I discovered a few things that help me survive once I've been caught while I was training with Renato Magno of Street Sports Jiu Jitsu.

When you are a beginner you will be working more on defense than offense when you are training with more experienced players. As a result, I got really good at defending from within the Triangle.

The main thing is to control your opponents outside arm and regain your posture. If he is pulling your head down to make you tap you have to grab the wrist of his outer hand with BOTH of your hands and break his grip. This prevents the choke and keeps them from underhooking your leg or getting a perpendicular angle to finish the submission.

Next you have to drop the shoulder that is in the Triangle to allow the blood to flow to your head so that you do not black out. You still have control of their wrist at this point.

Once you have accomplished that then contol his hips with the arm that is inside the Triangle and be prepared to defend if they try to transition to the Arm Bar.

You will be able to see these principles in practice in the technique below.

Here you can see that Jason has been caught by Bence in the Triangle. Bence has his legs locked, Jason's right arm across and he is pulling down on Jason's head to get the tap.

Immediately you have to grab your opponent's outside wrist with both hands so that you can ...

Break his grip. Here you want to look up to the ceiling and drop your right shoulder in order to get blood to your brain. You will also be keeping your opponent's hips down with your right elbow and forearm while you are still controlling their right wrist.

You have to keep your opponent's hips down at this point to defend against the Armbar.

Next you quickly step up with your left leg ...

And then your right and sit down like your sitting in your favorite recliner chair. At this point your opponent's legs will still be locked. You are still controlling your opponent's right wrist.

Another variation that is really effective is to cross your left leg over your opponent's chest at this point. This helps to break the Triangle.

Next you arch your back and look up to the ceiling which will pop the Triangle open.

Now you will pummel your right arm outside of the Triangle and ...

Post your right hand so that begin to pass your opponent's guard. You are still controlling your opponent's right wrist with your left hand at this point.

As you pass your opponent's guard your left arm goes from controlling the wrist to under their neck so that ...

You can secure a solid Head & Arm Side Control.

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