Sankaku-jime
三角絞さんかくじめ
- Shime-waza
Key idea
The defining action forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee.
Kodokan official demonstration
Kodokan technique list (opens in a new tab)YouTube (opens in a new tab)
VISUAL GUIDE
How to read the movement
The central principle of Sankaku-jime is the coordinated action that forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee.
Practise only under qualified supervision. Uke should submit early, and tori must release immediately.
- Tori
- the person applying the technique
- Uke
- the person receiving the technique
- Red line
- main direction or point of contact
AT A GLANCE
Classification representative
IN SEQUENCE
Three basic phases
- 1Enter under supervision
- 2Secure the controlling line
- 3Apply and release safely
Original AI-generated educational illustration for TokyoWaltz, 2026. A simplified three-stage concept; practise under qualified instruction.
PLAY WHEN NEEDED
Watch the basic movement slowly
- 1Starting pointEnter under supervision
- 2Decisive actionSecure the controlling line
- 3CompletionApply and release safely
1 / 3Starting point— Enter under supervision
Follow the red line and phase indicator. The guide does not autoplay or loop.
How it works
The central principle of Sankaku-jime is the coordinated action that forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee.
Entry
Enter under supervision
Enter from a controlled position under qualified supervision. Establish access to the required arm, collar, or body relationship without sudden force.
Position
Secure the controlling line
Establish the recognised controlling relationship described in the official definition and shown in the demonstration.
Controlled application
Apply and release safely
Apply gradually only until uke submits. Uke should submit early, and tori must release immediately.
Key points
- To identify Sankaku-jime, watch for the moment the grip and pressure pathway becomes decisive rather than naming the technique from the landing alone.
- The official definition centres on an action that forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee.
Similar techniques
| Technique | Japanese name | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Tsukkomi-jime | 突込絞 | Tsukkomi-jime drives a lapel-gripping hand into the side of the neck; Sankaku-jime forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee. |
| Do-jime | 胴絞 | Do-jime compresses the torso by locking the legs around the body; Sankaku-jime forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee. |
| Sode-guruma-jime | 袖車絞 | Sode-guruma-jime encircles the neck between the forearms; Sankaku-jime forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee. |
Reference
Open the detailed source material when you need definitions, technical distinctions, training context, or references.
Official definition
What this technique is
Within the Kodokan list, Sankaku-jime belongs to strangling techniques. Its name is attached to the action that forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee, not to every contest exchange that ends in a similar fall or final position. The official Sankaku-jime demonstration is therefore the best starting point for recognizing the technique before comparing variations in timing, grip or stance.
Core principle
The central principle of Sankaku-jime is the coordinated action that forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee. In this technique, timing, balance breaking and continuous control must work together. Pause the official Sankaku-jime demonstration before the decisive action and check what support remains, where contact is maintained and whether tori is lifting, reaping, blocking, rotating, wrapping or applying controlled pressure.
Detailed execution
Key recognition points
- To identify Sankaku-jime, watch for the moment the grip and pressure pathway becomes decisive rather than naming the technique from the landing alone.
- The official definition centres on an action that forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee.
- When reviewing Sankaku-jime, check that balance breaking, contact and direction stay connected from entry through the controlled finish.
Distinguishing this technique
The practical identifying feature of Sankaku-jime is the grip and pressure pathway: forms a triangle with the legs around the neck-and-arm line and closes the figure behind the knee. Compare that action with neighbouring names in the same Kodokan category. If the contact point, control route or sacrifice direction changes, the result may belong under a different official name even when the landing position looks similar.
Training and safety
Training and safety
Strangling techniques require close supervision, immediate response to a signal to stop, and prompt release. Never experiment on an untrained partner or practise without a qualified Judo instructor.