Rear Triangle

What This Is

The rear triangle is a leg-based strangle in which the attacker’s legs wrap around the opponent’s neck from behind, locking in a triangle figure-four. Unlike the standard guard triangle — applied from the front — and unlike the back triangle (SUB-BACK-BTRI) — which captures the neck and near arm from a seatbelt back control — the rear triangle wraps the neck directly from a position behind and above the opponent, typically without an arm inside the triangle.

The mechanical distinction from the back triangle is important. The back triangle is a guard-triangle-style submission applied from behind: arm inside the triangle, legs locking around neck and arm from a back control position. The rear triangle wraps the neck from a high-back or north-south position — the opponent’s neck sits directly in the triangle’s crux, and the legs apply bilateral thigh compression. No arm must be inside, though the position is tighter with an arm captured.

Finishing mechanics are identical to the standard triangle: hip thrust and bilateral thigh squeeze. The thighs compress both sides of the neck simultaneously. The angle of approach is different — from behind rather than from the front — but the compression geometry is the same.

The rear triangle is particularly available from the seatbelt back control when the attacker is in a higher position — above the opponent’s shoulders rather than behind them at shoulder level — and from north-south after the opponent attempts to stack or bridge out of north-south control.

The Invariable in Action

The rear triangle produces bilateral carotid compression through the thighs. One thigh on each side of the neck. The direction of approach — from behind rather than from the front — does not change the fundamental requirement: both carotids must be compressed simultaneously. A rear triangle that is tight on one side only produces pain without the submission.

The neck must sit fully inside the triangle — in the crux where the thighs meet — with no gap between the thighs and the sides of the neck. If there is space at the neck, the thigh compression cannot close both carotids. Pulling the opponent’s head forward (toward the attacker’s hips) deepens the neck’s position in the triangle and eliminates the gap. The hip thrust at the finish drives the neck further into the crux and increases bilateral compression.

The rear triangle is not available from a flat-back position. The attacker must be in a higher position — either in seatbelt back control with a high configuration, or in north-south — to have the geometry needed to wrap the neck with the legs from behind. The positional requirement determines which contexts provide this submission.

Defence

Prevent the leg wrap: The rear triangle requires the legs to reach the neck from behind. If the opponent recognises the transition — the hook-to-neck swing — they can duck the chin and press the hands up to block the leg’s path. This prevention must happen before the triangle locks.

Posture (head extension): Unlike the guard triangle (where posturing up helps only briefly), the rear triangle can sometimes be defended by extending the neck — pulling the head away from the attacker’s hips. This is a temporary measure and requires follow-up. If the posture creates space to remove the head from the triangle, it must be used immediately.

Stack into the triangle: Driving weight into the locked triangle to create space and relieve bilateral pressure. This is a committed defence that may allow head extraction if used quickly.

Tap early: When the rear triangle is fully locked with the neck in the crux, bilateral compression is applied quickly on the finish. Tap before the finish is complete.

Setup and Entry

From Seatbelt Back Control — High Position Entry

When the seatbelt is established in a higher position — attacker’s chest at or above the opponent’s shoulders rather than behind them at shoulder level — the rear triangle becomes available. The attacker swings both legs forward and over the opponent’s shoulders, crossing them in front of the opponent’s face to arrive at a position with the neck surrounded by the legs. One leg goes over the far shoulder, one leg is below the near shoulder, and the triangle figure-four is locked. This is a commitment — it typically releases the seatbelt grip — and should only be attempted when the triangle can be locked immediately.

From North-South

The north-south to rear triangle entry: the attacker in north-south control walks their legs from the hip level toward the opponent’s head. As the legs reach shoulder level, the near leg swings over the shoulder and toward the neck. The triangle figure-four is applied with the neck in the crux. This entry is available when the opponent in north-south attempts to bridge or push up — the movement forward creates the positional access for the leg to reach the neck. See north-south position pages for the specific context.

From High Back Exposure

When back exposure occurs at a high angle — after a takedown or a seated back take where the attacker ends up above the opponent — the rear triangle can be applied as the primary back attack before seatbelt is established. The attacker’s legs are already near shoulder level; swinging them into triangle position is the direct action rather than establishing seatbelt first.

Position Requirements

• Seatbelt Control (POS-BACK-TOP-SEATBELT) — high position — Available when the seatbelt is established at or above the opponent’s shoulders. Standard seatbelt at mid-back level does not provide the geometry for the rear triangle.
• North-South (POS-TOP-NS) — Available when the opponent attempts to bridge or push up from north-south, creating the positional access for the leg to reach the neck.

Common Errors

Drilling Notes

Ability Level Guidance

Also Known As

Related Pages