Triangle Choke Variations
☰Contents
All BJJ triangle variations: standard, reverse, arm triangle, mounted triangle, inverted triangle — setups, adjustments, and finish mechanics.
The triangle family of chokes is one of the largest in BJJ — available from almost any position when you can create a three-point lock with your legs or arms around the neck.
Standard Guard Triangle
The classic triangle from closed guard: push one arm across, throw your leg over the shoulder, lock the leg behind the knee (locking the choke), angle to cut the carotid, and pull the head down. The adjustment key: squeeze your knees toward each other and angle your body 30-45 degrees to the opposite side of the trapped arm.
Mounted Triangle
From technical mount: slide the leg over the neck and lock it behind your knee (high mount triangle entry), angle your body, and finish. Alternatively from S-mount: when they reach up, throw your leg over the arm and neck, roll back, and lock. Mounted triangles are extremely tight because gravity assists the squeeze.
Reverse Triangle
The reverse triangle chokes from the opposite direction — your legs face the opponent's feet. From guard: when they stack you, reverse your position and apply the reverse triangle by catching the neck from behind. From side control escapes when you can thread the legs.
Arm Triangle (Head-and-Arm Choke)
The arm triangle uses one arm and the head rather than two arms. From mount or side control: trap one arm across the neck, lock the submission with your arms (or body weight from side control), and apply the choke by driving your head down and squeezing. A key of the arm triangle is positioning your head to the correct side.
Inverted Triangle
The inverted triangle (from bottom half guard or open guard): when the opponent is passed and you face down, you can throw your legs over their head from behind and lock a triangle facing the opposite direction. Used primarily as a last-resort counter during scrambles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three common issues: (1) Wrong angle — you need to cut across the carotid, not just squeeze, (2) Opponent postures up and escapes — use cross-face and head control to maintain depth, (3) Legs not locked — the leg must be locked BEHIND the knee, not just touching.
Angle work is critical for triangles against larger opponents. Create a sharp 45-degree angle, pull the arm across more aggressively, and pull the head down with both hands. A well-angled triangle on a larger opponent still works; a poorly angled triangle on a smaller opponent does not.
They serve different purposes and are best used together. The triangle attacks from the front while the armbar attacks the isolated arm. Combining them (triangle to armbar when they clasp hands) creates a chain that is very hard to defend.