New BJJ Triangle Choke Set Up On The Mount by Craig Jones
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Triangle From Mount·Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
New BJJ Triangle Choke Set Up On The Mount by Craig Jones - In this video, Craig Jones teaches a great Triangle Choke se…
Triangle From Mount
Species三角絞（マウントから）(Sankaku-jime — From Mount)
TraditionalTranslation: Triangle Strangle — From Mount
Overview
The triangle choke from mount is applied when the mounted attacker isolates one of the opponent's arms and swings a leg over the head while maintaining the mount position, then transitions to the triangle configuration with the opponent's arm and head trapped inside the legs. [1],[2] The mount provides a gravitational advantage that makes it difficult for the opponent to defend the leg swing, and the attacker can finish by either staying in the mounted triangle or rolling to the back. [1] The mounted triangle is particularly tight due to the downward pressure of the attacker's weight. [1],[2]
History & Origin
The mounted triangle developed in BJJ competition as practitioners combined the positional dominance of mount with the choking mechanics of sankaku-jime. [1],[2] The technique became more prevalent in competition during the 2000s as athletes developed systematic transitions from mount to triangle rather than relying solely on arm attacks from top position. [1] The mounted triangle offers a high-control alternative that minimizes the risk of guard recovery during the submission attempt. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
The mount triangle combines the dominant mount position with triangle choke mechanics for a powerful finishing position. [1]
Lineage
Mount-to-triangle transitions were refined in BJJ and MMA as advanced mount attacks. [1]
Competition Record
Mount triangles are finished in both BJJ competition and MMA. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within seconds
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), glenohumeral joint of the trapped arm (if arm-in), nuchal region
Force Vector — Lateral squeeze creates inward pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously
Choking Mechanism — Vascular strangle — occludes carotid arteries and jugular veins, distinct from airway (tracheal) chokes
Position & Entry
From back control with seatbelt — Establish hooks or body triangle, slide choking arm under the chin, connect hands and squeeze
From turtle top (back take) — Break down the turtle, insert hooks, secure seatbelt grip, slide to back control and apply the choke
From standing back clinch — Secure rear body lock, drag opponent to the mat while inserting hooks, transition to choking position
Videos
The S Mount Triangle Trap by Andre Galvao
0
Triangle From Mount·BJJ Fanatics
THE S MOUNT TRIANGLE TRAP https://bjjfanatics.com In this BJJ Moves video, Andre Galvao teaches the S Mount triangle Tr…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The triangle from mount is a high-percentage submission attack that maintains top position control throughout its setup and execution. Both Craig Jones (via Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics) and Andre Galvao (BJJ Fanatics) emphasize methodical progression from mount position without surrendering positional advantage. Jones prioritizes hand placement on the opponent's neck and under the armpit, using a two-fist reinforcement to elevate the opponent onto their side—a detail he notes is necessary for larger grapplers. He then transitions to a knee-behind-the-head position while immediately securing his own ankle to prevent the opponent from inserting their hands and escaping. Jones emphasizes keeping the body weight distributed to prevent reversal. Galvao's approach focuses on the s-mount variant, where the attacker pushes the opponent's triceps aside, positions one leg behind the head, and transitions by scooping the calf under the neck before securing a figure-four with the opposite leg. Galvao stresses proper hand placement and weight distribution to prevent the opponent from bridging or escaping. Both instructors highlight multiple finishing options: the choke (by driving the knee forward), the strangle (by falling back with elbow-to-floor pressure), and secondary attacks including armbars and wristlocks. The technique's primary advantage is that it avoids conceding top position even if the initial setup fails.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics — New BJJ Triangle Choke Set Up On The Mount by Craig Jones: Detailed the fist-under-armpit control method with two-hand reinforcement, knee-behind-head positioning, ankle-lock grip to prevent hand insertion, and multiple finishing options including knee-driven choke and elbow-to-floor strangle.
- BJJ Fanatics — The S Mount Triangle Trap by Andre Galvao: Demonstrated the s-mount entry with triceps pressure, calf-scoop-under-neck mechanics, figure-four leg lock setup, and finishing variations including head-pull choke, chest-pull compression, and secondary armbars.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Mounted triangle adds top pressure to the leg choke, making escape more difficult
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The triangle from mount transitions from the dominant top mount to a triangle choke — the attacker uses mount control to isolate an arm, then threads a leg to establish the triangle position (Danaher, Triangles: Enter the System, 2017)
✓The mount-to-triangle transition exploits the opponent's defensive reactions: when they push upward with one arm to escape mount, the extended arm creates the isolation needed for the triangle entry
✓Setup: from mount, bait the arm extension by threatening a collar choke or armbar — as the opponent pushes up with one arm, trap that arm and shoot the opposite leg across the neck
✓The mount provides setup advantages: body weight pins the opponent, both hands are free to control arms, and the opponent's defensive movements create triangle entries
✓Finishing from the mount triangle: once the leg is across the neck and the figure-four is locked, angle the body toward the trapped-arm side and squeeze — gravity assists the compression
✓The mount triangle is a high-level combination: it requires the ability to maintain mount, recognise arm-isolation opportunities, and execute the technical leg-threading transition
✓The mount-to-triangle path creates a submission chain: mount → armbar threat → opponent pushes arm up → triangle entry — each step forces the opponent into the next trap
Common Mistakes
!Forcing the leg under the neck against a defending opponent — the transition requires timing; force it only when the arm is isolated and the opponent's frame is compromised
!Sitting up too high during the transition — keep weight low and forward as the leg threads; sitting up allows the opponent to bridge and roll
!Not trapping the arm before the leg entry — an uncontrolled arm blocks the leg; secure the arm first, then thread
!Falling off to the side without maintaining the lock — the transition from mount to triangle involves a body shift; ensure the figure-four is locked before committing to the angle
!Not following mount-escape patterns — study how opponents escape mount to recognise the arm-extension moments that create triangle entries
!Attempting the transition with poor mount control — if the opponent is actively escaping, stabilise the mount first; a rushing triangle attempt from an unstable mount loses both
!Neglecting to finish with the standard triangle mechanics — once in the triangle, apply the same angle, head pull, and squeeze as from guard
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 — Sankaku-jime
1BookKodokan Judo — Sankaku-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Sankaku-jime
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKodokan Judo — Sankaku-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Sankaku-jime
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
Frequently Asked Questions
When setting up a triangle from mount, where should I place my hand for support?
Andre Galvao emphasizes always pulsing your hand on the floor to maintain stability—never leave it unsupported, as this helps you control the position while advancing your knee and adjusting your setup.
What do I do if my opponent's elbow is too tight for me to get my leg underneath?
Instead of forcing your leg under, Andre Galvao shows going over the arm and scooping your calf under the neck while controlling your shin, which allows you to trap the leg and set up the figure-four position.
Why is forearm placement critical when finishing the triangle from mount?
Andre Galvao stresses keeping your forearm directly under the neck rather than allowing the opponent's head to rest on the floor, because once their head contacts the floor, you lose the ability to finish the triangle.
What other submission options do I have if the triangle doesn't finish?
Craig Jones notes that from this mount position, you have multiple finishing options available including an armbar or wrist lock, in addition to the triangle choke.
How does the Triangle From Mount work?
The triangle choke from mount is applied when the mounted attacker isolates one of the opponent's arms and swings a leg over the head while maintaining the mount position, then transitions to the triangle configuration with the opponent's arm and head trapped inside the legs. The mount provides a gravitational advantage that makes it difficult for the opponent to defend the leg swing, and the attacker can finish by either staying in the mounted triangle or rolling to the back.
Where does the Triangle From Mount come from?
The mounted triangle developed in BJJ competition as practitioners combined the positional dominance of mount with the choking mechanics of sankaku-jime. The technique became more prevalent in competition during the 2000s as athletes developed systematic transitions from mount to triangle rather than relying solely on arm attacks from top position.
Is the Triangle From Mount legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Triangle From Mount?
Danger rating 8/10. Mounted triangle adds top pressure to the leg choke, making escape more difficult
How do I set up the Triangle From Mount?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Triangle From Mount?
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 Triangle From Mount?
Common variants: Standard triangle (classic figure-four leg lock around the head and one arm …); Reverse triangle (legs locked from behind or inverted angle for different a…); Mounted triangle (applied from mount position with gravity assisting the sq…); No-arm triangle (both arms excluded, legs-only compression on the neck).
How effective is the Triangle From Mount in competition?
Mount triangles are finished in both BJJ competition and MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Triangle From Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Forcing the leg under the neck against a defending opponent — the transition requires timing; force it only when the … / Sitting up too high during the transition — keep weight low and forward as the leg threads; sitting up allows the opp… / Not trapping the arm before the leg entry — an uncontrolled arm blocks the leg; secure the arm first, then thread / Falling off to the side without maintaining the lock — the transition from mount to triangle involves a body shift; e….
What are other names for the Triangle From Mount?
The Triangle From Mount is also known as Sankaku-jime — From Mount, Mounted Triangle, Top Triangle, Mount Sankaku.