Triangle from Closed Guard

Triangle from Closed Guard is a finishing attack built around a handful of repeatable controls. Bottom player has a closed collar-and-sleeve guard with a deep cross-collar grip and same-side sleeve grip while the opponent is kneeling and posturing. Another common starting shape: the attacker has attempted the uppercut sweep but the opponent has posted on his hand to spring back up. It is worth attempting once tight cross-collar grip and elbow inside the line of the body before opening. The ideas that hold it together are bicep step disrupts posting hand, heel hook on the head breaks posture before lock, and pin the post.

The triangle chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Pull the collar down hard while lifting the hips so the opponent's elbow is exposed. Plant the same-side foot on the opponent's bicep with the toes curled in to grip. Extend the leg and pass the shin over the far shoulder. Curl the heel behind the head to break posture, push the trapped arm across, then grab the shin to lock the triangle. Take a collar tie and frame to the posting hand. Hip bump and pressure into him to keep his hand committed to the mat. If he removes the hand, take mount instead. Open the guard and pass the leg over the shoulder to lock the triangle. Bottom player has a locked triangle around the opponent's neck and trapped arm with the opponent's posture broken down.

Later in the triangle, sweep failure becomes submission, mount as the alternative, and upper-body anchor tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Trying to swing straight into the lock without first using the heel to break posture, allowing the opponent to stand and escape. Letting the foot slip off the bicep because the toes are pointing instead of gripping. Letting the opponent retract the posting hand before the triangle is locked. Releasing the head control during the rotation. The high-percentage version of triangle from closed guard is the one you can still chain when the first squeeze is defended.