Unlock the power of the Lasso Guard with two high-level submissions! In this video, Joao Cizeski breaks down the essential adjustments needed to trap your opponent and secure the tap.

Notice that in the first variation, Cizeski uses the arm trapped by the leg as a fulcrum to roll over and finish the position with a locked-in triangle chokes. In the second position, he utilizes the same mechanics to finish the movement with another submission, this time the omoplata shoulder lock.

João Felipe Cizeski is a highly accomplished 1st-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the legendary Felipe Pena, recognized for his extensive competitive background and deep instructional expertise. Originally from Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Cizeski built a stellar competitive resume before transitioning his focus to mentorship, capturing multiple CBJJ Brazilian National titles alongside podium finishes at prestigious international tournaments like the IBJJF European Open Championship.

Athlete from Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks in California, Joao is widely respected for his highly technical teaching approach, discipline, and absolute dedication to student growth. Embracing the core philosophy that “Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone”, Cizeski tirelessly works to shape average competitors into elite champions while leveraging the gentle art to foster confidence, resilience, and lifelong transformation throughout his local community.

Joao Cizeski BJJ class

Photo by Ed Spider

[First published in 2013.]

One of the winners of the Natal trials for the 2013 Abu Dhabis, black-belt Bruno Ramos wants to keep up the pace. To do so, he signed up for a local Fortaleza, Ceará event: Copa Meiaguarda.

The curious part about him is that Bruno studies animal movements in defining his jiu-jitsu. “You can foresee your foe’s move, like we see happen on Animal Planet and other shows,” he says, half serious, half joking.

To prove he means what he says, Bruno broke down the cat movement he used in one of his recent matches. Take note: with the opponent in side control, Ramos creeps out his hip and gets his legs on his opponent’s torso. The climb and feline attack happen in a matter of seconds, as you can see below.

Back in 2013, Rodolfo Vieira, the 2011 absolute BJJ world champion, made a video teaching Graciemag readers a no-gi technique. Enjoy it with the translated transcript below.

“Hi, guys; here’s a technique I’ve been doing since I first started training for the 2013 ADCC. It’s a triangle choke from side control. From side control with both knees on the side of his body and the hand to hand grip. First I put his arm on the ground and come with my knee over it. Then I switch the hook on his arm from one leg to the other. After that, I hug his head from behind, lifting it from the ground. As he turns towards me, I jump and pass my leg over his back and lock the triangle with the other leg. Then I adjust the triangle or also I can attack the arm.”

Brazilian champion Bruno Frazatto sinks a triangle. Ivan Trindade

[ Translated from an article by Willian von Söhsten – journalist and student of semiotics; black-belt under Cícero Costha and teacher at Team Nogueira in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil ]

The triangle isn’t a move exclusive to BJJ, or even an invention of ours. But the technique of wrapping an opponent’s neck with the legs has become a sort of calling card of the gentle art. For some reason, our beloved triangle found on Brazilian soil the ideal conditions to spread and be perfected. Some of these reasons? Its effectiveness and power to tame any big attacker.

In a recent article published on the Valente brothers’ website, Julian Ortega remembered the origin of the technique.

In judo it is known as sankaku jime (‘choke through triangle’). It’s hard to say who invented the move, but research points to Master Tsunetane Oda, one of Jigoro Kano’s followers who liked training on the ground the most. Master Oda is also one of the chief names in Kosen judo — a branch more focused on ground fighting, but connected to the Kodokan, like a school within a school.

The triangle likely began its journey in BJJ dojos thanks to the restlessness of Rolls Gracie, who, always hungry for new techniques, may have discovered it in an old judo book.

Grandmaster Pedro Valente was one who attested to that. He said he had never seen the move performed by a member of the Gracie family before the 70s, despite newspaper records showing that it was known by Japanese fighters who lived in Brazil, like Geo Omori, Takeo Yano and Yasuichi Ono.

Ono even fought Helio Gracie in 1935, and the paper that announced the match showed a picture of Ono doing the leg choke in a training session. He and Helio drew.

One of the oldest videos where the triangle is depicted is from 1954. The scene shows Master Tsunetane Oda applying a large number of variations to the technique. It is possible to notice that, in the execution of the move with the back on the ground, the opponent’s arm is not crossed, but straight, ready for an armbar. Many subsequent videos show the triangle being performed in the same way.

Therefore, all signs point to BJJ being responsible for refining the move, as the act of crossing one’s opponent’s arm reduces the space between the shoulder and neck, considerably increasing the pressure applied by the legs around the throat.

The triangle would eventually become famous by the legs of Royce Gracie, when he caught Dan Severn’s neck at UFC 4 in 1994. The 79kg fighter choking his 115kg counterpart caused quite a stir. Since then, the triangle has been a trademark of BJJ fighters worldwide.

Kayron Gracie during a class at Gracie Barra. GRACIEMAG

Gracie Barra instructor Kayron Gracie brings you a technique capable of submitting even that peskiest of opponents. He teaches here his invisible armbar — a trick that entails such movements that it’s next to impossible to prevent what’s coming.

Kayron starts on the open guard with a hand on the collar before placing one foot on spider guard and feinting a triangle. Then he moves for the omoplata, sits and starts the invisible attack.

Between his own legs, he gets his foe’s opposite arm, before taking a step toward him and ending up with an arm already lassoed and helpless.

Watch Kayron walk through the technique in this video.

Black belt Vagner Santana is getting ready for upcoming competitions and takes the time to share some clever attacks once you have the opponent inside your triangle.

Pay close attention and add a wrist lock and two different armbars to your game.

The man on the cover of GRACIEMAG #227 is here to teach an attack that always catch the opponent by surprise.

In this video shot in 2010, Rafael Mendes shows how to set up the flying triangle.

He explains in Portuguese: “As the match begins, make a grip on the opponent’s lapel and another one on his elbow. On the same side of the grip to the elbow, put your foot on the opponent’s hip and fake a jump to pull guard. As the opponent’s bends his knees to prepare for the jump, pass your other leg over his shoulder and lock the triangle. Then, push the arm to the other side and pull the head down for the tap.”

Here he shows a technique called the fatboy variation of the triangle. Check it out and let us know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKAklOwCAuE

Prepare for the upcoming no-gi tournaments: No-gi Pans and No-gi World Championship!

Check out the technique:

Here, Sophia offers a way to secure a triangle submission from the closed guard by breaking an opponent’s grip on your lapel in the process. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Learn more about Sophia and Drysdale Jiu-Jitsu at www.drysdalejiujitsu.com

Remember, in the video below, how Jiu-Jitsu saved Fabricio Werdum from one of the most feared athletes in MMA history.