If you look at the statistics the triangle choke is the most effective submission out there. Most Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu matches are won via triangle choke. Still, if your opponent’s ever done some BJJ they’re likely to not give it to you. Setups are crucial. Give this a look if you’re looking for setup ideas.
Locking in a triangle has a couple of prerequisites. Once you’ve mastered adjustment and gotten the hip dexterity needed to combine armbars and omoplatas you’ll find that beating arms is by far most important. At first, as a white belt, you fight your opponent’s arms with your own. Then, as you move up in rank, you’ll use your shin. Then, you’ll use your feet, and eventually your hip by making your opponent post a hand on the ground.
Beat the arms with your own, shoot the triangle
This was probably the first triangle setup you’ve been taught. You beat the opponent’s arms with your own. Grip fight until you have both of his wrists secured with your thumbs on the inside. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have a significant chance of catching a triangle. Pull on both wrists. It takes a bit of sensitivity to your partner’s reaction to do it. He’ll react by pulling them backwards. Keep one wrist secured and stiff arm the other into his hip. Shoot for the triangle.
Beat the arms with your shin, shoot the triangle
A more advanced version, this one requires a bit of leg dexterity. You’ll need to have already covered the scissor sweep to get a feel for this setup. Gi grips are collar and sleeve. For example, you grab a collar sleeve on your opponent’s left side. Shift yourself out the way you would for a scissor sweep (hip escape off thigh contact). You’re stretching out your partner’s right hand with your left. You put yourself in scissoring position, right knee across chest, left leg on the mat, calf contact with opponent’s right knee. You’re in position. It won’t work if you haven’t cleared a pathway to his back by stretching out his right hand. Make sure you have that. It’s time to beat his left hand. Move in with the shin on the outside and slide across his bicep. You’ve made it to his neck. Shoot your left leg in across his back towards the head, right knee next to his head. If possible, make left-heel-right-knee contact. Adjust. You’ve got the triangle.
