Triangle Choke Complete Guide: Setup & Variations

The triangle choke is one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most iconic and effective submissions, using your legs to trap the opponent’s neck and one arm in a strangling configuration that cuts off blood flow to the brain. Known as “triângulo” in Portuguese and “sankaku-jime” in Japanese, this technique allows smaller practitioners to submit larger opponents using leverage and precise positioning rather than strength. From white belts learning their first submissions to black belts finishing world championship matches, the triangle choke remains a cornerstone of effective grappling across all skill levels and competitive formats.

What Is the Triangle Choke?

The triangle choke occurs when you wrap your legs around the opponent’s neck, leaving one of their arms trapped inside the “triangle” formed by your legs while the other arm remains outside. Your legs create a figure-four configuration—one leg crosses behind your opposite knee while that knee presses against the opponent’s neck.

This creates a lateral vascular restraint that compresses the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, disrupting blood flow to the brain. When applied correctly, this blood choke causes unconsciousness in seconds, though most opponents tap (submit) immediately upon recognizing they’re caught.

The triangle differs from air chokes (which restrict breathing) by targeting blood circulation instead, making it both faster-acting and more humane. Understanding the mechanics of the closed guard, where triangles most commonly occur, provides essential context for learning this fundamental submission.

Historical Origins and Development

Judo Roots

The triangle choke originated in early kosen judo competition in Japan. While exact origins remain unclear, the technique is strongly associated with Yaichibei Kanemitsu and his apprentice Masaru Hayakawa, who recorded the first registered use in a kosen judo tournament in Kobe, Hyogo in November 1921.

Martial arts historian Toshiya Masuda has attributed innovation of modern triangle variations to the legendary Masahiko Kimura, who either created or significantly popularized the technique during Takudai kosen judo tournaments at Takushoku University. The inverted variation (ushiro-sankaku-jime), commonly seen in modern judo competition, followed as practitioners explored the position’s versatility.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Evolution

According to BJJ Heroes’ triangle choke history, the triangle was used in BJJ from the beginning but wasn’t particularly effective initially because it wasn’t integrated with other attacks. Early practitioners found it “too easy to defend and seldom used” when attempted in isolation.

The breakthrough came in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the group training at Osvaldo Alves’ gym pioneered the modern closed guard system. These innovators, including Otávio ‘Peixotinho,’ discovered that combining the triangle with armbar attacks created one of BJJ’s most famous and effective combinations. This systematic approach transformed the triangle from an occasionally successful technique into a high-percentage submission that remains dominant today.

Why the Triangle Choke Works

Mechanical Efficiency

The triangle leverages your body’s strongest muscles (legs) against the opponent’s neck—one of their most vulnerable anatomical structures. This creates a massive strength advantage even when facing larger opponents.

Key mechanical advantages include:

Leg strength vs. neck resistance – Your legs generate far more squeezing force than opponents can resist with neck muscles
Opponent’s own shoulder – Their trapped shoulder helps compress their opposite carotid artery
Gravity assistance – When executing from guard, your weight pulls opponent into deeper danger
Blood choke efficiency – Affects consciousness in seconds rather than minutes

Positional Versatility

Unlike many submissions that require specific positions, triangles work from numerous configurations:

Primary Positions:

Closed guard (most common)
Open guard variations
Mount
Back control
Side control (cross-side triangle)
Scrambles and transitions

This adaptability makes the triangle valuable across all grappling scenarios. Research from Infighting’s comprehensive triangle guide documents at least 17 distinct triangle setups, demonstrating the technique’s remarkable versatility.

Attack Combinations

The triangle’s true power emerges through combinations. When opponents defend the triangle, they typically create opportunities for:

Armbar – Extending the trapped arm when they pull back
Omoplata – Rolling to shoulder lock when they posture
Sweep – Reversing position when they base out
Kimura – Attacking the defending arm

This creates “submission chains” where defending one attack leads directly into another, forcing opponents into unsolvable dilemmas.

Core Triangle Mechanics

The Figure-Four Lock

Proper triangle mechanics require understanding the leg configuration:

Lock Formation

One leg crosses over opponent’s back/shoulder
Opposite knee comes across the back of their neck
First leg hooks behind opposite knee to complete the triangle
Ankles should NOT be crossed (common beginner mistake)

The finishing position creates a closed loop with your legs that tightens when you squeeze your knees together and pull the opponent’s head down.

Critical Angle Adjustment

One of the most important details separating unsuccessful triangles from tight finishes is angle management. You cannot finish triangles when your body remains directly in front of your opponent.

Proper Angling Technique

Cut at least 90 degrees to the side (perpendicular to opponent)
Pull your knee close to your face
Position your leg on the back of their neck, not the side
Maintain this angle throughout the finish

As demonstrated in elite-level instruction, “once I get it up to 90 degrees across, look see how I hold this angle for myself—knee is close to my face”. This angle creates the necessary pressure on the carotid arteries while preventing opponents from stacking or escaping.

Finishing Details

Head Control

Pull opponent’s head down to break posture
Keep their head pulled to your chest/hip
Prevent them from posturing up or creating space

Leg Positioning

Lock your triangle tight with proper shin-to-knee contact
Keep your locking leg’s knee pointing toward opponent’s trapped shoulder
Squeeze knees together while extending hips

Hip Extension

Drive hips forward and up into opponent’s neck
Create maximum compression on carotid arteries
Maintain constant pressure without allowing escape space

Understanding how armbars from closed guard work mechanically helps appreciate how triangles and armbars create synergistic attack systems.

Triangle Setups from Closed Guard

Inside Entry (Classic Setup)

The most fundamental triangle setup begins with breaking your opponent’s posture from closed guard.

Step-by-Step Process

Break opponent’s posture by pulling them forward
Wait for them to post one hand on the mat
Control their posted arm with an overhook
Get your knee on the inside of their bicep
Control their wrist on the posted arm
Throw your opposite leg over their back to create the triangle

This entry works when opponents make the common mistake of posting hands on the mat to maintain base.

Outside Entry

The outside entry attacks when you’ve secured an overhook but the opponent keeps their posted hand away from your body.

Technique Sequence

Overhook opponent’s arm tightly
Control their opposite hand by grabbing all four fingers
Pull their hand underneath your guard
Circle your free leg around the outside of their arm
Shoot leg over their back to complete triangle position

Kimura to Triangle Transition

One of the highest-percentage triangle entries comes from failed kimura attempts.

Combination Flow

Attack kimura from closed guard
As opponent defends by pulling their arm back or straightening it
Throw your leg over their far shoulder
Transition directly into triangle position
Their defensive posture places them perfectly in triangle danger

This exemplifies the attack chaining that makes modern BJJ so effective—every defensive reaction creates new offensive opportunities.

Triangle Variations from Different Positions

Spider Guard Triangle

From spider guard with collar and sleeve control, use your foot checking their bicep to create triangle opportunities.

Setup Method

Establish spider guard with foot on opponent’s bicep
When they fail to control your pant leg
Shoot your leg over their shoulder
Secure triangle while maintaining collar control

Butterfly Guard Triangle

Butterfly guard creates unique triangle opportunities through pressing armbar transitions.

Attack Sequence

Initiate butterfly sweep
When opponent posts arm to defend sweep
Transition to pressing armbar
As armbar defense occurs, switch to triangle as finishing technique

This three-attack combination (sweep → armbar → triangle) demonstrates sophisticated BJJ strategy.

Mount Triangle

From mount position, triangles become available when opponents defend with arms too close to their body.

Mounted Triangle Technique

Control opponent’s near arm from mount
Step one leg over their arm and head
As they attempt to sit up or escape
Lock triangle from top position
Fall to side to finish if needed

Back Triangle

When taking the back, triangles provide an alternative to the traditional rear naked choke.

Back Triangle Setup

Establish back control with seatbelt grip
As opponent slides down toward your legs escaping
Catch triangle around their neck from behind
Finish by pulling their trapped arm across

Cross-Side Triangle

This sneaky variation works from side control when you’ve controlled the opponent’s near arm.

Side Control Entry

Secure opponent’s near arm from side control
Bring your leg over their shoulder
As they attempt to sit up
They fall directly into triangle position

Understanding positions like the truck and crab ride shows how modern BJJ creates triangle opportunities from increasingly creative positions.

Common Triangle Defenses and Counters

Stacking Defense

The most common triangle defense involves the opponent standing and driving forward, stacking your weight onto your shoulders.

Counter to Stacking

Don’t fight the stack initially
Angle out to the side (90+ degrees)
As they stack, pull them over your shoulder
Use their forward pressure against them
Transition to omoplata or sweep if triangle becomes unavailable

Posture Defense

Opponents who maintain strong upright posture prevent triangle closure.

Breaking Posture Techniques

Use collar grips to pull down on neck
Control back of head and pull forward
Use overhooks on arms to prevent posting
Create off-balancing movements to disrupt their base

Arm Extraction

Defenders may attempt pulling their trapped arm free before the choke fully locks.

Preventing Extraction

Lock triangle immediately when position appears
Pull their head down to prevent space creation
Angle aggressively to tighten pressure
Transition to armbar if arm comes free

Slam Defense (MMA/Self-Defense)

In some rulesets like MMA, opponents can lift and slam you to force triangle release.

Slam Prevention

Don’t maintain triangle from standing unless finishing immediately
Fall to guard when opponent stands
Release if lifted too high
In training, recognize this counter exists in real fighting

Training the Triangle Effectively

For Beginners

Master the fundamental closed guard triangle before exploring variations.

Beginner Focus Points

Learn proper leg locking mechanics (shin behind knee, not crossed ankles)
Practice angle adjustment to 90 degrees
Drill triangle-to-armbar combinations
Understand when to release and reset vs. force the finish

Resources about starting BJJ at 30 emphasize that triangles remain accessible regardless of when you begin training.

For Intermediate Practitioners

Develop triangles from multiple positions and integrate attack chains.

Intermediate Development

Study all major triangle entries (inside, outside, kimura transition)
Practice triangles from spider guard, butterfly guard, mount
Chain triangles with omoplatas and sweeps
Develop no-gi triangle variations with different grips

Exploring blue belt goals helps structure triangle development during this phase.

For Advanced Students

Refine finishing details and develop position-specific triangle systems.

Perfect angle cutting and knee-to-face positioning
Study elite competitors’ triangle setups and finishes
Develop counter-strategies for all common defenses
Create personalized triangle systems based on your body type and style

Understanding how triangles integrate with techniques like the tarikoplata shows the interconnected nature of shoulder attacks from guard.

Triangle Choke in Competition

High-Percentage Submission

Triangle chokes consistently rank among the top submissions in BJJ competition statistics. According to data analysis from major tournaments, triangles appear frequently at all belt levels and weight classes, demonstrating universal effectiveness.

Famous Triangle Finishes

Numerous championship matches have ended via triangle:

World championship finals decided by perfectly executed triangles
MMA fights finished despite significant size disadvantages
No-gi submission-only events showcasing triangle versatility

Strategic Applications

Gi Competition

Collar grips enhance posture breaking
Gi friction helps maintain triangle lock
Transition opportunities to collar chokes from triangle position

No-Gi Competition

Emphasis on head control and underhooks
Faster transitions due to reduced friction
More guillotine and arm-in variations

MMA Applications

Triangles remain highly effective despite striking threats
Position controls opponent while preventing ground-and-pound
Can be set up from defensive positions after takedowns

Gi vs. No-Gi Triangle Differences

Gi-Specific Advantages

Grip Benefits

Collar grips provide powerful posture breaking
Sleeve control prevents opponent hand mobility
Gi material helps lock triangle tighter
More time to adjust position due to friction

No-Gi Adaptations

Technical Adjustments

Must secure underhooks or overhooks instead of cloth grips
Head control becomes more critical
Need more active hip movement to maintain position
Faster tempo requires quicker lock completion

Both contexts benefit from fundamental triangle mechanics, though specific setups and grips vary significantly.

Common Triangle Mistakes

Crossing Ankles Instead of Proper Lock

Many beginners cross their ankles behind the opponent’s back rather than creating the proper figure-four configuration. This dramatically weakens the choke and makes escape easier.

Insufficient Angle Adjustment

Staying directly in front of the opponent instead of cutting to 90+ degrees prevents effective carotid compression and allows stacking defenses to succeed.

Releasing Too Early

Opening the triangle before fully securing control allows opponents to escape positions they would have otherwise tapped to.

Poor Head Control

Allowing the opponent to posture up creates space that nullifies the choke regardless of leg positioning.

Wrong Leg on Neck

Placing the wrong part of your leg across the neck (side instead of back) reduces pressure and gives opponents breathing room to escape.

Triangle Choke for Self-Defense

The triangle choke provides exceptional self-defense value because it:

Works from defensive positions (guard) where real fights often occur
Allows you to control attackers without striking
Remains effective regardless of size disparity when properly applied
Can be applied with clothing (jacket, shirt) or without
Gives clear submission signal (tap) that ends confrontation decisively

Many self-defense encounters involve being taken to the ground. Understanding how to finish from guard positions using triangles provides practical survival skills.

For those wondering is it hard to learn Brazilian jiu jitsu, the triangle exemplifies BJJ’s learning curve—simple in concept but requiring dedicated practice to execute under resistance.

The Triangle’s Enduring Legacy

From its origins in 1920s Japanese kosen judo to modern BJJ world championships and UFC main events, the triangle choke has proven its effectiveness across a century of evolution. The technique’s combination of mechanical efficiency, positional versatility, and attack-chaining potential ensures it remains fundamental to effective grappling.

Whether you’re a white belt learning your first submissions or a black belt refining championship-level details, investing time in triangle mastery provides returns throughout your entire grappling journey. The triangle that Yaichibei Kanemitsu and Masaru Hayakawa pioneered in 1921 still works today—proof that sound principles transcend time and innovation.

Understanding triangle fundamentals creates the foundation for exploring related techniques across BJJ’s technical landscape, from basic closed guard attacks to advanced shoulder locks and back attacks that define modern high-level grappling.

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