body triangle from back mount or hooks?

[keepitsimple]

In your personal opinion can you tell me some reasons on why you prefer the body triangle over the hooks from back mount or vice-versa, and some reasons why you like one. Also some pros, and cons of each would be nice. I was always wondering why some guys always use hooks, while some always use the body triangle.

[SamuraiGuy]

As long as you remember to keep that leg tucked the body triangle should be fine. If not you can get tapped out the same as if you just crossed your feet.


I look at it like this, the body triangle is more defensive, and position oriented, you have far more attacking options with the hooks, armbars, etc... with the body triangle its pretty much the RNC, its so tight it can limit you.

Some people like Marcelo, have been known to just use one hook, personally I'll take what I can get, I'm not flexible enough to get the body triangle most of the time, so its hooks for me.

[SweepEm]

advantages and disadvantes to the body triangle.

First off the advantage is that the body triangle can be solid and tough for your opponent to escape. But you need to have long legs or your opponent has to be a little bit smaller. IF your opponent is some thick or wide guy, good luck trying to get the body triangle if you have shorter legs.

So if you are successful in getting the body triangle, you are able to have advantage in position but you're limited to basically looking for a choke from the back.

If you have hooks or a hook, you can do chokes and also do set ups for an arm bar.

There are lots of factors when getting your opponents back, are they stronger than you, smaller or larger than you, slower or faster...etc.

So, my personal preference is that if my opponent is shorter and or smaller than me, a body triangle is what I'll be looking for but if my opponent is bigger, stronger, taller, I'll try hooks instead and look for arm bars instead.

[Aaronblue]

The major disadvantage to using a body triangle is that there is a relatively simple submission against someone that puts you in a body triangle. If your opponent rolls you onto the side where you locked up the triangle, you've effectively trapped your own foot in a submission (assuming your opponent knows how to do the submission which isn't that hard)

If you've gone through all the work of taking someone's back, generally you don't want to give someone an opportunity which is effectively what you are doing when you put them in the body triangle.

However, the body triangle does give you more control over your opponent so it can be advantageous if you know your opponent does not know the submission or if you are flexible enough to avoid the submission like a BJ Penn.

So for a few people the body triangle, if they can get it, is the better choice but for the vast majority of people out there you are better off using the hooks.