Rubber Guard to Triangle System is a advanced difficulty Submission Chain system. Integrates 5 components.
System ID: System Type: Submission Chain Difficulty Level: Advanced
What is Rubber Guard to Triangle System?
The Rubber Guard to Triangle System is a comprehensive offensive framework that transforms closed guard control into high-percentage triangle submissions through systematic positioning and opponent manipulation. Originating from Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet system, this approach uses extreme flexibility and unorthodox grips to break posture, control distance, and create submission opportunities that are difficult to defend. The system emphasizes creating angles and leverage through hip mobility while maintaining constant offensive pressure that forces opponents into defensive dilemmas. Unlike traditional closed guard approaches, this system relies on active leg positioning and grip creativity to generate submission threats while simultaneously defending against passes. The framework connects multiple control positions - from Mission Control to New York to the finishing triangle - creating a systematic pathway that even accounts for opponent escape attempts. Practitioners learn to use their legs as offensive weapons while their hands control critical angles, inverting the traditional closed guard paradigm where hands do the work and legs maintain position.
Core Principles
- Posture Control Through Leg Position - Use high guard and rubber guard positions to break and maintain broken posture rather than relying solely on grip fighting
- Angle Creation Before Submission - Systematically work through control positions (Mission Control, New York) to create optimal triangle entry angles
- Hip Mobility as Foundation - Extreme hip flexibility enables the unconventional positions required for rubber guard control and triangle entries
- Offensive Defense - Every defensive adjustment against passing attempts creates new submission opportunities within the system
- Grip Creativity - Use non-traditional grips (overhook, tricep control, collar ties) to complement leg positioning and create submission pathways
- Progressive Position Advancement - Move through systematic checkpoints (rubber guard → mission control → new york → triangle) rather than hunting for immediate submissions
- Dilemma Creation - Force opponents to choose between defending submissions and defending position, with each choice opening different attacks
Key Components
Rubber Guard Entry and Control (Establish initial control platform and break opponent’s posture) The foundational position where the bottom player’s leg is pulled high across the opponent’s back while controlling the opposite arm, breaking posture and creating the platform for all subsequent attacks. This position requires significant hip flexibility but provides exceptional control over opponent posture and movement while defending against stack passes and maintaining offensive pressure through constant submission threats.
Mission Control Transition (Isolate opponent’s arm and create submission angles) An intermediate control position where the rubber guard is maintained while securing a deep overhook on the trapped arm, creating a powerful angle for triangles, omoplatas, and gogoplatas. This checkpoint ensures proper arm isolation and angle creation before committing to the triangle, significantly increasing submission success rates while maintaining defensive integrity against common rubber guard counters.
New York Position Development (Establish triangle framework before final lock) A critical transitional position achieved by maintaining the overhook while bringing the choking leg across the opponent’s shoulder, setting up the optimal angle for triangle entry with superior control. This position represents the final checkpoint before triangle completion, ensuring proper positioning of both the choking leg and control leg while preventing common escape attempts through systematic arm control and hip positioning.
Triangle Lock and Finish Sequence (Complete submission with proper mechanics and control) The systematic completion of the triangle by locking the legs, adjusting angles, and applying progressive pressure while maintaining arm isolation and controlling opponent posture throughout the finishing sequence. This component emphasizes proper foot positioning on the bicep, angle adjustment toward the trapped arm, and progressive squeezing mechanics that create the blood choke without relying solely on leg strength.
Alternative Submission Chains (Maintain offensive pressure through submission diversity) Integrated backup submissions including omoplata, gogoplata, baratoplata, and armbar options that become available at various points throughout the system, creating multiple offensive pathways from each position. These alternatives prevent opponents from defending exclusively against the triangle while providing systematic responses to common defensive reactions, ensuring offensive pressure remains constant even when the primary submission is defended.
Implementation Sequence
- Rubber Guard Establishment: From closed guard, break opponent’s posture by pulling down while simultaneously bringing one leg high across their back, securing the foot in the crook of your opposite elbow to create the rubber guard position. Control the opponent’s opposite arm with your free hand while using the rubber guard leg to maintain constant downward pressure on their back. Key points:
- Break posture before attempting rubber guard to prevent opponent from posting and defending
- Secure foot deeply in elbow crook to prevent slipping during transitions
- Maintain constant downward pressure with the rubber guard leg throughout all subsequent movements
- Control opponent’s free arm immediately to prevent them from creating frames or defending angles
- Mission Control Transition: From rubber guard, reach through with your free arm to secure a deep overhook on the trapped arm while maintaining the high leg position. Pull the overhook tight to your body while simultaneously using your rubber guard leg to break their posture further forward, creating the Mission Control position with superior arm isolation. Key points:
- Overhook must be deep (above the elbow) to prevent opponent from pulling arm free
- Keep rubber guard leg active and pulling throughout overhook acquisition
- Pull trapped arm across your centerline to create optimal triangle angle
- Maintain tight connection between overhook arm and your body to prevent space creation
- New York Development: From Mission Control, bring your choking leg (the leg not in rubber guard) across the opponent’s shoulder on the trapped arm side while maintaining the overhook. Adjust your hips to create proper angle while keeping constant pressure downward with both legs, establishing the New York position with optimal triangle setup. Key points:
- Choking leg goes across shoulder on same side as trapped arm
- Maintain overhook tension throughout leg positioning to prevent arm escape
- Create angle by shifting hips toward the trapped arm side
- Keep opponent’s posture broken to prevent them from posturing up and defending
- Triangle Lock Completion: From New York, release the rubber guard and bring that leg across to lock your triangle, placing your foot on your opposite leg’s bicep. Simultaneously release the overhook and use both hands to pull the opponent’s head down while adjusting your angle further toward the trapped arm side. Key points:
- Lock triangle high on the back before releasing overhook to maintain control
- Foot placement on bicep (not behind knee) creates tighter finishing angle
- Pull opponent’s head down immediately after locking to prevent posture recovery
- Angle adjustment (hips toward trapped arm) is critical for proper blood flow restriction
- Finishing Mechanics and Control: With triangle locked, systematically tighten the submission by pulling opponent’s head down, raising your hips, and squeezing your knees together while maintaining proper angle. If opponent defends by posturing, transition to omoplata or armbar; if they stack, return to Mission Control and restart the sequence. Key points:
- Squeeze knees together while pulling head down for maximum pressure
- Raise hips to create additional compression on carotid arteries
- If opponent postures successfully, immediately transition to omoplata sweep
- If opponent stacks, use stack pressure to return to Mission Control with enhanced control
- Alternative Submission Integration: Throughout the system, recognize opportunities for omoplata (from Mission Control when opponent defends arm), gogoplata (from New York when opponent’s head is low), baratoplata (from triangle when opponent defends by grabbing leg), and armbar (from triangle when opponent attempts to stack). Each alternative maintains offensive pressure while respecting opponent’s defensive adjustments. Key points:
- Omoplata becomes available when opponent pulls trapped arm to defend triangle
- Gogoplata opportunity appears when opponent drives head down in Mission Control
- Baratoplata option emerges when opponent grabs your leg to defend locked triangle
- Armbar transition occurs naturally when opponent stacks aggressively in triangle defense
How to Measure Your Progress
Rubber Guard Maintenance Duration: Ability to establish and maintain rubber guard position against resisting opponent without losing foot position or posture control Proficiency indicators:
- Beginner: Can establish rubber guard but loses position within 10-15 seconds against resistance
- Intermediate: Maintains rubber guard for 30+ seconds while making basic transitions to Mission Control
- Advanced: Controls rubber guard indefinitely while flowing through Mission Control and New York positions seamlessly
- Expert: Uses rubber guard as platform for constant submission threats while defending all common escape attempts
Triangle Completion Rate from New York: Success percentage of completing triangle submissions when New York position is properly established Proficiency indicators:
- Beginner: 20-30% completion rate, frequently loses position during locking phase
- Intermediate: 40-50% completion rate with proper angle but inconsistent finishing mechanics
- Advanced: 60-70% completion rate with systematic angle creation and mechanical execution
- Expert: 75%+ completion rate with ability to finish even when opponent recognizes and defends triangle
Alternative Submission Recognition and Execution: Ability to identify and capitalize on omoplata, gogoplata, baratoplata, and armbar opportunities as they emerge throughout the system Proficiency indicators:
- Beginner: Focuses exclusively on triangle and loses offensive pressure when primary submission is defended
- Intermediate: Recognizes one or two alternative submissions but transitions are disconnected and telegraphed
- Advanced: Smoothly transitions between 3-4 alternatives based on opponent’s defensive reactions
- Expert: Creates intentional submission dilemmas where defending one attack opens others, maintaining constant offensive pressure
System Recovery After Defensive Disruption: Capacity to return to earlier system checkpoints (rubber guard, Mission Control) when opponent successfully defends later positions Proficiency indicators:
- Beginner: Loses all control when triangle is defended and must restart from neutral or defensive position
- Intermediate: Can sometimes return to closed guard but loses rubber guard control framework
- Advanced: Consistently returns to Mission Control or rubber guard after failed triangle attempts
- Expert: Uses opponent’s defensive energy to improve position and restart sequence from enhanced control points
Expert Insights
- John Danaher: The systematic nature of this triangle approach exemplifies proper offensive progression through clearly defined checkpoints that validate position quality before advancing. Most practitioners fail triangles not because of poor finishing mechanics but because they skip the critical intermediate steps - Mission Control and New York - that ensure proper angle creation and arm isolation. The rubber guard framework solves a fundamental problem in closed guard play: how to control posture without relying exclusively on grip fighting that drains energy and creates stalemates. By using leg positioning as the primary posture control mechanism, hands become free to isolate arms and create submission angles systematically. The integration of alternative submissions is not merely backup options but represents proper dilemma creation where opponent’s defensive choices against one attack systematically open pathways to others, maintaining offensive pressure indefinitely while respecting biomechanical realities of flexibility and leverage.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the rubber guard to triangle system works exceptionally well against opponents who rely on strong posture and grip fighting to defend closed guard because it fundamentally changes the control paradigm they’ve trained to counter. When I integrate rubber guard positions, opponents who are excellent at defending traditional closed guard attacks suddenly find their defensive frameworks irrelevant because the control mechanisms are completely different. The key to competitive success with this system is not attempting it from neutral positions but setting it up through systematic posture breaking using traditional closed guard attacks first. Once opponent is broken down and defending conventional threats, the transition to rubber guard catches them during position recovery attempts. The Mission Control and New York checkpoints are absolutely critical in competition because they provide bailout options and position recovery points when opponents defend correctly. Against elite opposition, expect to cycle through the system multiple times rather than getting immediate triangle finishes, using each defensive response to improve your control and angle for subsequent attempts.
- Eddie Bravo: This triangle system represents the evolution of rubber guard from a single position to a complete offensive framework that changed how we think about closed guard entirely. Traditional BJJ teaches that closed guard should keep opponent’s posture broken through grips while maintaining defensive structure with legs, but rubber guard inverts this by making legs the offensive weapon and grips the supplementary control. The beauty of the system is how it creates submission opportunities from positions where traditional closed guard offers none - when opponent is stacked, when they have strong grips, when conventional triangle angles aren’t available. Mission Control and New York aren’t just triangle setups; they’re independent submission platforms that provide omoplata, gogoplata, and multiple other attacks while simultaneously defending against passing attempts that would destroy traditional closed guard. The flexibility requirement is real but trainable with dedication, and the positions become progressively easier to achieve as hip mobility improves through consistent practice. For no-gi specifically, this system is exponentially more effective because it doesn’t rely on gi grips that create friction and control, instead using body positioning and leverage that work identically in both gi and no-gi contexts.