Often resulting from some sort of scramble, the dogfight position offers multiple sweeps and wrestling scenarios but can also lead to great submission options. In the video below, Hudson Valley BJJ black belt Brian McLaughlin shows the key details to hitting the powder-keg triangle choke from the dogfight position.
In this scenario, the person on top has side control but the person on bottom swam their arm in to get an under hook. From here the bottom person punches up and gets to their knees. This brings us to the dogfight position; where both combatants are on their knees, frequently one with an under hook and the other with an over hook or “whizzer” to stop their opponent from posturing up or taking the back.
From here, Coach Brian posts his left foot on the mat and hooks the top of his right foot behind his partners close knee. Brian drives into his partner and as he feels them drive back, he climbs his left leg over his partners back. He uses this as a footing to pick his hips up and swing his right leg over, collapsing down into the triangle position. From here he puts the arm across and finishes a normal triangle.
However, sometimes people will feel the triangle coming so they’ll wrap their trapped arm behind your leg to open up the space between their neck and shoulder. Although this provides opportunities for many shoulder attacks, Coach Brian shows us how to get to the reverse triangle from here. He dips his knee into the valley between his partners armpit and their knee. He switches his legs as he does this, hooking his partners close knee. Coach Brians knees are positioned so that his bottom knee comes downward, under his partners armpit. His other knee presses against the back of his partners head, closing the triangle. To finish, turn belly down, lock your hands together and squeeze.
This is a great option from the dogfight and may catch people by surprise! If you want to be a part of the best martial arts classes in the Hudson Valley, give us a call at (845)392-8495 or click HERE!
About the Author
Oliver Swanson is an amateur boxer and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt under head coaches Brian McLaughlin and Karl Nemeth. Teaching classes at Precision six days a week, Oliver is an avid martial arts practitioner. When he’s off the mat, he loves being outside with his dogs and family.
