The Triangle

The Iconic Submission That Defines Brazilian Jiujitsu

Ask any Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner to name a classic submission, and chances are they’ll say the triangle choke.It’s elegant, powerful, and symbolic of everything that makes BJJ so unique the art of using leverage, timing, and intelligence to overcome strength.

Here at Mahara Jiujitsu in East Devon, we teach the triangle as more than just a move. It’s a lesson in problem-solving and patience, and it’s often one of the first “a-ha” moments for new students.

A Bit of History

The triangle choke, or sankaku-jime in Japanese, originated in Judo long before it became a cornerstone of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When BJJ evolved from Judo in Brazil during the early 20th century, the triangle became one of its signature techniques thanks in large part to its effectiveness from the guard position.

In BJJ, the guard is often seen as a defensive position, but the triangle showed the world that even from your back, you can dominate. The Gracie family and other early BJJ pioneers demonstrated this principle time and again, showing that technique and intelligence could neutralise brute strength.

The Mechanics of the Triangle

At its core, the triangle choke works by using your legs to form a figure-four around your opponent’s neck and trapped arm.

One leg compresses one side of their neck, your thigh closes the other, and the trapped arm blocks the escape path. When applied correctly, blood flow to the brain is restricted, forcing the opponent to tap within seconds.

It’s one of those techniques that looks deceptively simple but takes years to master. The details matter: the angle of your hips, the placement of your foot under the knee, and how you adjust your posture.

During our BJJ classes in East Devon, we emphasise these small details because in Jiu-Jitsu, the difference between success and failure is often measured in millimetres.

Why the Triangle Is So Powerful

The triangle choke embodies the essence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

• Leverage over strength - you don’t need power, just precision.

• Control through movement - your opponent’s own reactions help you finish.

• Calm under pressure - success comes from patience, not panic.

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The triangle also teaches spatial awareness and timing. It rewards composure — waiting for your opponent to make the mistake you’ve been quietly setting up.

It’s a move that turns “defence into offence,” which is why even beginners can use it successfully with proper technique.

The Triangle as a Teaching Tool

At Mahara Jiujitsu, we use the triangle not just as a submission to learn, but as a teaching tool.

Students practising triangles begin to understand several key Jiu-Jitsu concepts:

• How to use your legs as active weapons rather than passive hooks.

• How to create angles to control posture and breathing space.

• How to combine attacks (armbar, omoplata, triangle) into a seamless flow.

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These are the same principles that apply across the entire art. When you start to understand triangles, you start to understand Jiu-Jitsu.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

Even advanced students revisit the fundamentals of the triangle.Here are a few common issues we see during BJJ classes near Exeter and Exmouth:

❌ Not cutting the angle: Many beginners try to finish straight on, which reduces pressure. The solution? Shift your hips off to the side and align your thigh across their neck.

❌ Loose legs: If there’s space, there’s an escape. Squeeze your knees together and flex your toes to keep tension.

❌ Poor posture control: Without controlling your opponent’s posture, they’ll easily lift and escape. Always control their head or their arm.

Every class, we see students make tiny corrections that suddenly make their triangle unstoppable.

Triangle Variations

Once you’ve learned the fundamentals, the triangle opens doors to countless variations:

• Standard Triangle (Guard): The classic version taught first to most students.

• Mounted Triangle: A dominant position where control is easier.

• Reverse Triangle: A surprise attack that catches many off guard.

• No-Gi Triangles: Adjusted grips and angles for faster transitions.

  
  

No matter the variation, the triangle remains one of the most reliable techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu simple, effective, and endlessly adaptable.

Training the Triangle Safely

Because the triangle is a choke, safety is essential.At Mahara, we train it with respect and awareness. Partners are encouraged to tap early and often there’s no ego on our mats.

New students quickly learn that control and communication matter more than “winning.” We remind everyone: your training partners are your greatest teachers.

This culture of mutual respect is part of what makes Mahara Jiujitsu East Devon such a special place to train.

The Triangle Beyond Technique

The triangle also symbolises something deeper.

It represents balance, focus, and connection three points working together. It mirrors what we aim for in Jiu-Jitsu and life: stability through adaptability.

You’ll find that as you improve at setting up and finishing triangles, you’re also improving at staying calm under pressure at reading situations, adjusting, and responding thoughtfully.

That’s why so many of us fall in love with BJJ. It’s not just about learning how to fight it’s about learning how to think.

Final Thoughts

The triangle choke isn’t just one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s signature submissions — it’s a living symbol of the art itself.It shows that patience beats power, technique beats tension, and intelligence beats instinct.

At Mahara Jiujitsu East Devon, we love watching students discover this move for the first time. The smile that comes after finally locking it in perfectly that’s pure BJJ magic.

Whether you train in Exeter, Exmouth, or right here in East Devon, every triangle you practice is another step toward mastery.

👉 Come try a class at Mahara Jiu-Jitsu and see for yourself why the triangle is more than just a submission it’s a philosophy on the mat.