Glossary /// Alias
High-back triangle defence
Also known as Back Triangle Escape — the canonical term used on this site.
Descriptive — triangle set high on the back
High-back triangle defence names the rear triangle by how high the attacker rides, a position that puts the legs at neck height without needing to trap an arm first.
Etymology. “High-back” describes the attacker’s position on the torso rather than the lock itself. The label is useful because riding high is the visible cue: a back attacker climbing toward the shoulders is preparing legs, not just grips.
Mechanics. Defending back position low — hips down, the attacker’s legs prevented from climbing — is what stops this before it starts. Once the legs are at neck height the strangle needs only to close, so the defence becomes head extension and an immediate exit rather than any grip fight.
Cross-reference. “Arm-out rear triangle escape” is the descriptive name. Full escape coverage on Rear Triangle Escape.