⚠️ SAFETY: Triangle from Spider Guard targets the Carotid arteries and jugular veins. Risk: Carotid artery compression leading to unconsciousness. Release immediately upon tap.
The Triangle from Spider Guard is a high-percentage finishing sequence that capitalizes on the distance control and posture breaking inherent to spider guard. By using the feet-on-biceps position to control opponent posture and arm placement, you create ideal conditions for triangle entry while preventing your opponent from establishing defensive grips or posture. This submission represents the natural evolution of spider guard control into a finishing position, where the same mechanical advantages that make spider guard effective for sweeps translate directly into submission opportunities. The key is understanding that spider guard already establishes many of the prerequisites for triangle success: broken posture, controlled arm positioning, and angles that favor the guard player. What makes this variation particularly effective is that opponents defending against spider guard sweeps often create the exact defensive reactions—posting hands, driving forward into guard—that expose them to the triangle. The transition from spider guard to triangle is fluid and natural, often catching opponents by surprise as they focus on passing rather than submission defense.
Category: Choke Type: Blood Choke Target Area: Carotid arteries and jugular veins Starting Position: Spider Guard Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carotid artery compression leading to unconsciousness | High | Immediate upon release, but repeated unconsciousness can cause brain damage |
| Neck strain or cervical spine stress from improper angle | Medium | 2-7 days with rest |
| Shoulder hyperextension from trapped arm | Medium | 1-2 weeks |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum from lock to finish. Never snap or jerk the triangle closed.
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (saying ‘tap’ or any verbal signal)
- Physical hand tap on partner’s body or mat
- Physical foot tap on mat or partner
- Any distress signal including gurgling sounds
- Loss of resistance or going limp
Release Protocol:
- Immediately open legs and release figure-four lock
- Pull trapped arm out from triangle space
- Release head and neck control
- Move hips away to create space
- Check partner’s consciousness and breathing
- Allow partner time to recover before resuming training
Training Restrictions:
- Never apply full pressure in drilling—focus on position and angle
- Never hold the choke after partner taps or goes unconscious
- Always allow clear tap access with at least one free hand
- Never use competition speed when training with less experienced partners
- Stop immediately if partner shows any signs of distress beyond normal discomfort
Key Principles
- Use spider guard feet-on-biceps to break posture and control arm positioning before triangle entry
- Create proper angle (30-45 degrees off centerline) by pivoting hips during transition
- Lock triangle with opponent’s arm trapped across their own neck (one arm in, one arm out)
- Pull down on head and lift hips simultaneously to compress carotid arteries
- Maintain tight knee-to-knee connection to prevent opponent from creating space
- Control trapped arm to prevent escape and increase choking pressure
- Adjust angle continuously based on opponent’s defensive movements
Prerequisites
- Established spider guard with feet on opponent’s biceps
- Broken opponent posture—head pulled down, back rounded
- Grips on opponent’s sleeves or wrists to control arm placement
- Opponent’s weight driving forward or posting hand on mat
- Clear understanding of which arm to trap (usually same side as initial attack)
- Hip mobility to create angle and lock legs
- Ability to control distance with spider hooks while transitioning
Execution Steps
- Break posture and isolate arm: From spider guard with feet on biceps and sleeve grips, use one foot to push opponent’s arm across their centerline while pulling the sleeve grip. Simultaneously kick the other foot into their bicep to break their posture forward. The goal is to get one arm trapped across their neck while maintaining control of the other arm with your foot and grip. (Timing: 1-2 seconds to establish control) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Pivot hips and throw leg over shoulder: Release the foot from the bicep on the side where you want to throw your leg. Pivot your hips 30-45 degrees away from the trapped arm side, creating an angle. Throw your leg high over the opponent’s shoulder and back, with your shin landing across the back of their neck. Keep your other foot controlling the free arm or posted on their hip for base. (Timing: Explosive movement, less than 1 second) [Pressure: Light]
- Lock the triangle: Bring your other leg up and lock it over the ankle of the leg across their back. Create a figure-four lock by flexing your foot and squeezing your knees together. At this point, one of opponent’s arms should be trapped inside the triangle across their own neck, and their head should be controlled. Ensure the lock is behind their head, not on top of it. (Timing: 1-2 seconds to secure the lock) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Adjust angle and pull down head: Grip the back of opponent’s head or their trapped arm and pull it down toward your chest. Simultaneously adjust your angle by pivoting your hips further (you should be almost perpendicular to opponent). The more angle you create, the tighter the choke. Your bottom leg should be cutting across the back of their neck at a diagonal. (Timing: Continuous adjustment, 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Firm]
- Lock arm across body: Grab opponent’s trapped arm (the one inside the triangle) and pull it across their body toward your opposite hip. This prevents them from creating a defensive frame and increases pressure on their carotid arteries. You can hug the arm to your chest or grip their wrist and pull it tight. (Timing: 1 second to secure arm control) [Pressure: Firm]
- Squeeze and lift hips: With everything locked in position, squeeze your knees together forcefully while simultaneously lifting your hips off the ground. Pull down on their head and trapped arm while lifting. This creates the compression on the carotid arteries that produces the choke. Apply pressure progressively over 3-5 seconds in training, monitoring for tap. (Timing: Progressive pressure over 3-5 seconds) [Pressure: Maximum]
- Maintain and finish: Continue squeezing knees, lifting hips, and pulling head down until opponent taps. If they attempt to posture up or stack you, bring your knees to your chest and pull their posture back down. Never release pressure until you feel the tap. In training, release immediately upon tap following the safety protocol. (Timing: Hold until tap, typically 2-5 seconds of maximum pressure) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Posturing up aggressively to prevent triangle lock (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Use spider guard feet to kick their arms out and break posture back down before they can establish strong base. If already postured, transition to sweep or different attack rather than forcing a weak triangle.
- Pulling trapped arm out of triangle space (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Immediately hug their arm across your body with both hands and pull it toward your opposite hip. Lock your legs tighter and adjust angle to prevent them from creating the space needed to extract their arm.
- Stacking forward to put weight on your shoulders (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Bring your knees to your chest and use your leg strength to pull opponent’s posture back down. If stack is successful, transition to omoplata or sweep. Never fight a lost position—better to transition than get passed.
- Creating defensive frame with free hand on hip (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Ignore the frame and focus on angle and head control. A proper triangle with good angle cannot be defended with a hip frame. Ensure your hips are angled and you’re pulling their head down—the frame becomes irrelevant.
- Standing up to slam or stack more violently (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: In competition, this is dangerous. Immediately transition to armbar on the trapped arm or release and re-guard. In training, if partner stands, release immediately—this indicates they are in panic mode and safety is compromised.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the minimum amount of time you should take to apply choking pressure when training the triangle, and why is this critical? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: A minimum of 3-5 seconds of progressive pressure application is critical for safety. This allows your training partner time to recognize the submission, make a decision to tap or defend, and signal the tap before losing consciousness. Applying chokes too quickly in training can cause unconsciousness before the partner has time to tap, creating serious injury risk and an unsafe training environment. Competition speed is never appropriate in training for blood chokes.
Q2: What angle should your body create relative to your opponent when finishing the triangle from spider guard, and why is this angle essential for the choke’s effectiveness? A: Your body should create a 30-45 degree angle (perpendicular or close to it) relative to your opponent’s centerline. This angle is essential because it allows your leg to cut diagonally across the back of their neck rather than straight across, creating compression on both carotid arteries simultaneously. A straight-on triangle without angle produces minimal choking pressure because the leg pressure is distributed across the back of the neck rather than targeting the sides where the carotid arteries are located.
Q3: What must you do immediately after tapping to a triangle choke, and what are the specific steps to safely release this submission? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Upon receiving a tap, immediately: (1) open your legs and release the figure-four lock, (2) pull the trapped arm out from the triangle space, (3) release head and neck control completely, (4) move your hips away to create space, (5) check your partner’s consciousness and breathing, and (6) allow them time to recover before resuming training. Never hold the position even briefly after a tap—the release must be immediate and complete. If your partner goes unconscious without tapping, follow the same protocol and ensure they are breathing and conscious before continuing.
Q4: Which arm should be trapped inside the triangle space, and how do you control this arm to maximize choking pressure? A: One arm should be trapped inside the triangle space across the opponent’s neck (creating the ‘one arm in, one arm out’ configuration). To control this trapped arm and maximize pressure, you must grab it and pull it across the opponent’s body toward your opposite hip, hugging it to your chest or gripping the wrist. This arm control serves two functions: it prevents the opponent from creating a defensive frame inside the triangle, and it pulls their own arm across their neck, increasing the compression on their carotid arteries. Without this arm control, the triangle is significantly weaker and easier to defend.
Q5: How do you use spider guard grips and foot position to create the ideal conditions for triangle entry before throwing your leg? A: From spider guard, use your feet on the opponent’s biceps to break their posture forward while maintaining sleeve grips for control. Push one foot (on the arm you want to trap) across their centerline while pulling the sleeve grip, causing that arm to cross their neck. Simultaneously, kick the other foot into their bicep to collapse their posture and prevent them from basing out. This creates broken posture, arm isolation, and the forward weight commitment needed for successful triangle entry. Only after these conditions are established should you pivot your hips and throw your leg over their shoulder.
Q6: What should you do if your training partner stands up while you have them in a triangle, and why is this a critical safety situation? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: If your partner stands up while you have them in a triangle, you must immediately release the submission or transition to a safer position like an armbar on the trapped arm. Standing while caught in a triangle indicates your partner is in panic mode and may slam you, creating serious injury risk to your head, neck, and spine. In training, this is a sign that safety has been compromised—release immediately and discuss proper training protocols. Never hold onto the triangle if your partner stands, as the risk of being slammed far outweighs the benefit of getting the tap. In competition, you can transition to armbar or sweep, but in training, safety is paramount.
Q7: Why is the triangle from spider guard considered particularly effective compared to triangles from other guard positions? A: The triangle from spider guard is highly effective because spider guard already establishes the key prerequisites for triangle success: broken posture (feet on biceps push opponent forward), controlled arm positioning (sleeve grips dictate where arms are placed), and distance management (feet create optimal spacing for throwing legs). Opponents defending spider guard sweeps often create defensive reactions—posting hands, driving forward, collapsing posture—that expose them perfectly to the triangle. The transition is fluid and natural since the same controls that make spider guard effective for sweeps translate directly into submission setups, often catching opponents focused on pass defense rather than submission defense.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The triangle from spider guard represents a perfect marriage of positional control and submission mechanics. What makes this particular variation scientifically superior is that spider guard already establishes the three fundamental requirements for triangle success: postural disruption via feet-on-biceps pressure, arm isolation through sleeve control, and optimal distance management that prevents opponent from creating defensive frames. The common error I observe is students attempting to force the triangle entry before these prerequisites are properly established. You must first break the opponent’s posture completely with your spider guard controls, then isolate the arm you intend to trap by pushing it across their centerline with your foot while pulling the sleeve grip. Only after these conditions are met should you pivot your hips to create the angle and throw your leg over their shoulder. The angle is not optional—it is the mechanism by which your leg creates diagonal pressure across both carotid arteries simultaneously. A triangle without angle is not a triangle; it is merely a leg position. In training, apply pressure progressively over 5+ seconds minimum, monitoring your partner’s safety continuously. The submission is effective because it uses the opponent’s own trapped arm to compress their carotid arteries—your leg simply provides the fulcrum. Master the spider guard controls first, and the triangle becomes a natural extension of position rather than a separate technique requiring force.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the triangle from spider guard is one of my highest-percentage submissions because it catches opponents in transition when they’re focused on passing rather than defending submissions. The key competitive insight is that you need to use the threat of spider guard sweeps to create the defensive reactions that expose the triangle. If I just sit in spider guard waiting for triangle opportunity, good opponents won’t give it to me. But if I threaten elevator sweep, balloon sweep, or sickle sweep, they have to respond—posting hands, driving weight forward, collapsing posture—and those defensive reactions create perfect triangle entries. The difference between training and competition is timing and commitment. In training, I take 5+ seconds to finish and focus on perfect position. In competition, once I have proper angle and arm control locked, I finish fast—but the setup is still methodical. I never force a triangle from bad position in competition because elite opponents will pass you while you’re trying to fix a broken triangle. If the setup isn’t clean, I transition immediately to omoplata or armbar on the trapped arm. The other competitive detail: I always control the trapped arm by pulling it across their body toward my opposite hip. Without this arm control, even with good angle, the opponent can create enough space to escape. This isn’t a training detail—it’s a required component of competition-level triangles. Train the release protocol religiously so it becomes automatic, because in competition the adrenaline makes you want to hold submissions too long. Your training habits become your competition habits.
- Eddie Bravo: The triangle from spider guard is sick because spider guard gives you so much control over distance and arm placement that you can set up triangles that are almost impossible to defend. In the 10th Planet system, we use a lot of spider guard concepts even in no-gi by controlling the biceps with our feet and using overhooks or wrist control instead of sleeve grips. The key innovation I teach is using the spider guard to create what I call ‘triangle baits’—you make the opponent think they’re defending a sweep or pass, but you’re actually setting up the triangle the whole time. For example, go for a balloon sweep or elevator sweep really hard, and when they base out or post their hand to defend, boom—that’s your triangle entry on the posted arm. They think they defended the sweep, but they just gave you the submission. Another thing we do is combine spider guard triangles with the rubber guard system. If you can’t get the triangle from regular spider guard, transition to mission control or New York (rubber guard positions) and attack triangle from there—the opponent gets confused because they’re defending spider guard and suddenly they’re in rubber guard getting triangled. The safety part is huge though—triangles put people out fast, so in training you gotta apply that pressure slow and progressive. I’ve seen too many people get injured or go unconscious because their partner rushed the finish in training. Competition is different—you finish fast when you have position—but in training, your partner’s safety is more important than your ego. Drill the release until it’s automatic, and never hold a choke after the tap. That’s non-negotiable in my academy. The triangle from spider guard is one of the most versatile submissions in jiu-jitsu, and once you master the setups and safety protocols, it becomes a cornerstone of your guard game.