Reverse Triangle

Variety

裏三角絞(Ura-sankaku-jime)

Traditional

Translation: Reverse Triangle Strangle

Overview

The 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]

Also known as

Gyaku-sankaku-jimeJP^[1]Inverted Triangle^[2]Reverse Side Triangle^[3]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA Sambo

History & Origin

The reverse triangle from side control became prominent in competition BJJ during the 2010s, as athletes explored unconventional submission pathways from dominant positions. ^[1] The technique's counter-intuitive leg entry from a top position made it an effective surprise weapon against experienced defenders. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

The reverse triangle applies the triangle from an inverted angle, catching opponents who defend the standard triangle. ^[1]

Lineage

Reverse triangles were developed as an advanced BJJ technique to catch opponents defending standard triangle attempts. ^[1]

Competition Record

Reverse triangles appear at high-level BJJ competition as a surprise submission. ^[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

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

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Very High8/10

Reverse triangle applies pressure from a reversed angle; attacks both carotids from behind

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

Legal

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— shime-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— 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 RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓The reverse triangle locks the triangle choke with the legs facing the opposite direction of the standard triangle — the attacker's body faces the opponent's legs rather than their head, creating compression from an inverted angle (Danaher, Triangles: Enter the System, 2017)

✓The reverse triangle typically catches opponents during scrambles, guard passes, or when the attacker is inverted — the 'wrong-way' triangle surprises opponents who expected the standard angle

✓The mechanics are identical to the standard triangle — one leg across the neck, figure-four lock, one arm trapped — but the body orientation is reversed by 180 degrees

✓The reverse triangle is accessible from bottom side control: when the opponent passes, the bottom player can shoot the legs up and lock a triangle from underneath with the body facing toward the opponent's hips

✓This position is also called the 'inverted triangle' because the attacker is often partially inverted relative to the opponent — the unusual angle makes the defence pattern different from standard triangle escapes

✓The reverse triangle requires comfort with inverted positions: the attacker must be able to maintain the lock while their body is oriented in a non-standard direction

✓The reverse triangle often appears in competition when other techniques are transitioned: a failed armbar, omoplata, or guard recovery can lead to the reverse triangle position

Common Mistakes

!Not understanding the orientation — the reverse triangle has the same triangle structure but the body faces the opposite way; confusing the orientation leads to locking the wrong leg

!Attempting to finish with the same mechanics as a standard triangle — the head pull and angle are different due to the reversed orientation; adapt the finishing details

!Not locking the figure-four properly in the reversed position — the ankle-behind-knee connection is the same, but the unfamiliar orientation can lead to crossing on the wrong leg

!Losing the position during the transition — the reverse triangle often emerges from scrambles; maintaining the lock during chaotic movement is challenging

!Not practising inverted positions — the reverse triangle requires comfort upside down; grapplers who avoid inverted drilling struggle with this technique

!Over-rotating and losing the opponent — the reversal of orientation can cause the opponent to slip out if the legs aren't tight

!Not adjusting the squeeze angle — the compression angle is different from standard; experiment with hip position and knee-squeeze direction to find the optimal angle

Related Techniques

Escape — defensive technique to relieve choking pressure and recover position Tap (Submission Signal) — the safety mechanism indicating the technique is effective

Counter Techniques

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

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

Japanese Judo — Kashiwazaki; widely used in Japanese competition

1BookJapanese Judo — Kashiwazaki; widely used in Japanese competition

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese Judo — Kashiwazaki; widely used in Japanese competition

2SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)

3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)

Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)

4CitationJapanese Judo — Kashiwazaki; widely used in Japanese competition

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese Judo — Kashiwazaki; widely used in Japanese competition

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 reverse triangle appears in 10 passages across 4 books. Applied with the legs configured in the opposite direction of the standard triangle — the locking leg goes over the back of the opponent's neck rather than the front. Used from back control and from top position. (4 books in corpus)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Reverse Triangle work?

Where does the Reverse Triangle come from?

The reverse triangle from side control became prominent in competition BJJ during the 2010s, as athletes explored unconventional submission pathways from dominant positions. The technique's counter-intuitive leg entry from a top position made it an effective surprise weapon against experienced defenders.

Is the Reverse 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 Reverse Triangle?

Danger rating 8/10. Reverse triangle applies pressure from a reversed angle; attacks both carotids from behind

How do I set up the Reverse Triangle?

The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.

How do I defend against the Reverse 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 Reverse 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 Reverse Triangle in competition?

Reverse triangles appear at high-level BJJ competition as a surprise submission.

What are common mistakes when doing the Reverse Triangle?

Top errors to watch for: Not understanding the orientation — the reverse triangle has the same triangle structure but the body faces the oppos… / Attempting to finish with the same mechanics as a standard triangle — the head pull and angle are different due to th… / Not locking the figure-four properly in the reversed position — the ankle-behind-knee connection is the same, but the… / Losing the position during the transition — the reverse triangle often emerges from scrambles; maintaining the lock d….

What are other names for the Reverse Triangle?

The Reverse Triangle is also known as Ura-sankaku-jime, Gyaku-sankaku-jime, Inverted Triangle, Reverse Side Triangle.

reverse triangle ura sankaku jime submission choke and strangle lock leg choke triangular strangle triangle choke triangle from side control gyaku sankaku jime inverted triangle reverse side triangle