Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish

Variety

肩固め（横四方から）(Kata Gatame — From Yoko-Shiho / Side Control)

Traditional

Translation: Shoulder Hold / Arm-and-Head Choke — From Side Control

Overview

A 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.

Also known as
Side Control Arm Triangle — Knee-Hip Pin[1]Side Kata Gatame — Hip PinJP[2]Head-and-Arm — Side, Knee Post[3]
Used in
BJJJudoSamboSubmission GrapplingMMA

History & Origin

Common in Judo and Sambo where pinning mechanics are emphasized; adopted in BJJ for tight control without needing a full sprawl.

Effectiveness

The knee-hip pin variant immobilises the opponent's hip escape, providing a stable base for sustained compression; particularly effective against opponents with strong bridging defence. [1],[2]

Lineage

The knee-hip pin finish tightens the arm triangle by driving the knee into the hip, preventing escape. This variation was refined in modern MMA and BJJ. [1]

Competition Record

This finishing detail is used by advanced competitors in BJJ and MMA to close out arm triangles. [1]

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Biomechanical Mechanism

Action — Shoulder/chest compression with defender’s arm as wedge
Joints Affected — Neck (carotid arteries); shoulder (secondary)
Forces — Downward shoulder pressure, lateral chest squeeze, knee pin to immobilize hips

Position & Entry

From side control, feed the far arm across the neck and drop head beside it. Slide your near-side knee to the defender’s near hip to pin it; post your far leg out for base. Lock gable or palm-to-bicep, “look away,” and incrementally load chest weight to finish.

Variants

Knee-hip pin (posted leg base / knee-on-belly style)
Knee-hip pin transition to mount
Knee-hip pin transition to north-south

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

9
Extreme9/10

Direct vascular choke; excellent positional control for gi and no-gi.

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced
Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

IBJJFIJFFIAS Sport SamboUnified MMAADCC

Training Notes

✓Keep knee glued to the hip to stop hip-escape; post the far leg at ~45° for balance. Drive chest down gradually; avoid leaning too far forward. If space persists, inch your posted foot wider and rotate shoulders away.

Common Mistakes

!Knee not truly pinning the hip
!Posting too narrow and losing balance
!Letting the trapped elbow slip free
!Trying to finish square without rotating shoulders

Related Techniques

Counter Techniques

Setup Chain

1Control Position — maintain dominant position with weight on the opponent
2Isolate the Arm — secure the wrist and thread the arm through for the figure-four
3Lock the Figure-Four — grip own wrist behind the opponent's arm for leverage
4Apply Rotation — rotate the arm to attack the shoulder joint

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)

2SyllabusKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification

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

Notes

If defender turns into you to relieve pressure, windshield-wiper to mount while keeping the choke locked for an even tighter finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish work?

A 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.

Where does the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish come from?

Common in Judo and Sambo where pinning mechanics are emphasized; adopted in BJJ for tight control without needing a full sprawl.

How dangerous is the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish?

Danger: 9/10 | Direct vascular choke; excellent positional control for gi and no-gi.

How do I set up the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish?

The standard setup chain: Control Position → Isolate the Arm → Lock the Figure-Four → Apply Rotation.

How do I defend against the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish?

Standard counters include: Straighten the Arm — extend the arm to break the figure-four grip angle / Roll Toward — roll in the direction of the lock to relieve rotational pressure / Grip the Belt/Shorts — anchor the hand to prevent the arm from being isolated.

What are the variants of the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish?

Common variants: Knee-hip pin (posted leg base / knee-on-belly style); Knee-hip pin transition to mount; Knee-hip pin transition to north-south.

How effective is the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish in competition?

This finishing detail is used by advanced competitors in BJJ and MMA to close out arm triangles.

What are common mistakes when doing the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish?

Top errors to watch for: Knee not truly pinning the hip / Posting too narrow and losing balance / Letting the trapped elbow slip free / Trying to finish square without rotating shoulders.

What are other names for the Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish?

The Arm Triangle Choke — From Side Control — Knee-Hip Pin Finish is also known as Kata Gatame — From Yoko-Shiho / Side Control, Side Control Arm Triangle — Knee-Hip Pin, Side Kata Gatame — Hip Pin, Head-and-Arm — Side, Knee Post.

side control kata gatame knee hip pinarm triangle side knee posthead-and-arm choke side controlBJJJudoSamboMMA