Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle

Species

リアネッククランク(Ria Nekku Kuranku)

Transliteration

Translation: Rear Neck Crank (katakana loanword)

Overview

The rear neck crank from body triangle uses the stable body triangle back control to anchor the opponent's torso while the attacker grips under the chin, across the forehead, or on the face and pulls the head backward into cervical hyperextension. ^[1],[2] The body triangle's exceptional hip control means the opponent cannot rotate or slide down to relieve the cranking pressure, making this one of the most controlling positions from which to apply a neck crank. ^[1] The attacker uses the body triangle squeeze and upper body pull simultaneously. ^[1],[2]

Also known as

Body Triangle Neck Crank^[1]BT Extension Crank^[2]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA Sambo

History & Origin

The body triangle became a dominant back control method in high-level BJJ and MMA in the 2010s, particularly after fighters like Luke Rockhold and Islam Makhachev demonstrated its effectiveness. ^[1],[2] The neck crank from body triangle emerged as a secondary attack when rear naked choke attempts were defended — rather than abandoning the back position, attackers could threaten the spine to force a reaction or tap. ^[1] This technique represents the modern integration of cranking attacks into the back-attack system. ^[1],[2]

Effectiveness

A powerful secondary attack from body triangle back control that pressures the cervical spine through extension; effective when the opponent defends rear naked choke by protecting the neck ^[1]

Lineage

Developed in MMA and no-gi grappling as athletes recognized body triangle's potential for neck cranks beyond traditional chokes. Associated with Khabib Nurmagomedov's back control system ^[1]

Competition Record

Multiple UFC finishes from body triangle neck crank position; increasingly common in MMA as body triangle back control becomes standard ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Compression of the neck structures — restricts blood flow or airway depending on technique application

Joints Involved — Cervical spine, surrounding musculature, and vascular structures of the neck

Force Vector — Directed compression against the neck from the choking limb or body position

Finishing Mechanic — Sustained pressure causes either vascular occlusion (unconsciousness) or tracheal restriction (breathing difficulty)

Position & Entry

From back control with seatbelt — Establish hooks or body triangle, slide choking arm under the chin, connect hands and squeeze

From turtle top (back take) — Break down the turtle, insert hooks, secure seatbelt grip, slide to back control and apply the choke

From standing back clinch — Secure rear body lock, drag opponent to the mat while inserting hooks, transition to choking position

Videos

Freestyle Fighting Academy

Avellan Shows Bas Rutten Neck Crank for BJJ and MMA

Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle·Freestyle Fighting Academy

http://www.FFAcoach.com Marcos Avellan Shows Bas Rutten Neck Crank for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts …

Invisible Jiu Jitsu

BODY TRIANGLE SUBMISSION!!

Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle·Invisible Jiu Jitsu

Holding and attacking the back with the body triangle, stopping their escape, and tapping them with it, all the info all…

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling

How to counter Can Opener neck crank from closed guard for BJJ

Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle·Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling

The can-opener works by simply levering the head forwards. It is rare that it gets a submission; most often it is used t…

1 / 2

3 videos

What Instructors Say

The rear neck crank from body triangle is a cervical extension submission executed from back control with a body triangle (leg lock across the opponent's torso). Freestyle Fighting Academy emphasizes that the technique requires the opponent to be flattened on their back before execution; the attacker must maintain control of one arm while circling the free leg underneath to grip their own thigh, keeping the opponent's arm extended as long as possible to prevent escape via elbow tuck. Once the leg is clasped around the thigh, the attacker leans back and brings the knees together to apply crushing pressure, functioning as both a positional lock and a choke mechanism. Invisible Jiu-Jitsu highlights that the body triangle submission works by restricting the opponent's diaphragm (positioning the triangle above the lungs rather than across the hips) to induce positional asphyxiation, and emphasizes keeping the triangle on the top side to prevent foot lock counters. Both sources note that the submission can succeed through either immediate tap from the neck crank or through sustained positional pressure that restricts breathing. Hand placement high on the inside of the thigh near the knees maximizes leverage (treating the leg as a lever with the handle, not hinge), and consistent squeezing pressure with the knees generates the primary finishing force. The technique is reliable against trained grapplers including wrestlers, though flexibility variations require positional adjustments.

Synthesized from 3 instructors

Freestyle Fighting Academy — Avellan Shows Bas Rutten Neck Crank for BJJ and MMA: Detailed the mechanics of maintaining arm control, leg positioning to create the thigh grip, and the importance of keeping the opponent flat-backed. Explained hand placement leverage, the thigh-master squeeze with knees together, and how to maintain pressure when immediate tap doesn't occur.
Invisible Jiu Jitsu — BODY TRIANGLE SUBMISSION!!: Emphasized positioning the body triangle high on the diaphragm rather than across hips to create positional asphyxiation. Discussed managing the triangle from back control, maintaining it on the top side during positional transitions, and applying progressive pressure using the snake principle of waiting for breathing cycles.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling — How to counter Can Opener neck crank from closed guard for BJJ: Provided context on dangerous neck cranks and emphasized the importance of neck strength and protection in defensive positioning, relevant to understanding the submission's force and why opponents must tap.

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Extreme9/10

Extension cranks force the head backward; risk of vertebral disc and ligament damage

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

Legal

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— shime-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— ADCC — Legal

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓The rear neck crank from body triangle applies cervical extension or flexion from back control with body triangle locked — the body triangle stabilises the torso to isolate all cranking force on the cervical spine (Danaher, Back Attacks: Enter the System, 2018)

✓From body triangle back control: the legs are locked in a body triangle around the torso — the arms can then manipulate the head in any direction (extension, flexion, or rotation) while the torso remains fixed

✓The body triangle provides superior torso stabilisation compared to hooks: the interlocked legs create a rigid frame that prevents the opponent from adjusting their body to relieve neck pressure

✓Extension variant: push the head backward (body-triangle extension crank)

✓Flexion variant: push the chin to the chest using the forearm on the back of the head

✓The body triangle neck crank is a systematic back-attack tool: it creates openings for the RNC by forcing the opponent to move their head in response to the crank

✓The fixed-torso principle: by immobilising the torso with the body triangle, all head manipulation force is concentrated on the cervical spine — nothing is wasted on body movement

✓The body triangle neck crank is a positional advantage unique to back control: the combination of posterior position and torso control creates cervical attack angles unavailable from other positions

Common Mistakes

!Applying cervical manipulation without the body triangle locked — the torso must be stabilised first; without it, the opponent moves their body to relieve the neck pressure

!Using explosive force — body triangle cranks concentrate force on the cervical spine; progressive application is essential

!Not transitioning to the RNC — the crank forces head movement; capitalise on the opened chin with the choking arm

!Holding cranking positions without purpose — the crank should create transitions, not be held at end range

!Not maintaining the body triangle during the crank — the arm manipulations can shift body position; keep the body triangle tight throughout

!Applying the same crank direction repeatedly — alternate between extension, flexion, and rotation to keep the opponent guessing

!Ignoring the opponent's tap — body triangle cranks can cause pain rapidly; respect the tap immediately

Related Techniques

Rear Naked Choke — attacks from the same back control position Body Triangle — controlling mechanic that enables the crank Twister — another spinal attack from back/truck position Can Opener — shares the cervical extension principle

Counter Techniques

Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration

Setup Chain

1Establish Position — achieve the controlling position needed for this submission

2Create the Threat — begin the submission setup to force a defensive reaction

3Secure the Hold — lock the submission grip with proper body mechanics

4Finish — apply increasing pressure until the opponent taps or the joint/choke takes effect

Sources & References

Primary Source

Japanese MMA/BJJ standard terminology

1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology

Japanese MMA/BJJ standard terminology

2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

3CitationJapanese MMA/BJJ standard terminology

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese MMA/BJJ standard terminology

Community

Athletics

Requires

hip flexibility, long legs relative to torso

Favours

longer limbs for easier figure-four lock around head and arm

Key muscles

hip adductors, hamstrings, quadriceps

Sub-techniques

Body-Triangle Extension

Variety

The body-triangle extension combines body triangle back control with a cervical extension crank, using the body triangle's hip compression as an anchor while the arms drive the head backward. [1] The body triangle locks the opponent's torso in place, preventing any rolling or rotational escape, while the attacker's arms pull the head into forced extension. [1,2] The anchored body triangle means all cranking force is transmitted directly to the cervical spine rather than being dissipated through body movement. [2] This combination is particularly dangerous because the opponent cannot relieve the spinal stress through any movement — the body triangle immobilises the torso while the arms extend the neck. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I position the body triangle on my opponent's body to make it work as a choke?

You want to sit the triangle above the diaphragm, just below the lungs, so you constrict the opponent's ability to move their diaphragm and they choke themselves through positional asphyxiation. Invisible Jiu Jitsu emphasizes positioning high on the body, not low across the hips, which only provides control without the choke.

What's the correct pressure and mechanics for squeezing the body triangle?

The pressure works just like a regular triangle—flare your heel and squeeze your knees together in a downward and inward motion. Invisible Jiu Jitsu notes that most of the real squeeze comes from the knees rather than pulling back with your hands.

When attacking from the back, which direction should I fall to apply the rear neck crank from body triangle?

Fall to the side of your choking hand so it doesn't get trapped underneath your opponent, and position yourself to get high on their thigh so you can apply pressure back and in toward the diaphragm. Invisible Jiu Jitsu stresses not letting the triangle drop to the floor, as your opponent can then escape by stepping over your foot.

How does the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle work?

The rear neck crank from body triangle uses the stable body triangle back control to anchor the opponent's torso while the attacker grips under the chin, across the forehead, or on the face and pulls the head backward into cervical hyperextension. The body triangle's exceptional hip control means the opponent cannot rotate or slide down to relieve the cranking pressure, making this one of the most controlling positions from which to apply a neck crank.

Where does the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle come from?

The body triangle became a dominant back control method in high-level BJJ and MMA in the 2010s, particularly after fighters like Luke Rockhold and Islam Makhachev demonstrated its effectiveness. The neck crank from body triangle emerged as a secondary attack when rear naked choke attempts were defended — rather than abandoning the back position, attackers could threaten the spine to force a reaction or tap.

Is the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle legal in competition?

IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle?

Danger rating 9/10. Extension cranks force the head backward; risk of vertebral disc and ligament damage

How do I set up the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle?

The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.

How do I defend against the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle?

Standard counters include: Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately / Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups / Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration.

What are the variants of the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle?

Common variants: Standard triangle (classic figure-four leg lock around the head and one arm …); Reverse triangle (legs locked from behind or inverted angle for different a…); Mounted triangle (applied from mount position with gravity assisting the sq…); No-arm triangle (both arms excluded, legs-only compression on the neck).

How effective is the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle in competition?

Multiple UFC finishes from body triangle neck crank position; increasingly common in MMA as body triangle back control becomes standard

What are common mistakes when doing the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle?

Top errors to watch for: Applying cervical manipulation without the body triangle locked — the torso must be stabilised first; without it, the… / Using explosive force — body triangle cranks concentrate force on the cervical spine; progressive application is esse… / Not transitioning to the RNC — the crank forces head movement; capitalise on the opened chin with the choking arm / Holding cranking positions without purpose — the crank should create transitions, not be held at end range.

What are other names for the Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle?

The Rear Neck Crank From Body Triangle is also known as Ria Nekku Kuranku, Body Triangle Neck Crank, BT Extension Crank.

ria nekku kuranku submission choke and strangle lock neck crank choke cervical extension crank rear neck crank rear neck crank from body triangle body triangle neck crank bt extension crank