Triangle Choke
Sankaku-jime
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About This Technique
Description
The Triangle Choke is a fundamental submission technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) where the practitioner uses their legs in the shape of a triangle around their opponent's neck and one arm. This choke leverages the practitioner's legs to constrict the opponent's carotid arteries, cutting off blood flow and forcing a tap out. It's most commonly performed from the guard positions but can be applied from various other scenarios.
Japanese Name
Sankaku-jime
Position
Open Guard
Top or Bottom
Bottom
Step-by-Step Detailed Instructions
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Set Up from Open Guard
- Begin in the open guard position with your back on the mat. Control your opponent's wrists with your hands.
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Initiate the Triangle
- Foot on Hip: Use your right foot to push onto your opponent's hip to create distance.
- Elevate your hips to break their posture and create space.
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Control One Arm
- Use your hands to force your opponent's left arm across your body towards your right side, ensuring their arm is outside the triangle you will form.
- Pull their head down using your left hand to maintain control and limit their movement.
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Form the Triangle
- Swing your right leg over your opponent’s left shoulder and lock it underneath your left knee, creating a triangular figure with your legs.
- Ensure your foot is laced behind the knee of your other leg, creating a tighter grip.
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Adjust and Tighten
- Pull the opponent's head down and adjust the choke by shifting your body slightly to your left to create a more acute angle, enhancing the choke.
- Pull your opponent into you to further secure the choke.
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Apply Pressure to Finish
- Squeeze your knees together while pulling down on your opponent's head.
- Extend your hips upward to increase pressure on the opponent's neck and shoulders.
- Maintain the squeeze until the opponent taps out or goes unconscious, but be cautious and control pressure to prevent serious injury.
Tips
- Angle Adjustment: Creating and maintaining the correct angle is crucial for maximizing pressure.
- Posture Control: Constantly keeping control over your opponent's posture, especially their head, will prevent them from escaping the choke.
- Drill the Basics: Practice breaking posture and controlling arms as these are foundational to setting up any effective triangle choke.
How to Execute
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Start in the Open Guard Position You should be on your back with your opponent between your legs. Your knees should be bent and feet locked around your opponent's waist. This is the open guard position.
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Create Space Using your hands, you need to control your opponent's wrist and push it down towards your waist. Simultaneously, place your foot on your opponent's hip on the same side as the controlled wrist, creating a space.
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Lift Your Hip Use the foot that's on your opponent's hip to lift your hip off the ground. This will allow you to create a larger gap to move your leg.
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Move Your Leg With the space created and your hip lifted, move your leg over your opponent's arm (the one you were controlling) and shoulder, to the opposite side of their neck.
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Lock Your Legs Bring the leg that was on your opponent's hip around and lock it over your ankle (the one that is over their shoulder) to form a triangle with your legs.
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Adjust Your Position Grab your shin (not your foot) on the leg that's over their shoulder and pull it across your body to help rotate your body. You want to align yourself perpendicular to your opponent.
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Secure the Choke Release your grip on your shin and reach up to your opponent's head, pulling it down while you are squeezing your legs together. This action will close the space around your opponent's neck, securing the triangle choke.
Remember, like all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques, the triangle choke requires practice to execute quickly and efficiently. Always train under the supervision of a qualified instructor, and be mindful of the safety of your sparring partner.