#arm triangle

I’ve been training bjj consistently (3-4x a week) since New Year’s Day 2019. I love learning techniques, the workout it gives me, etc, but in a gym brimming with tremendous fighters and a great coach, big milestones are a bit tough to come by.

I get tapped ALL. THE. TIME.

At first I took it hard, but now I’ve come to accept it happens. Whatever. But in the back of my mind I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever “get it.” My confidence is a bit low to begin with, and getting shut down constantly is a true test.

So. Last night, may 9th, was the first time I ever tapped someone in a live roll. It’s been 4 months, and I was embarrassed by my “failure” even though I knew it shouldn’t mean a thing. But last night, with an arm triangle, I finally got it.

Friday morning with Kevin. After warm-ups we got some drill time and then got into a nice arm triangle setup from top of side control.

From top of side control with your right arm underhooked under opp’s left, you want to bait them into fighting for that underhook.

Lean back a little on the right side to make some space that they want to fight for. When they reach in, swim your right hand under and place it on the mat so their elbow is higher up towards their head.

If they try to reestablish the underhook with that arm, use that opportunity when they get light to push it up even further. 

Reach your left arm under opp’s left armpit. 

Push their left arm over their face and bring your forehead to the mat to pin it against their face.

Slide your right knee over onto opp’s belly.

Work your way across to opp’s left side and go belly down on the mat, bringing your hips all the way down. 

Wrap up your arms in the RNC position with your left hand in the crook of your right elbow and squeeze to get the tap.

Arm Triangle: Hug Them & Choke Them

Here is a video instructional of the arm triangle choke, which I have been using lately during life rolls. I managed to get some taps out of this after using the details explained in this video.

Previously, I tend to crank instead of choking and also often lost dominant position when I transitioned for the hug around the neck. In this video, Alliance BJJ black belt Thomas Lisboashows what you…

Tuesday morning gi class with Keith. We drilled some stand-up grip fighting into a takedown to start:

Standing with opponent who gets a same side grip on your left lapel with their right hand. 

Use your right hand to open up their right lapel and then reach over opp’s arm with your left to grip it.

Bring your left elbow down as you pull in opp close with your left hand. You want to be perpendicular to their body, not facing the same direction.

Take a small step in with your back (right) leg and then a bigger step over opp’s right leg with your left. You want your hamstring over their quad.

You could get a leg sweep here, but your opponent will most likely base with their left hand to stay up. Once they do, step in with your left foot behind their left foot and push with your left arm to get the takedown.

Then we got into some ground work and drilled a wrist lock from the top of side control:

From top of side control with crossface, with an opponent who’s framing on your neck/shoulder.

Use your right hand to open up opp’s far side lapel. 

Reach your left arm to grab the lapel, crunching opp’s neck in the process.

Turn your head to your left and lower your chin to lock opp’s hand and bend their wrist.

With your right hand, grab the back of opp’s left elbow and pressure your chest down on the wrist to get the tap.

If opp slides their hand through to escape, use the left side of your head to lock the arm in and lock your hands behind opp’s neck.

Slide your right knee over opp’s belly and step over the left leg and lower the hips to finish the arm triangle.