Alias · Back Position

Arm-in back choke

Also known as Back Triangle — the canonical term used on this site.

Training background: Descriptive term used in some competition contexts

Descriptive — arm-trapped strangulation from the back

Arm-in back choke is the descriptive name for the back triangle — the back-position strangulation in which one of the opponent’s arms is trapped inside the closing leg-triangle that compresses the neck.

Etymology. The “arm-in” descriptor flags the trapped-arm geometry, distinguishing this strangulation from arm-out variants (rear naked choke, arm-out triangle) that close around the bare neck. “Back” attaches the position. The compound phrase appears in competition commentary and instructional vocabulary that emphasises the structural prerequisite — the arm being trapped — over the geometric form.

Mechanics. The compression loads both carotids simultaneously — the closing leg-triangle drives one side of the neck against the opponent’s own trapped shoulder, which becomes the second compression surface. The arm-in geometry requires tighter mechanics than the arm-out alternative.

Cross-reference. “Back triangle” and “back body triangle” are alternate names. Full mechanical coverage on Back Triangle.