What is the Arm Triangle Choke?
The arm triangle compresses the neck using your shoulder and the opponent’s own arm. It finishes from side control, mount, and north-south when you isolate the head-and-arm line and sprawl your weight through the choke.
Setup
- From side control, thread the far arm across the neck while trapping the near arm.
- Sprawl your hips toward the legs and connect hands in a gable or S-grip.
- Hide your head on the far side to block their escape route.
Execution
- Drive shoulder into the carotid while the trapped arm completes the frame.
- Walk toward the head to remove space under the neck.
- Squeeze elbows and expand chest — avoid lifting up and losing pressure.
Finishing
- If they turn away, follow into north-south arm triangle.
- Maintain hip connection to the mat for maximum pressure.
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Safety Note
Arm triangles can put partners out quickly under chest pressure. Keep the finish on the neck line, apply progressive squeeze, and release immediately on tap.
Primary Targets
- Neck
- Carotid arteries
Key Concepts
- Sprawl through the choke — lifting reduces pressure.
- The trapped arm must stay across the neck, not under it.
- Patience beats panic; blood chokes need steady compression.
Primary Entries
Defenses & Counters
- Expect them to extract the trapped arm or frame under your neck — re-isolate before sprawling harder.
- Watch for turns into you that flatten the shoulder line; follow or reset the head-and-arm clasp.
- If they bridge and create space, drop hips and walk toward the head rather than lifting up.
Follow-Ups
- North-south arm triangle when they keep turning away.
- Mount when top space opens during the squeeze.
- D’arce if the head slips low and the arm stays trapped in the scramble.
- North-south choke when they continue turning.
- Mount when the arm triangle opens space on top.
- Darce entry when the head slips low during the scramble.
Training Drills
- Side control head-and-arm isolation with timed finishes.
- Sprawl pressure drill emphasizing shoulder line.
- Mount-to-arm-triangle flow with progressive resistance.
Related Techniques
Deepen your study with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
The arm triangle rewards top control and patience. Isolate head-and-arm, sprawl your weight, and squeeze with your chest — not by pulling upward.