Rear Triangle

Position
Also known as:
Back Triangle

The rear triangle is a controlling position where the attacker locks a triangle (figure-four leg configuration) around the opponent's neck and one arm from behind. It serves as both a powerful control position and a launching platform for multiple submissions including chokes, armbars, and bow and arrow chokes.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · The locked triangle must encircle one arm and the neck, creating asymmetric pressure that prevents the opponent from posturing or turning.
  • · Angling the hips to the side of the trapped arm increases choking pressure and improves control.
  • · Squeezing the knees together while pulling the head down maximizes the clamp and limits escape options.
  • · Anticipate the opponent trying to strip the choking leg by controlling their wrist on the trapped-arm side.
  • · Maintaining a perpendicular angle relative to the opponent prevents them from turning into you to relieve pressure.

Execution

  1. 1 From back control, clear one of the opponent's arms across their centerline and feed your leg over their shoulder on that side, placing your hamstring against their neck.
  2. 2 Bring your other leg underneath and lock a triangle by placing the ankle of the top leg behind the knee of the bottom leg.
  3. 3 Squeeze your knees together, angle your hips toward the trapped-arm side, and control the opponent's wrist to prevent arm extraction.
  4. 4 Pull the opponent's head down with your hands or by curling your legs to tighten the configuration.
  5. 5 From this secured position, attack with triangle choke pressure, transition to armbar, or set up a bow and arrow grip.

Common mistakes

  • × Locking the triangle with both arms inside, which eliminates choking pressure and makes the position merely a body lock with no submission threat.
  • × Failing to angle the hips and staying square behind the opponent, allowing them to posture up and begin stack-based escapes.
  • × Neglecting wrist control on the trapped arm, enabling the opponent to extract the arm and escape the triangle entirely.

Attacks & transitions

Offense available from Rear Triangle.

Rear Naked Choke submission Triangle Choke From Back submission
3 less common
Armbar From Back submission Bow And Arrow submission Posture Recovery transition

Escapes & defense

Getting out of Rear Triangle, or shutting it down.

Arm Extraction escape Stack Defense counter Triangle Escape escape

How you get here

Techniques that land in Rear Triangle.

Deep Half Guard Bottom Outside Ashi Garami

Chains & Sequences

Commonly taught paths through the graph that feature this technique.

Side Control Triple Attack

Side Control Top Kimura Back Control Rear Triangle

Triangle Control Family

Triangle Control