Side Triangle

Last updated: June 20, 2026

What is a side triangle choke?

The side triangle choke is a variation of the triangle choke (in Japanese, sankaku-jime), the figure-four chokehold that wraps the legs around an opponent’s neck and one arm. According to Wikipedia’s entry on the triangle choke, the classic version is applied facing the opponent from the bottom guard. The side triangle changes the geometry: the attacker sits or lies off to the opponent’s side, closer to perpendicular, and locks the figure-four from there.

The “side” in the name refers to that angle, not to a different finishing mechanism. The choke still works the same way every triangle does. One side of the neck is squeezed by the attacker’s leg, the other side by the opponent’s own shoulder, which cuts blood flow through both carotid arteries. In judo, this side variation is called yoko-sankaku-jime, the horizontal triangle, and Wikipedia attributes its development to judoka Masahiko Kimura.

For an MMA fan, the simplest way to hold it: a regular triangle comes from a fighter on their back looking up at an opponent. A side triangle comes from off to the flank, often during a scramble or while one fighter is passing or defending.

How the side triangle choke works

Every triangle needs an angle. A fighter flat on their back, square to the opponent, has a loose position at best. Rotating toward perpendicular is what turns it into a real choke, and the side triangle starts from that angle instead of having to fight for it.

The mechanics are the figure-four. One leg crosses the back of the neck, the ankle tucks behind the opposite knee, and the legs squeeze. The trapped arm matters as much as the legs. With one of the opponent’s arms inside the lock, their shoulder gets pressed into one carotid while the attacker’s leg compresses the other. An arm fully outside the lock means no choke, just a headlock with the legs.

A study cited by Jits Magazine found the standard triangle takes about 9.5 seconds on average to render someone unconscious once it is properly applied. The side triangle relies on the same blood-restriction principle, so a tight one ends a fight or a roll quickly.

Side triangle vs. arm triangle vs. reverse triangle

This is where most of the confusion lives, because the names sound interchangeable, and they are not. The arm triangle is sometimes literally called the “side choke,” which makes the mix-up worse.

Choke	What forms the triangle	Typical position	Japanese name
Side triangle	Legs (one leg + opponent’s shoulder)	From the side, perpendicular angle	Yoko-sankaku-jime
Arm triangle	Attacker’s arm + opponent’s shoulder, no legs	Side control, mount, north-south	Kata-gatame (related)
Reverse / inverted triangle	Legs, reversed orientation	Back, side control, scrambles	Ushiro-sankaku-jime

The cleanest tell is what makes the triangle shape. A side triangle uses the legs. An arm triangle uses the attacker’s arm and shoulder, no legs at all, and per Wikipedia is the faster of the two at roughly 7.2 seconds. The reverse triangle is still a leg triangle, but the legs are flipped relative to the opponent’s body, and NAGA Fighter notes it usually comes from the back or scrambles rather than from guard.

Where you’ll see the side triangle

The side triangle tends to appear in transitions rather than from a settled position. Grapplearts points to guard passing as a common entry: when an opponent turns in or leaves an arm exposed during the pass, the attacker can swing a leg over and lock the figure-four from the side. It also turns up against a turtled opponent and in the middle of scrambles, where bodies end up at sideways angles naturally.

In judo, the horizontal triangle has long been a tool against a defensive opponent who turtles, since you only get a brief window before they recover. In MMA and BJJ, the standard front triangle is far more common, but the side and inverted versions show up too, usually from grapplers comfortable attacking off-angle.

Because the position overlaps with the armbar, omoplata, and kimura, a side triangle is rarely an isolated attack. The Student of BJJ resource notes how closely the triangle, armbar, and omoplata share body positioning, so a defended side triangle often flows straight into one of those.

Common misconceptions

The biggest one is treating “side triangle” and “side choke” as the same move. They are not. A side choke is an arm triangle built with the arm and shoulder. A side triangle is a leg triangle built from a side angle.

Another is assuming it needs extreme flexibility because it is a leg lock around the head. The angle and the trapped shoulder do most of the work. A bad triangle feels like a leg workout that goes nowhere, which usually means the angle or the shoulder position is wrong, not that the legs are not strong enough.

The last is thinking the side triangle is a flashy, low-percentage trick. The front triangle is more common, but the side variation is an old, proven attack that judo formalized more than a century ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the side triangle choke the same as the arm triangle?

No. The side triangle uses the legs to form the choke. The arm triangle, sometimes called the side choke, uses the attacker’s arm and the opponent’s shoulder, with no legs involved.

Why is it called the side triangle?

Because it is applied from the side of the opponent at a roughly perpendicular angle, rather than face-to-face from the bottom guard. The choke itself is the same figure-four triangle.

Is the side triangle the same as the reverse triangle?

They are related but distinct. Both use the legs, but the reverse (or inverted) triangle flips the leg orientation and usually comes from the back or scrambles. The side triangle keeps the standard orientation, applied from a side angle.

Does the side triangle work in MMA?

Yes, though the standard front triangle is seen more often. The side and inverted variations appear in MMA and grappling, typically from fighters who attack well from off-angle positions.

Where did the side triangle come from?

The triangle choke traces to Kosen judo in Japan, with its first recorded tournament use in Kobe in November 1921. Wikipedia credits the horizontal side variation to Masahiko Kimura.

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Sources

1. Wikipedia. “Triangle choke.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_choke
2. Wikipedia. “Arm triangle choke.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arm_triangle_choke
3. Grapplearts. “The Five Types of Triangle Choke You Need to Know.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://www.grapplearts.com/five-triangle-chokes-you-should-know/
4. Jits Magazine. “Scientists Confirm Which Chokes Put People to Sleep the Fastest.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://jitsmagazine.com/scientists-confirm-which-chokes-put-people-to-sleep-the-fastest/
5. BJJ Heroes. “The Triangle.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://www.bjjheroes.com/techniques/the-triangle
6. NAGA Fighter. “What is the Reverse Triangle Choke?” Accessed June 2026.
   https://www.nagafighter.com/what-is-the-reverse-triangle-choke/

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