Overview
The side triangle, also known as yoko sankaku, is a powerful strangle configuration that became widely recognized in modern grappling through John Danaher’s instructional material. Unlike the traditional front triangle, the side triangle is applied from a perpendicular angle, most commonly from side control. The attacker threads the leg under the opponent’s far shoulder and locks the triangle around the head and far-side arm, creating a tight strangle and a highly stable pin.
The position also functions as a counter-wrestling tool. When an opponent attempts a single-leg takedown, the attacker can thread the leg under the shoulder to trap the head and arm, turning the single-leg attempt into an immediate side triangle entry. This makes the technique not only an attacking hub on the ground but also a potent punishment for overly committed takedown attempts.
Once locked, the side triangle produces a layered submission system. In addition to the strangle itself, the near-side arm becomes exposed for attacks such as the kimura, and various forms of armlocks. This combination of neck isolation, rotational control, and near-side arm exposure makes the side triangle one of the most versatile upper-body attacking hubs in no-gi grappling.