MOUNTED triangle from side control - Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission
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Triangle From Side Control·Grappling Nerds
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Triangle From Side Control
Species三角絞（横四方から）(Sankaku-jime — From Side Control)
TraditionalTranslation: Triangle Strangle — From Side Control
Overview
The triangle choke from side control is applied by the bottom player who creates space from underneath the side control pin, threads one leg across the opponent's neck, and locks the triangle by trapping the head and near-side arm inside the leg configuration. [1],[2] This is a defensive submission that converts a disadvantageous position into a choking threat, requiring precise timing when the top player transitions or reaches. [1] The attacker must bridge and shrimp to create enough space to shoot the leg across the shoulder line and lock the triangle. [1],[2]
History & Origin
The triangle from bottom side control developed as BJJ practitioners explored submission options from inferior positions, reflecting the art's emphasis on the bottom player's ability to threaten from any position. [1],[2] The technique became a recognized option in competition during the 2000s, though it remains a lower-percentage attempt due to the difficulty of creating enough space from underneath a tight side control. [1] Successful application requires precise timing during the top player's transitions between pins. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
The triangle from side control bottom is a counter-attack submission, catching the top player during transitions. [1]
Lineage
Side control triangles developed in BJJ as fighters found triangle opportunities from unexpected positions. [1]
Competition Record
Side control triangles appear at advanced BJJ competition levels. [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 closed guard — Control one arm across the centreline, throw legs up to lock the triangle (one arm in, one arm out), angle hips and squeeze
From mount (mounted triangle) — Isolate one arm, slide the knee up and over the shoulder, lock the triangle from top position
From open guard (arm drag) — Drag one arm across, shoot the legs up to lock the figure-four leg configuration around head and arm
Videos
Best Way To Set Up The Triangle Choke From Side Control
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Triangle From Side Control·Giancarlo Bodoni
Best Way To Set Up The Triangle Choke From Side Control // Side Control is often a position that people who are unfamil…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The triangle choke from side control begins with strong arm isolation, a prerequisite both Grappling Nerds and Giancarlo Bodoni emphasize. Grappling Nerds describes a direct approach: maintain side control with tricep control, then slide the knees in gradually to avoid telegraphing, transfer weight onto one knee, and drive the opponent's arm across their face to create the triangle geometry. The top player sits to the side of the opponent's chest rather than directly on top, enabling weight distribution and preventing the opponent from striking or grabbing. Bodoni offers a lapel-based setup that provides additional control: isolate one arm, open the opponent's lapel, pass it over the elbow, trap it with an underhook grip at the neck, then step over the head into the triangle. Both instructors stress keeping knees in contact with the body and maintaining chest-to-chest positioning during the transition. Bodoni provides additional finishing details: once mounted in the triangle, lock the shin, place the knee on the floor for stability, and finish either by squeezing the knees while pulling the head or by turning the opponent's wrist inward toward an armlock. Both acknowledge that if the mount position fails, the practitioner can adjust and finish the triangle from guard position.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Grappling Nerds — MOUNTED triangle from side control - Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission: Detailed the direct transition from side control to high mount triangle through gradual knee placement, tricep control pinching, weight transfer mechanics, and finishing options including the armbar fallback and switch to guard finish if the top position fails.
- Giancarlo Bodoni — Best Way To Set Up The Triangle Choke From Side Control: Provided lapel-based arm isolation and control setup, stepping mechanics to transition over the head, mounting position adjustments including knee placement on the floor for locking, and finishing variations including arm positioning (pinky orientation) for potential armlock combinations.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Side triangle requires threading the legs from a perpendicular angle; less common but effective
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 side control threads the legs from the top side control position to lock a triangle around the opponent's head and near arm — maintaining top control while attacking the submission (Danaher, Triangles: Enter the System, 2017)
✓Setup from side control: control the opponent's near arm (underhook or wrist control), then step the far leg over the head — place the shin on the back of the neck
✓The near leg hooks under the opponent's trapped arm: once the far leg is over the head and the near leg is under the arm, lock the figure-four by connecting ankle to knee
✓The side control triangle is a position-first submission: the attacker never abandons top pressure — the legs thread into position while maintaining the pin
✓This transition is particularly effective when the opponent is focused on escaping side control: their bridge or shrimp creates space that the attacker uses to thread the legs rather than to follow them
✓Finishing from side control: squeeze the knees and angle the hips — the finish combines lateral compression with the opponent's shoulder being driven into their neck by the leg position
✓The side control triangle chains with kimura and americana: all three share the near-arm control from side control — threatening one creates openings for the others
Common Mistakes
!Releasing upper body control to thread the legs — maintain crossface or underhook while the legs move; losing upper body control allows the opponent to turn and escape
!Stepping over the head without controlling the near arm — the arm must be isolated before the leg crosses; without arm control, the opponent tucks the arm and the triangle is incomplete
!Not locking the figure-four before attempting to finish — the connection must be solid; squeezing without the lock wastes energy and allows escape
!Threading the legs too slowly — the transition must be smooth; slow leg threading allows the opponent to block with their free arm
!Not adjusting the angle after locking — the side triangle requires angular fine-tuning; the compression improves with slight hip adjustments
!Giving up side control if the triangle fails — if the legs don't lock, withdraw them and return to standard side control rather than scrambling
!Not practising the side control to triangle transition as a specific drill — the movement pattern is different from guard triangles and must be trained specifically
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
Reverse Triangle
VarietyThe reverse triangle from side control locks the triangle choke in reverse orientation — the attacker's legs wrap around the opponent's head and arm from the opposite direction compared to the standard triangle. [1] From side control, the attacker threads the near leg over the opponent's neck and under the far arm, then locks the reverse triangle by hooking the ankle behind the opposite knee from a top or perpendicular position. [1,2] The reverse orientation means the compression angle comes from above rather than below, using the attacker's weight to press down into the triangle. [2] This variant catches opponents who are focused on defending standard side control attacks and don't anticipate the leg-based threat. [2,3]
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Side Triangle
VarietyThe side triangle from side control applies the triangle choke while maintaining the perpendicular side control position, with the legs wrapping around the opponent's head and arm from a lateral angle. [1] The attacker slides the near knee over the opponent's throat while controlling the far arm, then locks the figure-four leg configuration to establish the triangle from this side-mounted position. [1,2] The side triangle provides top-position control throughout the submission attempt, meaning the attacker retains a dominant position even if the choke fails. [2] The lateral angle of compression can be equally effective as the standard front-facing triangle when properly tightened. [2,3]
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the proper body positioning when setting up a triangle from side control?
Keep your toes on the mat rather than flat feet, spread your knees, maintain hips down, and stay chest to chest with your opponent, according to Giancarlo Bodoni. This foundational positioning gives you control before executing the submission.
How do I transition from side control into a mounted triangle without losing control?
Grappling Nerds emphasizes sliding your knees in slowly—don't rush or jump immediately into mount. Establish tricep control first before bringing your knee up and transferring your weight, allowing you to isolate the arm properly before entering the triangle.
What's the finishing position for a triangle from the top?
Bring the opponent's arm across their face and position yourself slightly to the side rather than directly on top, then sit with your buttocks on their chest while pinching your legs together like a triangle from bottom, according to Grappling Nerds. Positioning to the side also prevents them from striking or grabbing your face.
How does the Triangle From Side Control work?
The triangle choke from side control is applied by the bottom player who creates space from underneath the side control pin, threads one leg across the opponent's neck, and locks the triangle by trapping the head and near-side arm inside the leg configuration. This is a defensive submission that converts a disadvantageous position into a choking threat, requiring precise timing when the top player transitions or reaches.
Where does the Triangle From Side Control come from?
The triangle from bottom side control developed as BJJ practitioners explored submission options from inferior positions, reflecting the art's emphasis on the bottom player's ability to threaten from any position. The technique became a recognized option in competition during the 2000s, though it remains a lower-percentage attempt due to the difficulty of creating enough space from underneath a tight side control.
Is the Triangle From Side Control 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 Side Control?
Danger rating 8/10. Side triangle requires threading the legs from a perpendicular angle; less common but effective
How do I set up the Triangle From Side Control?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Triangle 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 Triangle From Side Control?
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 Side Control in competition?
Side control triangles appear at advanced BJJ competition levels.
What are common mistakes when doing the Triangle From Side Control?
Top errors to watch for: Releasing upper body control to thread the legs — maintain crossface or underhook while the legs move; losing upper b… / Stepping over the head without controlling the near arm — the arm must be isolated before the leg crosses; without ar… / Not locking the figure-four before attempting to finish — the connection must be solid; squeezing without the lock wa… / Threading the legs too slowly — the transition must be smooth; slow leg threading allows the opponent to block with t….
What are other names for the Triangle From Side Control?
The Triangle From Side Control is also known as Sankaku-jime — From Side Control, Side Triangle, Side Control Sankaku.