Mounted Triangle - The Easy Way!
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Mounted Triangle·The Grappling Academy
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Translation: Triangle Strangle — From Mount
Range & classification
Category
Strike & defenceLocksClose rangeFighting multiple people
Distance
CloseMiddleLong
Body target
Upper bodyMiddle bodyLower body
Overview
The mounted triangle applies the triangle choke from the mounted position, where the attacker transitions from mount to a triangle configuration by isolating one arm and threading the legs around the opponent's head. [1] From mount, the attacker pushes one of the opponent's arms across their body, then slides the knee over the opponent's neck on the armless side and locks the triangle by hooking the ankle behind the opposite knee. [1],[2] The mounted triangle combines the control advantages of mount with the finishing power of the triangle, and gravity assists the compression as the attacker sits back into the choke. [2] The mount provides multiple control redundancies — even if the triangle isn't perfectly locked, the mount position prevents escape. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The mounted triangle became a standard transition in BJJ competition during the 2000s, as athletes developed systematic pathways from mount to triangle as an alternative to arm locks and collar chokes. [1] This transition represented the integration of positional dominance with leg-based submission attacks. [2],[3]
Country of origin· shown in random order
- BrazilBJJ, Submission Grappling, MMA
- Japan三角絞（マウントから）(Sankaku-jime — From Mount)BJJ, Judo, Submission Grappling
- USASubmission Grappling, MMA
- RussiaSambo
Effectiveness
The mounted triangle applies a triangle choke from the mount, combining positional dominance with one of the strongest choke mechanics. [1]
Lineage
The mounted triangle was refined in BJJ competition as an advanced mount attack. [1]
Competition Record
Mounted triangles are finished at high-level BJJ competition and in MMA, notably by Demetrious Johnson and Vicente Luque. [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
Variants
Standard triangle — classic figure-four leg lock around the head and one arm from guard
Reverse triangle — legs locked from behind or inverted angle for different attack setups
Mounted triangle — applied from mount position with gravity assisting the squeeze
No-arm triangle — both arms excluded, legs-only compression on the neck
Videos
1 video
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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 mounted triangle applies the triangle choke from the mount position — the attacker shoots one leg under the opponent's head from mount, then transitions to a triangle-locking configuration (Danaher, Triangles: Enter the System, 2017)
✓From mount: isolate one arm by pushing it across or trapping it, then slide the opposite-side knee up beside the opponent's head and thread the leg under the neck
✓The transition from mount to mounted triangle: as the leg threads under the neck, shift the body to the side and lock the figure-four — the position transitions from pure mount to a triangle angle
✓The mounted triangle combines the weight advantage of mount with the choking mechanics of the triangle — the opponent is pinned by the attacker's weight while being strangled
✓The arm isolation from mount is easier than from guard: the attacker's weight makes it harder for the bottom player to retract or frame with the isolated arm
✓Finishing the mounted triangle: angle the body, pull the head toward the chest, and squeeze the knees together — the mechanics are identical to the guard triangle but with gravity assisting
✓The mounted triangle is a high-percentage position: once locked, the bottom player has almost no escape options — the combination of weight and triangular compression is overwhelming
Common Mistakes
!Losing mount during the leg-threading transition — maintain weight and base as the leg slides under the neck; the transition moment is when the opponent is most likely to escape
!Not isolating the arm before threading the leg — the arm must be on one side; without isolation, both arms can defend the leg entry
!Threading the leg too slowly — the transition must be smooth and decisive; slow leg threading allows the opponent to block with their arm
!Not angling the body after locking — the mounted triangle still requires angular displacement to drive the shoulder into the neck
!Staying too high on the opponent — the triangle works when the hips are close to the opponent's shoulders; being too high on the chest reduces leg access to the neck
!Not pulling the head when the opponent lies flat — from mount, use the hands to curl the head up toward your chest; a flat-back position creates space in the triangle
!Abandoning the mount if the triangle doesn't lock immediately — maintain top position and re-attempt; giving up mount to chase a triangle from guard is a positional downgrade
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
Notes
The mounted triangle appears in 7 passages across 2 books. Applied from mount by threading one leg under the opponent's chin and locking the triangle — combines the dominance of mount with the choking power of the triangle. Extremely difficult to escape once locked. (2 books in corpus)
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I position my knee when setting up a mounted triangle?
Your knee should be positioned high up on the opponent's chest, ideally as far up as you can realistically achieve. The Grappling Academy emphasizes that your knee should look like another arm, and the further up the better, as this creates proper angle and control for the technique.
What's the most important thing to focus on when squeezing a mounted triangle?
Sealing the gap between your heel and knee is critical, as this prevents the opponent from escaping by inserting their arm into the space. The Grappling Academy stresses that you should heel as hard as you can while squeezing your knee to your heel with all your body weight, not muscular strength.
What should I do if I can't lock my feet in the mounted triangle?
If you lack the limb length, flexibility, or trust to complete the triangle, you can bring your knee forward and hit an armbar instead, which The Grappling Academy notes is very effective.
How do I finish the triangle after rolling to my back from mount?
Once you've rolled to your back and secured the triangle position, pull your opponent's head down toward your hamstring rather than straight down, then squeeze to finish. The Grappling Academy emphasizes the direction of the pull is important for proper finishing mechanics.
How does the Mounted Triangle work?
The mounted triangle applies the triangle choke from the mounted position, where the attacker transitions from mount to a triangle configuration by isolating one arm and threading the legs around the opponent's head. From mount, the attacker pushes one of the opponent's arms across their body, then slides the knee over the opponent's neck on the armless side and locks the triangle by hooking the ankle behind the opposite knee.
Where does the Mounted Triangle come from?
The mounted triangle became a standard transition in BJJ competition during the 2000s, as athletes developed systematic pathways from mount to triangle as an alternative to arm locks and collar chokes. This transition represented the integration of positional dominance with leg-based submission attacks.
Is the Mounted Triangle 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 Mounted Triangle?
Danger rating 8/10. Mounted triangle adds top pressure to the leg choke, making escape more difficult
How do I set up the Mounted Triangle?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Mounted Triangle?
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 Mounted Triangle?
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 Mounted Triangle in competition?
Mounted triangles are finished at high-level BJJ competition and in MMA, notably by Demetrious Johnson and Vicente Luque.
What are common mistakes when doing the Mounted Triangle?
Top errors to watch for: Losing mount during the leg-threading transition — maintain weight and base as the leg slides under the neck; the tra… / Not isolating the arm before threading the leg — the arm must be on one side; without isolation, both arms can defend… / Threading the leg too slowly — the transition must be smooth and decisive; slow leg threading allows the opponent to … / Not angling the body after locking — the mounted triangle still requires angular displacement to drive the shoulder i….
What are other names for the Mounted Triangle?
The Mounted Triangle is also known as Sankaku-jime — From Mount, Mount Triangle, Top-Position Sankaku.