Breaking Posture with Leg Drive

The foundational step is breaking the opponent's posture, which is primarily accomplished through leg drive rather than arm strength. The practitioner pulls the knees toward the chest while simultaneously removing the opponent's hand post, creating forward momentum that the opponent cannot resist. If the opponent attempts to stand, timing the leg pull as their hips lift provides an optimal moment to break their posture.

Securing the High Overhook

Once posture is broken, the practitioner immediately secures a high overhook while holding the opponent's head down to prevent re-establishing posture. The grip must be positioned high on the chest, similar to the grip used in a guillotine choke, as a lower grip allows easy arm escape. This high placement locks the arm in position and prevents the opponent from creating distance.

Hip Repositioning and Hip Post Prevention

The practitioner shifts their hips out to the side and re-locks the guard, then places their foot on the opponent's hip to prevent them from driving forward. This hip post is critical because forward momentum from the opponent makes it difficult to bring the attacking leg over the shoulder. If the opponent does advance, the practitioner can shimmy back while maintaining shoulder control.

Executing the Leg Lock Sequence

With the overhook secured and hip post established, the practitioner pressures the opponent's shoulder downward while staying on their side to prevent the opponent from flattening them out. The knee is driven in front of the opponent's shoulder first, followed by the foot, which allows the shin to block forward movement. Once this position is established, the attacking leg is freed and the feet are locked to complete the triangle setup.

Pressure and Positioning Refinements

As the leg transitions into position, the practitioner can place their opposite leg over the opponent's tricep to increase pressure and create additional space to work. Once confident the overhook is maintaining control, the practitioner releases the head hold and uses pressure on the shoulder to continue freeing the knee and locking the triangle.

Creating Tight Neck Compression

The most critical finishing element is achieving a tight connection between the right leg and the opponent's neck by cutting diagonally across. Rather than relying on both sides of the neck compression, the practitioner focuses on making this single leg connection extremely tight, which alone creates sufficient compression. Immediately upon locking the feet, the practitioner bridges upward and drives the leg tight against the neck.

Scissoring Angle and Hip Rotation

The finishing angle is achieved by rotating the hips and creating a scissoring motion with the knees rather than pinching them together. The practitioner moves their hips out to the left while cutting the attacking leg in tight, then stomps downward to finalize the lock. This angled approach maximizes pressure and makes the submission significantly more effective than a direct squeeze.

Advanced Finishing Mechanics

Once the triangle is locked, the practitioner curls downward to drive the shin further down the opponent's neck, increasing pressure on the vulnerable area. The final adjustment involves pulling the opponent's shoulder toward their head using the locked legs. While the arm can be positioned over the opponent's shoulder for additional security, focusing on proper leg mechanics ensures the submission works even without this additional control.

Triangle from Closed Guard w/ Over-hook (Lachlan Giles)

Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne

Triangle From Closed Guard

3 min read·8 key moments·PT14M49S video

Key Takeaways

•Breaking Posture with Leg Drive
•Securing the High Overhook
•Hip Repositioning and Hip Post Prevention
•Executing the Leg Lock Sequence

Follow the links below for more detailed instructional series! Check out my half guard DVD "The Half Guard Anthology" here https://bjjfanatics.com/products/the-half-guard-anthology-by-lachlan-giles My No gi Chokes DVD "High percentage Chokes" here: https://bjjfanatics.com/products/high-percentage-choke-no-gi-by-lachlan-giles My half guard seminar here: https://gdf.thinkific.com/courses/lachlan-giles-half-guard-seminar My butterfly and single leg X game can be found on the grapplers guide! https://grapplersguide.com/ Lachlan is a second degree BJJ black belt. He is the 2017 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship Bronze Medallist, 2014 Australian Jiu-Jitsu Grand Prix Champion, multiple time Pan Pacific and Victorian Jiu Jitsu Champion. He has represented Australia twice at ADCC, the most prestigious submission grappling competition in the world, represented Australia three times at the World Pro Championships and competed at the Eddie Bravo Invitational where he submitted former ADCC Champion Rani Yahya. In 2014 and 2017 he completed a clean sweep of the black belt division at Australia's most prestigious competition, the Pan Pacific Championships, winning 4 gold medals. In 2016 Lachlan was ranked as the number 12 lightweight BJJ competitor in the world. He is also the 2016 Australian Freestyle Wrestling Champion. He also works as a physiotherapist and in 2016 completed his PhD.

Related Techniques

Triangle From Back Triangle From Mount Triangle From Open Guard Triangle From Side Control Triangle From Standing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about triangle from closed guard?

This video covers breaking posture with leg drive, securing the high overhook, hip repositioning and hip post prevention. It provides detailed instruction from Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne.

How long does it take to learn triangle from closed guard?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 8-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.