In today’s lesson I’m going to go over How To Defend Against A Triangle Choke. Many practitioners end up in a triangle choke and start to panic. This panic gets worst every second you’re in the choke and increases your shortness of breath. Then you have to tap out so your partner can let go of the hold.
Another thing I see students do is move in the wrong direction and thus allowing their opponent to lock on the triangle hold even tighter! So let’s get into how to not get into a position where the choke can be placed on you and how to get out of it if you are placed in it.
How To Avoid Getting Into The triangle Choke
The first and best defense for this move is trying to avoid being placed in it all together. So you’re in the mount position trying to execute a move. The only way your opponent can get a triangle choke on you is when one of your arms is on the inside of your opponents leg and one hand is under his leg. Be conscious of where your arms are at all times, have your arms above his legs or have both arms under his legs.
Having your arms in a compromising position can cause your opponent to capitalize on it and execute a triangle choke. Prevention is the first and best method in not getting trapped into this move.
How To Get Out Of A Triangle Choke (Partially Locked)
Okay, so you got into mount position but after 3 minutes of ground scuffling with your opponent you somehow place your arms inside of his legs wile your other arm is on the outside. Your opponent sees this and automatically wraps his leg around your neck and and shoulder trapping that arm within. The triangle is not fully locked in as yet;only his ankles are locked togather.
When you notice he’s attempting to get you into a fully locked triangle pop your head up immediately and straighten up your back. You do this while simultaneously pushing both hands down on your opponents stomach. This is called posturing up. Straighten up your body towards the ceiling; This will break the current weak ankle lock he has on your neck and arm and will allow you to free yourself and initiate an attack move.
How To Escape A Full Triangle Choke Lock
If your opponent has you in a full triangle choke you can still escape that. You just have to think quick and act right away. The longer you allow yourself to be in the choke the more pressure your opponent can apply leaving you out of breath, while the blow flow to your brain is being cut off.
This is a great triangle choke defense that you can use, it’s called the stack and spin. When your opponent has the triangle choke on you take your arm that is trapped, make a fist and place it on the opposite side of your opponents head. Then lean forward and push yourself up using both hands. The trap and your other hand for support. Now drive into your opponent with force. This is called stacking.
All that’s left to do is step to the side of your opponents body and drive down your knee into his side, use the same foot an place it over his head. This will allows you to have momentum to spin and drop into side control. You can use this escape against the best triangle choke.
Defending the Triangle Choke (Answering The Telephone Method)
In conclusion there are actually a variety of ways to get out of the triangle choke that includes stacking and then maneuvering to gain a dominant position. You should always remember that the best defense is always avoiding being placed in move. Always be conscious of where your hands and arms are at all times. Don’t place it in harms way. If you happen to get caught in the triangle choke don’t panic, panicking will make you not think straight and cause you to do something that will allow your opponent to tighten the choke even deeper.
Instead you have to think quick and logically. Remember your training and what to do in this type of situation against this type of move. Once the move has been placed on you move quickly and intelligently in order to escape. In jiu-jitsu and in mixed martial arts in general you should always remain calm under pressure and use what you’ve learned to keep things in control. use your fighting iq to keep your opponent in check and show that you always have the advantage because of your training.
Kurt Osiander – Escaping The Triangle Choke Bjj