Triangle Choke - UFC/MMA
The Triangle Choke can be applied from both closed or open guard: the fighter hooks one leg behind the opponent's knee, trapping the neck and one arm between their thighs. The combined pressure of the thigh on the neck and the opponent's own arm against the opposite carotid creates an extremely effective choke. In the UFC, the Triangle Choke has been popularized by fighters like Anderson Silva and Demetrious Johnson, who have shown how this technique can turn a fight around from a disadvantageous position.
Triangle Choke
Anderson Silva submitted Chael Sonnen with a Triangle Choke in the fifth round at UFC 117, turning around a fight he was clearly losing on points in one of the most epic comebacks in UFC history.
Triangle Choke & Arm Triangle
The Arm Triangle is the version executed with the arms instead of the legs. Both techniques leverage the same choking principle using the opponent's arm as an additional lever, but from completely different positions. Arm Triangle.
FAQ - Triangle Choke
Can the Triangle Choke be applied from mount?
Yes, the Triangle Choke can be applied from mount or the top position, although it is more commonly executed from guard. The variant from mount is called the mounted triangle and is particularly difficult to defend.
How do you defend against the Triangle Choke?
The main defenses include maintaining proper posture, keeping your back straight to prevent the legs from closing. If the triangle is already locked in, you can try to lift the opponent and slam them down or work to free the trapped arm.
