Issue 061
April 2010
With Pete Irving.
3 minute clinic
Body position
Switching the hips and sitting through (the judo technique kata gatame) is an option, but sprawling the hips low and blocking the opponent’s hip with the knee pins both of his shoulders to the mat, preventing them from relieving the pressure by turning with the choke.
The grip
From side control, it is possible to apply the arm triangle with several different grips. The S-grip and gable grip can be used to pull the bicep tight. A mata leao grip can be used to squeeze and crank the neck. Here we see the strongest of all finishes: Both hands hold the elbow of the opposite arm to maximize the lateral squeeze on the arteries.
Just like the leg triangle, the arm triangle stops blood flow to the brain by restricting the carotid arteries. Several varieties of arm triangle exist, which can be applied from a variety of positions. Anaconda and brabao are all varieties of this same choke, but here we take a look at the classic arm triangle.
Arm triangle from half guard pass
1 Pete is in Rob’s half guard. He has secured the underhook on the far side and is supporting his underhook with the near arm, under Rob’s head, hands linked in a gable grip.
Reverse view Pete is adding shoulder pressure on the near side by driving his shoulder into Rob’s neck, making it hard for Rob to breathe or to move his neck.
2 Rob attempts to relieve the shoulder pressure by cross facing Pete and pushing away.
Reverse view Pete is careful to keep his hips low even though his head is being forced up.
3 Pete allows his head to lift then pushes on Rob’s triceps and looks around the arm, passing the elbow across.
4 Pete drives his head over, hooking his chin over Rob’s shoulder as he replaces the gable grip.
5 Now that Pete has secured the head and arm, he starts an instep pass by placing the top of his foot on Rob’s inner thigh and driving his hips forward.
Reverse view Pete slides his knee directly over to the mount.
6 Pete slides his legs all the way over to the opposite side he started from, sprawling his hips as low to the mat as possible. Pete changes to an S-grip, allowing him to pull the arm triangle tighter.
Reverse view Pete has maneuvered his bicep deep into Rob’s neck with his shoulder under the chin.
Arm triangle from half guard
1 Pete has Rob in his half guard, using an underhook and blocking Rob’s free arm at the elbow.
2 Rob gives up the whizzer to pin Pete’s head to the mat with his forearm.
3 Pete counters by pushing on the tricep and slipping his head outside. Pete sits and wraps around the head.
4 Pete locks up the arm triangle by putting his hand over his bicep and locking his arm in beside Rob’s head. Pete climbs his hook around Rob’s back and squeezes to apply the choke.
Pete Irving is a professional welterweight fighter and Fighters Only’s resident fight expert.He has fought in Europe and the USA.
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