Triangle Choke (The Dojo) - Softcover

"With nods to the traditional and popular predecessors of boxing and wrestling, Jones adds to the Dojo series a heavy dose of drama. Hector, on the verge of 18 and also his first big mixed martial arts fight, has a lot going on. His father's alcoholism has split the family apart, his girlfriend and his best friend choose each other when his commitment to MMA leaves little time for socializing, and his mother disapproves of his passion, constantly worrying about potential injuries. Hector bears all of this well, and he maintains his focus. But sometimes he finds himself giving in to his fears and rage. Flashing back to as far back as eight years prior, the narrative uncovers Hector's motivation inside the cage. Jones posits the titular strategic move as a symbol of Hector's adversity on all sides, including the battle he must wage with himself. A worthy addition to MMA-based youth titles, and particularly newbie friendly, with a glossary of MMA terms and an appendix of weight classes as back matter." --Booklist

"Part of the four book series The Dojo, Side Control and Triangle Choke center around teens training in mixed martial arts (MMA) at the Missouri MMA Teen Dojo. Side Control follows Jackson James, who started training in MMA as a way to reach his goal of joining Army Special Forces, like his father, who was killed in Afghanistan. While he prepares for his first amateur fight, he must also deal with his feelings for Tyresha, a new female fighter at the dojo, and try to keep his younger brother from repeating the mistakes he made three years earlier. Triangle Choke covers the same period of time from the point of view of Hector, another MMA fighter at the dojo, also preparing for his first amateur fight and dealing with tough personal issues, including an alcoholic father and problems with his former best friend and ex-girlfriend.
These books are most likely to appeal to fans of MMA, though a glossary of terms and a brief explanation of the sport are provided for those who are unfamiliar with MMA. While many of the secondary characters fall flat, Jackson and Hector are believable as teens trying to figure out how to navigate relationships as they enter adulthood. The short length and focus on action make these books good choices for reluctant readers, particularly those interested in sports." --VOYA