicular to opponent to maximize choking pressure

• Use active pulling with legs rather than passive squeezing to finish

Execution Steps

• Establish dominant De La Riva control: Secure classic De La Riva position with hook deep behind opponent’s knee, opposite foot on hip or bi…

• Break opponent’s defensive grips and posture: Use collar grip to pull opponent’s head down while simultaneously pushing their far arm across your …

• Pivot on De La Riva hook and swim leg over shoulder: Maintain the De La Riva hook as a pivot point while releasing the hip control with your opposite leg…

• Lock triangle configuration: Release De La Riva hook and bring that leg across your opposite ankle to create the triangle lock. E…

• Control posture and create finishing angle: Grip behind opponent’s head with both hands and pull them down while simultaneously rotating your hi…

• Finish with leg extension and hip pressure: Extend your locking leg while simultaneously squeezing your knees together and arching your hips upw…

Common Mistakes

• Releasing De La Riva hook too early in transition

  • Consequence: Opponent backs away or stands up before triangle can be locked
  • Correction: Maintain De La Riva hook until your opposite leg has fully cleared their shoulder and is positioned across back of neck

• Locking triangle with knee on top of shoulder instead of behind head

  • Consequence: Triangle is loose and easily defended, providing no choking pressure
  • Correction: Ensure shin crosses high on opponent’s back with knee positioned behind their head in the ‘high triangle’ configuration

• Failing to control trapped arm across opponent’s body

  • Consequence: Opponent can use free arm to create space and defend their neck
  • Correction: Immediately after locking triangle, secure trapped arm with grip and pull it across their centerline

Playing as Defender

→ Full Defender Guide

Key Principles

• Maintain strong upright posture against the De La Riva hook to deny the broken posture needed for triangle entry

• Keep both arms inside the guard framework - never allow one arm to be isolated across the centerline

• Recognize the leg swim early and immediately posture up or stack before the triangle configuration can lock

• Once caught, posture is your primary weapon - standing tall prevents the attacker from creating the perpendicular angle needed to finish

• Address the trapped arm immediately by pulling it free or tucking it tight to your body to deny the cross-neck pressure

• Use explosive posture recovery in combination with arm extraction rather than attempting one without the other

• When stacking, drive forward and to the side to create a passing angle rather than pushing straight into the attacker

Recognition Cues

• Opponent’s collar grip pulls your head down aggressively while their sleeve grip pushes your arm across your body from De La Riva guard

• Opponent’s non-hooking leg releases from hip control and begins swinging upward toward your shoulder or neck

• You feel increased forward pull from the De La Riva hook combined with downward collar pressure, breaking your posture significantly

• Opponent’s hips begin rotating perpendicular to your body while maintaining the DLR hook as an anchor point

• Your arm gets trapped between opponent’s legs as their shin crosses behind your neck and they begin closing the triangle figure-four

Escape Paths

• Stack pass escape: Drive forward and to the side while standing up, compress attacker’s guard, walk around their body to break the triangle angle and pass to side control

• Arm extraction to posture: Grip your own wrist with the trapped hand, pull the arm straight back toward your hip while simultaneously posturing up, breaking the cross-neck pressure mechanism

• Hitchhiker escape: Turn away from the trapped arm side, extend the trapped arm straight while rotating your body, slide your shoulder free of the triangle by moving perpendicular to attacker’s legs

Variations

Triangle to Omoplata Switch: If opponent successfully defends triangle by hiding arm or posturing, use the leg-over-shoulder position to transition directly to omoplata by bringing free leg over their back (When to use: When opponent keeps trapped arm inside or successfully postures up from triangle attempt)

Inverted Triangle from De La Riva: Instead of standard triangle, rotate underneath opponent and lock inverted triangle, particularly effective when opponent is defending standard triangle entry (When to use: Against opponent who maintains strong upright posture or when standard triangle angle is blocked)

Triangle to Back Take: If opponent turns away from triangle pressure, release bottom leg and take back control, maintaining top leg across shoulder as first hook (When to use: When opponent attempts to defend by turning their back to escape choking pressure)

From Which Positions?

• De La Riva Guard
• Reverse De La Riva Guard
• Open Guard
• Spider Guard
• Lasso Guard
• Collar Sleeve Guard

Related Submissions

• Triangle Choke
• Triangle from Closed Guard
• Triangle from Spider Guard
• Omoplata
• Omoplata from Guard
• Armbar from Guard
• Inverted Triangle
• Baratoplata
• Gogoplata

Additional Related Content

• De La Riva Sweep - Primary sweeping option from same guard position when triangle is defended
• Berimbolo Entry - Back take option from De La Riva when opponent defends triangle by turning away
• Omoplata Sweep - Direct transition when opponent hides arm to defend triangle
• De La Riva Guard - Starting position and guard system from which this submission is executed
• Triangle Choke - Parent submission technique that this position-specific variation is derived from
• Closed Guard to Triangle - Related triangle entry from different guard position sharing core finishing mechanics
• Back Control - Position achieved when opponent turns away from triangle pressure
• Open Guard - Parent guard family from which De La Riva guard is a specialized variation

Match Outcome

Successful execution of Triangle from De La Riva leads to → Game Over

All submissions in BJJ ultimately converge to the same terminal state: the match ends when your opponent taps.