Triangle Choke
The triangle is a choke you finish with your legs, trapping the opponent's head and one arm so their own shoulder closes off the side of their neck. It is one of the first submissions taught and one of the most common finishes at every level.
Why the angle matters
A triangle locked straight on is often stuck; the finish comes from cutting an angle so your legs run across the neck rather than into the chin. Controlling the trapped arm and the head, then adjusting the angle, is what turns a held triangle into a tap.
Where triangles come from
Closed guard and open guard are the classic sources, but the triangle also appears from mount, the back, and as a counter to a sloppy pass. Because it shares setups with the armbar and omoplata, it belongs in a chain rather than as a standalone move.
Community flows for Triangle Choke
- Modern Back Attack System, Vol 4: Finishes & Single Leg X — Once the back is held, finishes branch by which arm got trapped: standard rear-naked off the over-arm, reverse triangle / arm bar / front triangle off the…
- The Modern Triangle: Full System Map — Navigate Ryan Hall's seven-volume Modern Triangle system. Four principles, one process (threaten-lock-angle-finish), three finishes, seven intra-triangle…
- Modern Triangle, Vol 7: Scoring & Combining Submissions — Using the triangle as a hub: scoring out of it when the choke stalls (flower sweep, omoplata, funk single, long-hand post) and catching it as a re-counter from…
- Modern Triangle, Vol 6: Alternate Configurations & Specific Defenses — Reverse triangle, switch figure-four, and the transition drill that stitches them together: plus concrete answers to three specific defenses: the leg wrap, the…
- Modern Triangle, Vol 5: Intra-Triangle Submissions — The seven-submission menu available from a locked triangle: triangle armlock, trapped-arm wrist lock / key lock / kimura, free-arm kimura and inverted armlock…
- Modern Triangle, Vol 4: Managing Defensive Components — A triage system for reading your opponent's defense from inside a locked triangle: frames, posture, and pressure/rotation: with the correct response to each…
- Modern Triangle, Vol 3: Locking & Finishing — How to close the figure-four, rotate to the perpendicular angle, and finish with three distinct pressure methods: remove-the-space, break-a-board leverage, and…
- Modern Triangle, Vol 2: Threatening & Entries — The Threaten-Lock-Angle-Finish sequence with all four standard entries to the diamond: tap through, thread through, loop around, capitalize on post: plus the…
- Modern Triangle, Vol 1: Foundations & Core Concepts — Ryan Hall's four operating principles behind every triangle attack: control over submission, the one-arm-in/one-arm-out rule, full four-limb resource use, and…
- K-Guard from Closed Guard: Entries and Upper Body Submissions — A system for entering K-Guard from closed guard, establishing control, and transitioning to triangles, armbars, and leg entries based on opponent reactions.
- Closed Guard Transitions and Submissions — Technical pathways from closed guard to armbar and triangle submissions.
- The Triangle Defense Troubleshooter — My guide to systematically defend against triangle choke attempts from various stages of the attack. If they try to lock the triangle, you'll learn specific…
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I finish my triangle choke?
Usually because you are pulling straight down instead of cutting an angle. Bring your hips out to the side so your shinbone crosses the neck, control the trapped arm across the body, and curl your legs down rather than squeezing flat.
What positions can you hit a triangle from?
Most often from closed and open guard, but also from mount, the back, and as a counter when an opponent reaches in during a pass. The setups overlap with the armbar and omoplata.
Is the triangle choke good for beginners?
Yes. It is high-percentage and teaches the core guard skills of breaking posture and controlling an arm, which is why it is usually one of the first submissions taught.
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