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BJJ Fundamentals

Lesson 44 – Arm Triangle

Warm Up (5min)

Partner Drills

  • Arm Triangle Escapes

Lesson (25min)

    Note: The focus is the Transitions not the submissions

    Arm Triangle – Control Mechanics

    1. Start in mount with an arm triangle grip
    2. Pull uke to the side and reach through as deep as possible towards uke’s shoulder
    3. Reconnect your grip and move your head forward next to uke’s head
      • Driving forwards in a low-tripod will let you block uke’s arm from circling outwards and escaping your arm triangle control

    Arm Triangle – Strangle Mechanics

    1. Continue from mounted arm triangle with a deep grip and low tripod posture
    2. Ensure that the crook of your elbow is strongly connected to uke’s neck
    3. Keeping your grip, transition from mount to a side pin, sprawling with your hips close to the mat
    4. Drop your shoulder towards the mat so that your bicep presses against the side of uke’s neck, putting on the strangle
      • Don’t lift your elbow off the mat as this will cause your forearm to press into uke’s spine, making the technique into a neck crank (less reliable, less safe and usually requires more force)

    Mount to Back Control

    1. Continue from arm triangle strangle
    2. Uke turns away from you, rolling their shoulder forwards to defend the strangle
    3. Transition from an arm triangle to a seat belt grip
      • Pull uke tightly to secure a good chest-to-back connection; this way you will end up behind them instead of “side on”
    4. Step over uke’s belt line and slide your other knee high up behind uke’s shoulder (seated/technical mount)
    5. Fall backwards, pulling uke into back control as you throw your other hook in

    Back Control to Mount

    1. Continue from back control 
    2. Uke removes your lower hook and starts to slide their back onto the mat
    3. Underhook uke’s top arm, reaching deep to their far side lapel or shoulder; your other arm should come out from under uke
    4. Step over uke’s legs and hook into the pocket of their hip
    5. Hip heist up to mounted position
      • Note that in many cases, you will be able to re-establish an arm triangle control because of the deep underhook used in this transition