Side Triangle

Variety

三角絞（横四方から）(Sankaku-jime — From Side Control)

Traditional

Translation: Triangle Strangle — From Side Control

Overview

The 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]

Also known as
Yoko-sankaku-jimeJP[1]Side-Position Triangle[2]
Used in
BJJJudoSubmission GrapplingMMASambo

History & Origin

Side triangles from top position developed as BJJ practitioners sought to maintain positional dominance while attacking with leg-based strangulations. [1] This approach aligned with the 'position before submission' philosophy central to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu strategy. [2],[3]

Effectiveness

The side triangle applies the triangle from a perpendicular angle, typically during transitions or scrambles. [1]

Lineage

Side triangles emerged in competition BJJ as fighters found triangle opportunities from unconventional angles. [1]

Competition Record

Side triangles are used at advanced BJJ competition levels during transitional scrambles. [1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Sign in to suggest an image.

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

Videos

No videos yet

Help build this encyclopedia by suggesting a relevant video.

Sign in to suggest a video.

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Sign in to suggest a course.

Ratings

Danger Rating

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

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 side triangle locks the triangle choke from a lateral position — typically from side control, the attacker threads the legs from the side to catch the opponent's head and arm in the triangle (Danaher, Triangles: Enter the System, 2017)
✓From top side control: the attacker steps over the opponent's head with one leg while the other leg hooks under the near arm — then locks the figure-four to create the triangle from the side
✓The side triangle is a top-position submission: unlike guard triangles, it is applied while maintaining top control — the attacker doesn't sacrifice position to attack
✓The lateral angle creates a unique compression vector: the thigh presses the carotid from the side while the opponent's trapped arm and shoulder press the other — the 'side' geometry is effective because the opponent cannot posture
✓The side triangle is often set up during transitions: as the attacker moves from mount to side control, or during a kimura attempt from side control, the legs can thread into triangle position
✓The finish: squeeze the knees together while maintaining lateral pressure — from the side, hip extension and lateral hip drive increase compression
✓The side triangle is a positional trap: once locked, the opponent is pinned on their side with their head and arm caught — escapes require addressing both the triangle and the pin simultaneously

Common Mistakes

!Not stepping the leg fully over the head — the leg must clear the head completely to sit on the back of the neck; partial placement doesn't create sufficient compression
!Losing side control during the leg transition — maintain upper body control with the arms while the legs thread into position
!Not hooking the near arm — the side triangle requires the arm trapped inside; without the arm, the position is a headscissors
!Attempting from too far away — the legs must reach the head and arm; if the upper body isn't controlled close to the opponent, the legs can't make the connection
!Squeezing without proper leg positioning — ensure the figure-four is locked and the thigh is on the neck before applying force
!Not using the upper body to maintain the pin — the side triangle works best when chest-to-chest pressure accompanies the leg compression
!Treating the side triangle as a guard technique — it is a top-position attack; approaching it with guard-triangle timing and distance fails

Related Techniques

Counter Techniques

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

2SyllabusKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification

Official Kodokan ground technique classification system

3SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Side Triangle work?

The 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. 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.

Where does the Side Triangle come from?

Side triangles from top position developed as BJJ practitioners sought to maintain positional dominance while attacking with leg-based strangulations. This approach aligned with the 'position before submission' philosophy central to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu strategy.

Is the Side 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 Side Triangle?

Danger rating 8/10. Side triangle requires threading the legs from a perpendicular angle; less common but effective

How do I set up the Side Triangle?

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

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

Side triangles are used at advanced BJJ competition levels during transitional scrambles.

What are common mistakes when doing the Side Triangle?

Top errors to watch for: Not stepping the leg fully over the head — the leg must clear the head completely to sit on the back of the neck; par… / Losing side control during the leg transition — maintain upper body control with the arms while the legs thread into … / Not hooking the near arm — the side triangle requires the arm trapped inside; without the arm, the position is a head… / Attempting from too far away — the legs must reach the head and arm; if the upper body isn't controlled close to the ….

What are other names for the Side Triangle?

The Side Triangle is also known as Sankaku-jime — From Side Control, Yoko-sankaku-jime, Side-Position Triangle.

side trianglesankaku jime from side controlsubmissionchoke and strangle lockleg choketriangular strangletriangle choketriangle from side controlyoko sankaku jimeside position triangle