Help with the Triangle

[Scorcho]

At my Ju-Jitsu/Aikido dojo we do free sparring every day. I often get my opponent into the triangle as they try to break out of the guard. Yet for some reason, no matter how well I lock my right foot under the knee of my left, the choke never works. I have tried pulling forward on my opponent's head, but that doesn't help either. Usually it doesn't matter because I can transition into an armbar by moving my left leg over my opponent's head, but it still bothers me that I cannot get the triangle to work.

 

Anybody else have similar problems? Any suggestions?

[WolverineGuy]

Make sure that you're locking your leg on the correct side. If their left arm is through, your left leg (opposite side) should be around their neck, and figure-foured underneath their left arm. Pull their arm around in front of their neck as well; this gives them less space to breathe. Then, pull down on their heads. Hope this makes sense...my triangle chokes were not working mainly due to me not putting their arms around their necks.

[TJS]

yea make sure you push the arm that is in the trinagle across your body.

[JohnnyS]

Make sure your leg is cutting down on the back of their neck, not down their back. This is the most common problem with triangle. When you go for the triangle you need to angle your body off to the side to make it easier to get the "cut" across his neck.

[TJS]

Make sure your leg is cutting down on the back of their neck, not down their back. This is the most common problem with triangle. When you go for the triangle you need to angle your body off to the side to make it easier to get the "cut" across his neck.

 

Do you angle off to the same side as the top leg that is going across the kneck?

 

For example if my Right leg was across the top, hooked under my left knee, I would angle out to the right?

 

I sometimes have difficulting closing a triangle on larger people

[JohnnyS]

TJS,

 

That's correct.

 

To get a triangle on a bigger person, you need to get BOTH distance and angle. If their back is broad you can sometimes have trouble getting the cut, therefore you move backwards and then get the angle. The distance makes it easier to cut across the neck, and also makes it harder for them to stack you. The angle makes it easier to get the cut across the back of the neck, especially if you have short or stocky legs, and makes it easier to convert to an armbar by throwing your left leg over his head.

 

Here's a set-up for triangle with the important steps:

 

Opponent opens your legs and puts one hand inside your legs. Quickly lock your ankles behind his back and pull down on his head with both hands. Squeeze your knees together (so he can feel the pressure on his shoulders with your knees) and undo your ankles. Put your left foot in his hip (still squeezing your knees) and move your hips backwards, all the time pulling down on his head. After you've moved back so he can't easily stack you, angle your body off to your right. Then cut down on the back of his neck with your right calf, hook your left leg over your right ankle, get his arm across his body, pull his head down and raise your hips.

[TJS]

Thanks!, Stacking has also been a problem before I'll try those tips out.

[Scorcho]

Thanks guys. That was a big help!

[Reklats]

The distance thing is a good tip. I hate it when I get stacked attempting a triangle because I never want to let go. I end up getting all smashed and mutilated (wake up the next day with a really sore neck) as I try and make my semi-failed attempt work.

[CaptainHeelHook]

Shoot your hips upward while pulling down and into your leg (whichever side it's on) with all your strength. You'll close up all that space by shooting your hips, and controling the head will put enough pressure to finish the sub.