Arm Triangle from North South
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Arm Triangle — From North-South·Tarik BJJ
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Arm Triangle — From North-South
Species肩固め（ノースサウスから）(Kata Gatame — From North-South)
TraditionalTranslation: Shoulder Hold / Head-and-Arm Choke — From North-South
Overview
A head-and-arm choke applied from the north-south position. The attacker traps one of the opponent’s arms across their neck, drops the near-side shoulder beside the head, and sprawls chest and hips to seal the carotids. The angle removes bridging power and makes late escapes difficult. Often entered when the defender turns in or as a finish after sliding off from mount or side control.
History & Origin
Classic Judo kata gatame principle adapted to modern BJJ transitions, commonly chained after mount or side-control setups to maximize angle and remove bridging counters.
Effectiveness
The north-south angle neutralises common hip-escape defences and increases compression through gravity-assisted chest pressure, making it effective against opponents who survive standard side-control finishes. [1]
Lineage
The arm triangle from north-south was developed as an advanced BJJ transition, catching the arm during north-south transitions. [1]
Competition Record
North-south to arm triangle transitions appear in advanced BJJ competition at black belt level. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Action — Shoulder/chest compression against opponent’s neck with their own arm as the wedge
Joints Affected — Neck (carotid arteries); secondary pressure on shoulder
Forces — Downward chest pressure, shoulder drive, lateral squeeze, slight head turn to close space
Position & Entry
From side control, thread opponent’s far arm across their face and walk around the head to north-south while keeping head low. Block the hip with your hand or knee, drop shoulder by the trapped arm, gable/palm-to-bicep grip, sprawl hips, and “look away” while squeezing. Alternatively, attack from failed guillotine or when the turtle collapses to a hip.
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
9
Extreme9/10
Direct vascular choke; rapid finish when angle and shoulder depth are correct.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
FIAS Sport Sambo— no chokes in sport sambo, FIAS Rules 2024
Legal
IBJJFIJFUnified MMAADCC
Training Notes
✓Get your head deep first, then sprawl—don’t loosen the lock during the walk-around. Pin the opponent’s far hip to stop rolls. Think chest weight + shoulder wedge; hands only guide the squeeze. Micro-adjust by turning your head away and walking your hips a few inches.
Common Mistakes
!Arriving too high over the head
!Letting the defender’s elbow slip back across the chest
!Squeezing with arms only instead of using shoulder and chest pressure
!Failing to block the near/far hip, allowing a spin-out
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinkingTwo-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locksTurn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressurePosture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle
Setup Chain
1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied
2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat
3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)
4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification (肩固め Kata-gatame)
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification (肩固め Kata-gatame)
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification (肩固め Kata-gatame)
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification (肩固め Kata-gatame)
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification (肩固め Kata-gatame)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexibility, long legs relative to torso
Favours
longer limbs for easier figure-four lock around head and arm
Key muscles
hip adductors, hamstrings, quadriceps
Sub-techniques
Notes
If space remains, “walk the legs” around the head a few inches or switch to side-control finish without releasing the lock.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you create the proper angle for an arm triangle from north-south position?
Place your opponent's bicep on the far side and walk towards their legs—this hip movement creates the angle you need for the submission.
What's the key to setting up the arm triangle when your opponent is defending?
Do the work on the bicep and make it look like you're attacking the forearm; when they defend it, you can switch your attack angle.
How does the Arm Triangle — From North-South work?
A head-and-arm choke applied from the north-south position. The attacker traps one of the opponent’s arms across their neck, drops the near-side shoulder beside the head, and sprawls chest and hips to seal the carotids.
Where does the Arm Triangle — From North-South come from?
Classic Judo kata gatame principle adapted to modern BJJ transitions, commonly chained after mount or side-control setups to maximize angle and remove bridging counters.
How dangerous is the Arm Triangle — From North-South?
Danger: 9/10 | Direct vascular choke; rapid finish when angle and shoulder depth are correct.
How do I set up the Arm Triangle — From North-South?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Arm Triangle — From North-South?
Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.
What are the variants of the Arm Triangle — From North-South?
Common variants: North-south finish with walk-around head turn; Switch to side-control finish after locking; Hip-sprawl “lat shelf” finish for broad-shouldered opponents.
How effective is the Arm Triangle — From North-South in competition?
North-south to arm triangle transitions appear in advanced BJJ competition at black belt level.
What are common mistakes when doing the Arm Triangle — From North-South?
Top errors to watch for: Arriving too high over the head / Letting the defender’s elbow slip back across the chest / Squeezing with arms only instead of using shoulder and chest pressure / Failing to block the near/far hip, allowing a spin-out.
What are other names for the Arm Triangle — From North-South?
The Arm Triangle — From North-South is also known as Kata Gatame — From North-South, North-South Arm Triangle, North-South Kata Gatame, NS Head-and-Arm Choke.