Cocoon Triangle

From the Butterfly Guard I start from the Modified Cocoon. Instead of an overhook and an underhook I am using kind of a wrestling collar tie up where I am controlling my opponents neck and tricep.

I started doing the Cocoon this way while I was teaching the position to Patrik who has a strong wrestling background.

When I was in the Cocoon with the over & under hooks he was powering up to his feet. To stop that I turned the overhook into grabbing his tricep and later added the neck control.

From Butterfly Guard with this control it is surprisingly easy to hit the Cocoon Triangle. You must have the collar tie nice and tight.

The collar tie still allows you to hit the sweeps from the Cocoon in Mastering the Rubber Guard but it also gives you this triangle, an armbar, a real nice over the top sweep that I call Timber!, Omoplata etc...

You can also transition to the X-Guard with all of it's options.

• Step 1

From the Butterfly Guard Jason Mallory has Patrik Bogyo in the Modified Cocoon. Jason's right hand is controlling Patrik's neck, his left arm is controlling Patrik's tricep and he is pinching the forearm tight to his body with his left elbow.

Jason also has his head against Patrik's head and collar bone to make sure everything stays tight.

The Butterfly hooks are on Patrik's inner thigh with pressure up and outward for strong butterflies.

• Step 2

While maintaing a tight collar tie I release my butterfly hooks and bring them onto Patrik's hips. I am pulling his upper body towards me and pushing his hips away.
• Step 3

Next I release my right foot from his hip, push with my left foot on his hip to bring my back to the mat as my right leg goes over his left shoulder.

You have to keep a nice tight collar tie through this whole step. If you don't control his upper body and break his posture you won't be able to get your right leg in position for the Triangle.

• Step 4

Once I have the Triangle locked in I use both hands to control his arm and ...
• Step 5

Finish the choke.
• Step 1.0

From this angle you can see I have the collar tie with my b-fly hooks in.
• Step 2.0

Here my hooks come out and go to his hips.
• Step 3.0

Now I am pushing away with my left foot on his hip, pulling hard on the collar tie and bringing my right foot off of his hip and over his left shoulder.
• Step 4.0

Here I still have a tight collar tie, my back is on the mat, my right leg is over his shoulder and I am about to...
• Step 5.0

Land the Triangle and get the tap.