Triangle Chokes from Almost Everywhere | A Mini-Seminar
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Triangle From Standing·Knight Jiu-Jitsu
Perhaps the most powerful submission technique there is in Jiu-Jitsu is the Triangle Choke. It's no wonder why it is the…
Triangle From Standing
Species飛び三角絞(Tobi-sankaku-jime)
TraditionalTranslation: Flying Triangle Strangle
Overview
The triangle choke from standing is applied by jumping guard and simultaneously shooting the legs into a triangle configuration around the opponent's head and arm, or by using a flying triangle entry where the attacker leaps from the ground and wraps the legs mid-air. [1],[2] The standing triangle requires explosive hip elevation and precise timing to lock the legs before both fighters reach the ground. [1] Once locked in the air, the attacker pulls the opponent down while maintaining the triangle squeeze, often finishing the choke upon landing. [1],[2]
History & Origin
The flying triangle gained notoriety through its use in MMA by fighters like Anderson Silva, who demonstrated the technique's viability against standing opponents. [1],[2] The technique has judo competition precedent in the form of standing sankaku-jime entries and was systematized in BJJ as guard-pulling strategies evolved. [1] While considered a high-risk, high-reward technique, the flying triangle has produced memorable finishes in both MMA and sport grappling competition. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
Standing triangles jump into the triangle from the feet, requiring explosive hips and timing. [1]
Lineage
Standing triangle entries were developed in BJJ competition by athletic practitioners. [1]
Competition Record
Standing triangles have been finished in both high-level BJJ and UFC competition. [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
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Standing triangle requires jumping to the neck; risk of falling impact for both athletes
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Expert
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 standing applies the triangle choke while both fighters are on their feet — the attacker pulls guard directly into a triangle or jumps into the triangle from a standing clinch (Danaher, Triangles: Enter the System, 2017)
✓The standing triangle entry differs from the flying triangle: instead of a spectacular jump, the attacker pulls guard while simultaneously establishing the triangle leg position — a more controlled entry
✓From standing clinch: control the opponent's head and one arm, then sit back while shooting one leg over the shoulder — the guard pull and triangle entry are one motion
✓The standing triangle is strategically valuable: it converts a neutral standing position directly into a dominant submission position without intermediate steps
✓The technique works best in gi with collar and sleeve grips: the collar controls posture while the sleeve isolates the arm — both grips facilitate the guard pull into triangle
✓The standing triangle is a counter-wrestling technique: when the opponent reaches for takedown grips or lowers their head, the triangle entry catches them during the transition
✓In competition, the standing triangle appears in the opening moments when opponents are establishing grips — the early-match entry catches opponents before they've established their game plan
Common Mistakes
!Sitting back without controlling the arm — the guard pull must include arm isolation; sitting without control results in open guard with no triangle
!Pulling guard too aggressively and landing in a poor position — the guard pull should be controlled; crashing to the mat can disorient the attacker and allow the opponent to pass
!Not locking the triangle immediately upon landing — the standing-to-ground transition is the critical moment; the triangle must be locked before the opponent adjusts
!Attempting against an opponent with a low, defensive posture — the standing triangle needs the opponent to be upright enough for the leg to clear the shoulder
!Not establishing grips before the attempt — the standing triangle requires excellent grip setup; rushing the entry without grips fails
!Falling backward instead of sitting to the side — sit toward the side of the choking leg to immediately establish the angle; falling straight back creates a square position
!Using the standing triangle without practising the guard-pull-to-triangle transition — this is a specific skill that must be drilled; general guard pulling is not sufficient
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
Japanese Judo — Tobi-sankaku-jime
1BookJapanese Judo — Tobi-sankaku-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese Judo — Tobi-sankaku-jime
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 — Tobi-sankaku-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese Judo — Tobi-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
What's the key to finishing a triangle choke from the guard?
Keep your knees facing the same way, make the bite, and squeeze to finish. Knight Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes that proper knee positioning is essential to the technique's success.
How do I set up a triangle from mount position?
Think of mount as an upside-down guard and use the same punch-pole grip on the wrist while keeping one arm pressed against your opponent, then rotate to lock the triangle.
What should I do if my opponent defends the triangle by reaching underneath?
If you recognize your opponent attempting to reach underneath to escape, you can attack their arm in response before they complete the escape.
When setting up a triangle, should I go inside or outside the opponent's arm?
Instead of going inside the arm, punch the arm inside and then go around the outside of it, which is a common setup variation for the triangle.
How does the Triangle From Standing work?
The triangle choke from standing is applied by jumping guard and simultaneously shooting the legs into a triangle configuration around the opponent's head and arm, or by using a flying triangle entry where the attacker leaps from the ground and wraps the legs mid-air. The standing triangle requires explosive hip elevation and precise timing to lock the legs before both fighters reach the ground.
Where does the Triangle From Standing come from?
The flying triangle gained notoriety through its use in MMA by fighters like Anderson Silva, who demonstrated the technique's viability against standing opponents. The technique has judo competition precedent in the form of standing sankaku-jime entries and was systematized in BJJ as guard-pulling strategies evolved.
Is the Triangle From Standing 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 Standing?
Danger rating 8/10. Standing triangle requires jumping to the neck; risk of falling impact for both athletes
How do I set up the Triangle From Standing?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Triangle From Standing?
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 Standing?
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 Standing in competition?
Standing triangles have been finished in both high-level BJJ and UFC competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Triangle From Standing?
Top errors to watch for: Sitting back without controlling the arm — the guard pull must include arm isolation; sitting without control results… / Pulling guard too aggressively and landing in a poor position — the guard pull should be controlled; crashing to the … / Not locking the triangle immediately upon landing — the standing-to-ground transition is the critical moment; the tri… / Attempting against an opponent with a low, defensive posture — the standing triangle needs the opponent to be upright….
What are other names for the Triangle From Standing?
The Triangle From Standing is also known as Tobi-sankaku-jime, Standing Triangle, Flying Triangle, Tobi-sankaku.