On this page Before it’s locked Main escape Roadmap Options Drill it Quiz How it connects Before it’s locked Keep both hands inside their guard or both outside, never one in and one out Keep your posture tall with elbows tight Don’t let them pull your head down The main escape Posture up immediately: head over your hips Keep your trapped elbow tight and drive that arm across their body toward their far hip Step up the leg on your trapped-arm side and stack them so they can’t cut the angle Walk around to pass, or weave the trapped arm out once their legs loosen Escape roadmap The seven stages of this escape. Work from the top: the earlier you act, the less you need the later stages.
1 Prevent Keep both hands inside their guard or both outside, never one in and one out Don’t let them pull your head down 2 Defensive posture Posture up: head over your hips Keep your trapped elbow tight 3 Hand fight Strip the hand pulling your head down Pin their hip to the mat so they can’t cut the angle 4 Make space Step up the leg on your trapped-arm side Stack them onto their shoulders 5 Clear the structure Drive the trapped arm across toward their far hip Weave the arm out once their legs loosen 6 Late escape Stack and walk around to pass Tap when the legs are locked, they’ve cut the angle and your face is going red 7 Back to safety Pass to side control with your hips low Keep your elbows in so they can’t re-triangle Escape options Posture and stand Before the legs lock
When to tap If their legs are locked, they’ve cut the angle and your face is going red, tap.
Common mistake Pulling your head out while your arm is still inside the triangle.
Drill it Partner starts with legs locked in a triangle, no angle yet, head not pulled down. Round 1 at 30% resistance, round 2 at 60%, then live. Your partner applies the finish slowly; you tap the moment you reach the “when to tap” point. Switch roles each round.
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Quick check Escape the triangle quick check 4 questions
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Class recording Bottom Escapes
Chris Paines
Defending the triangle without relying on your hands
Chris Paines shows how to defend chokes (triangle, arm triangle, guillotine, rear naked choke) with posture and positioning instead of grabbing with your hands.
Class recording Top Escapes
Wim Deputter
Surviving the triangle and using it to pass
Wim Deputter's camp class on surviving the triangle choke from the top and turning the attempt into a guard pass.
How it connects
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