The "Caique" Triangle from Closed Guard

The "Caique" Triangle from closed guard is a strategic and effective setup for the triangle choke, especially against opponents who are wary of entering your guard due to your proficiency in triangle attacks. Here’s how to execute it effectively:

1. Initial Setup: Start by gripping the back of your opponent's tricep or elbow. With your other hand, secure their head or collar for control. This grip is crucial for manipulating their posture and arm position.

2. Positioning Your Leg: Take the leg on the same side as the arm you’re controlling and place your foot on the opponent's hip. Ensure your knee is on the outside of their arm, creating a lever to manipulate their arm inward.

3. Creating the Angle: Scoot your hips out to the side to create the necessary angle for the triangle setup. This movement is key to aligning your legs and torso for optimal execution of the choke.

4. Collapsing the Arm: With your knee on the outside of their arm, bring it over their bicep to collapse the arm inward. The effectiveness of this move relies not on straightening your leg, but on pointing your knee and elongating your body to disengage their hand from your torso or gi.

5. Securing the Triangle: Once their arm is collapsed, straighten your leg over their shoulder to trap their arm and head between your legs, setting up the one-arm-in, one-arm-out position necessary for a triangle choke.

6. Finishing the Choke: After positioning your leg over the shoulder, adjust by lifting your hips and pulling your opponent’s arm across to tighten the choke. Secure your foot under your knee to lock the triangle fully. If the position isn’t perfect initially, adjust by pulling your opponent into deeper triangle control, ensuring their posture is compromised and making it difficult for them to defend or escape.

7. Final Adjustments: If necessary, continue to adjust by lifting your hips and using your hands to pull their head down or readjust their arm to intensify the choke.

This technique, named after Caique, who taught the setup, is particularly useful for forcing hesitant opponents into a vulnerable position, leveraging minimal effort for maximum control and effectiveness in setting up the triangle choke from the closed guard.