Arm Triangle Choke From Side Control - Learn to Grapple
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Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control·Precision Boxing & MMA
BJJ Blackbelt Brian Mclaughlin shows an Arm triangle choke from side control. http://learntograpple.com/
Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control
Species肩固め（横四方から）(Kata Gatame — From Yoko-Shiho / Side Control)
TraditionalTranslation: Shoulder Hold / Arm-and-Head Lock — From Side Control
Overview
A head-and-arm choke variation applied from side control. The attacker traps the opponent’s far arm across their neck while lowering the shoulder and chest beside the head, applying strong lateral compression. Side control creates a natural angle that increases choke tightness and prevents bridging defenses.
History & Origin
Classic Kata Gatame form in Judo, widely adapted in BJJ as one of the highest-percentage side control submissions. Common continuation from mount arm triangle setups.
Effectiveness
Lineage
The side control arm triangle (kata-gatame) is one of the oldest and most effective head-and-arm chokes, originating in judo's osaekomi-waza. [1]
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Action — Shoulder and chest compression of the neck using the opponent’s trapped arm as a wedge
Joints Affected — Neck (carotid arteries); shoulder (secondary)
Torque Direction — Downward shoulder pressure with lateral chest squeeze
Position & Entry
From standard side control, thread under opponent’s far arm, drive it across their face, and drop head low beside the arm. Lock grip (palm-to-bicep or gable), sprawl hips, and “look away” to close the choke. Often entered after sliding off from mount arm triangle.
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; fast finish if angle is correct.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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
✓Keep your head low and ear to mat; control far hip to stop opponent from rolling. Use chest weight more than arm strength. Walk hips toward opponent’s head for maximum compression.
Common Mistakes
!Not dropping head low enough
!Allowing opponent’s elbow to slip free
!Trying to finish flat instead of angling chest
!Squeezing with arms only instead of chest/shoulder
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
Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish
VarietyA side-control kata gatame finished with one knee pinning the near-side hip and the opposite leg posted (knee-on-belly–style base). The knee-hip pin blocks shrimping and guard recovery while the posted leg provides stability. Upper-body squeeze (shoulder + chest) does the choking; legs manage control without a full sprawl.
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Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Sprawl Finish
VarietyA side-control kata gatame finished with a full or partial sprawl. The attacker drives shoulder and chest pressure beside the defender’s head while sprawling the legs back to load weight through the ribcage and neck. The sprawl removes the defender’s bridge power and tightens carotid compression with minimal arm effort.
Explore
Notes
Side control angle often provides the tightest finish for Kata Gatame; many athletes set choke from mount then dismount to side for completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from 'answering the phone' in an arm triangle?
Get the opponent's arm all the way across their body before settling into the choke. If you don't fully extend the arm across, they can easily grab your arm near their head (called 'answering the phone'), which weakens the submission. Having the arm fully across makes it much harder for them to escape.
Why should I stay flat when finishing the arm triangle choke?
When you rise up high to get your grip, driving pressure goes into the opponent's face rather than their carotid artery, making the choke less effective. Staying flat ensures the pressure targets the correct anatomy for the submission.
Does shoulder shrugging matter in the arm triangle?
Yes—shrugging the shoulder drives it into the neck and significantly helps with the choke's effectiveness. Without the shoulder shrug and using only squeezing pressure, you create only minimal pressure.
What grip should I use to finish the arm triangle choke?
Use a gable grip (interlocking fingers with no thumb over the hands) with bottom palm up and top palm down. Walking your body out to an L-shape while squeezing with a shoulder shrug creates the most force.
How does the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control work?
A head-and-arm choke variation applied from side control. The attacker traps the opponent’s far arm across their neck while lowering the shoulder and chest beside the head, applying strong lateral compression.
Where does the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control come from?
Classic Kata Gatame form in Judo, widely adapted in BJJ as one of the highest-percentage side control submissions. Common continuation from mount arm triangle setups.
How dangerous is the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control?
Danger: 9/10 | Direct vascular choke; fast finish if angle is correct.
How do I set up the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control?
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 Choke — From Side Control?
Common variants: Side control finish; North-south kata gatame finish; Transition to mount kata gatame.
How effective is the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control in competition?
The arm triangle from side control is one of the most commonly finished chokes in UFC history, used by dozens of fighters including Jon Jones and Demian Maia.
What are common mistakes when doing the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control?
Top errors to watch for: Not dropping head low enough / Allowing opponent’s elbow to slip free / Trying to finish flat instead of angling chest / Squeezing with arms only instead of chest/shoulder.
What are other names for the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control?
The Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control is also known as Kata Gatame — From Yoko-Shiho / Side Control, Side Control Arm Triangle, Side Kata Gatame, Head-and-Arm Choke from Side.