Body Triangle
Position
Also known as:
Body Triangle From The Back
The body triangle is a back control position where the attacker locks a figure-four with their legs around the opponent's torso, threading one leg through and triangling it behind the other knee. It provides superior control compared to standard hooks, freeing the attacker to pursue chokes and arm attacks while minimizing the opponent's escape options.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · The locking leg threads across the opponent's waist and the ankle tucks behind the opposite knee, creating a powerful skeletal lock that is extremely difficult to pry open.
- · Angle the lock so the top leg's knee points toward the opponent's hip on the choking side, which controls hip movement and prevents them from turning into you.
- · Maintain strong seatbelt or collar grip control with the upper body to prevent the opponent from rotating to face you.
- · Keep your hips tight against the opponent's back to eliminate space that could allow them to slide down and escape.
- · Anticipate the opponent's primary escape of pushing your locking foot to the mat and turning into the triangle—counter by re-angling your hips and switching the lock to the other side.
Execution
- 1 From back control with seatbelt grip, choose the side where your underhook arm is and feed that same-side leg diagonally across the opponent's waist.
- 2 Thread your foot past their far hip and lock it behind your opposite knee, squeezing your knees together to cinch the triangle tight around their torso.
- 3 Angle your body slightly to the lock side so the triangle applies lateral pressure, pinning their hip and limiting their ability to escape or turn.
- 4 Maintain chest-to-back connection and upper body grips while using the stability of the body triangle to set up submissions such as the rear naked choke or bow and arrow.
Common mistakes
- × Locking the triangle too high on the ribcage instead of across the waist, which gives the opponent space to hip escape downward and slip out.
- × Crossing the ankles instead of properly triangling behind the knee, leaving the foot vulnerable to an ankle lock counter.
- × Neglecting upper body control after locking the triangle, allowing the opponent to peel grips, flatten out, and begin escape sequences.
Attacks & transitions
Offense available from Body Triangle.
7 less common
Armbar From Back
submission
Back Control To Mount
transition
Bow And Arrow
submission
Short Choke
submission
Triangle Choke From Back
submission
Back Control To Crucifix
transition
Truck Entry
transition
Escapes & defense
Getting out of Body Triangle, or shutting it down.
How you get here
Techniques that land in Body Triangle.
