Side Triangle

FamilyTriangle systemLevelAdvancedPerspectiveTopIntentOffensiveSafetyElevatedHubTriangle systemMapView on graph →This technique has elevated risk. Make sure you've covered the prerequisites before attempting.

Manage injuries →Position map Connects to 4 positions across 4 relationshipsOpen in the map →1234←Enters from

The side triangle — yoko sankaku in Japanese — is a triangle choke applied from a lateral position. The attacker is perpendicular to the opponent rather than facing them head-on or foot-to-head. The leg wedge captures the opponent’s head and far arm — the arm on the far side of their body — with the attacker’s body positioned beside the opponent rather than above or below.

The side triangle is primarily a top position technique — entered from side control, north-south side position, or scramble positions where the attacker is beside the opponent. Its classic application is against the turtle, where the legs replace the chest connection of a pin. This is the primary reason perspective is listed as “Top”: the standard application has the attacker controlling from the top position, with gravity and positional weight assisting the finish.

The compression mechanics are the same as all triangle variants (strangle both sides simultaneously applies), and so are the finishing cues: steer the trapped arm across the neck, adjust toward a perpendicular angle, extend the hips and squeeze the legs, and control the head. The top position’s weight assists the finish where the guard triangle relies on hip elevation.

The side triangle is a high-percentage finishing position once established. The top positional advantage (positional advantage precedes submission context — positional control increases finishing reliability) combined with the triangle compression means the defender is under simultaneous positional pressure and submission pressure. Escaping requires solving both problems.

Elevated RiskSide Triangle is an elevated risk technique. The side triangle is a bilateral carotid blood choke. The lateral approach does not change the speed or severity of the compression — once the triangle closes from the side with correct mechanics, the blood choke takes effect at the same rate as all triangle variants. Serious injury can occur seconds from full bilateral compression.

If you are new to this technique: read this section before anything else. Understanding the danger is part of understanding the technique.