Origins of the triangle choke - From the source interview

From our interview with the senior teacher at the Nagoya University Judo Club, Yuji Nimura, on Kosen Judo. This video covers the development of the sankaku-jime (triangle choke), including:
- Mr Nimura's personal lineage via his teacher, Kotaro Okano (10th Dan)
- Mr Okano coming to Nagoya from Okayama, and being replaced in Okayama by Yachibei Kanemitsu
- Yachibei Kanemitsu and his students developing sankaku-jime (triangle choke)
- Addressing the idea that Join Oda (Tsunetane Oda) developed sankaku-jime.
The interview took place on 16 June 2018 at Nagoya University (Gym No.4), Nagoya City, Japan. Thanks to Yuji Nimura, MD. and the Nagoya University Judo Club (Meidai Judo).
Yuji Nimura, MD.
- Master, Nagoya University Judo Club
- Special Member of the Medical Committee, All Japan Judo Federation
- Medical Commission Member, International Judo Federation.

[@iansinclair6256]

A true old school master who knows his stuff. Very nice, thank you.

[@everypersoneverywhere7955]

Just imagine being the first person to ever get put in a triangle choke.

[@luisbarrientos7322]

What a wealth of knowledge. I would love to see a timeline of the history and development of newaza techniques and each of the important figures so that they get the appropriate recognition. Much respect to the pioneers of our gentle art.

[@conchosewing]

lets all appreciate the knowledge and effort those people put in development of all those techniques that we now use in combat. lets not forget that its all part of Judo and Ju-Jitsu(the original ju-jitsu dating from 17th century) and respect it OSU!

[@v.d.2738]

The oldest systematized jujutsu school, Takenouchi-ryu, was founded in 1532. So it's 16th century while many of jujutsu schools were developed in Edo period(1603 - 1868). Also it seems it's a technique from Takenouchi-ryu that inspired Kanemitsu to invent triangle choke.

[@notvisible3754]

I feel as though Brazilian Jiu Jitsu shouldn’t even have the word Brazilian in front of it. Most of the techniques we use today in MMA are from Japan but casual fight fans think this stuff actually came from Brazil.

[@barrettokarate]

It shouldn't. The late Carlson Gracie once said in an interview that back in Brazil it was only jiu-jitsu. The whole "Gracie" and "Brazilian" jiu-jitsu thing started as a result of Rorion Gracie. He trademarked the term "Gracie jiu-jitsu" and began marketing it especially after Royce's wins in the UFC. When other Brazilians especially his own family began moving to the U.S. he prevented them from using the term, so they started using "Brazilian jiu-jitsu". In Brazil I'm pretty sure they don't say "jiu-jitsu brasileiro".

[@jeff6133]

Fact

[@jeff6133]

@@barrettokarate rorion is a rat

[@InvisibleHotdog]

The videos with Nimura have been great, thanks

[@myveryownchannel]

These videos are priceless, thank you

[@cybergrind]

The real knowledge. Thanks for this.

[@oneguy7202]

Triangle choke came to bjj in 70s via legendaey rolls Gracie after he discovered in and old judo book

[@CombatLifeSoft]

I have also heard that triangles came into BJJ via Rolls Gracie ... there is an interesting interview with Fabio Gurgel, where he says that BJJ history should be split into "before Rolls Gracie and after Rolls Gracie"

[@CombatLifeSoft]

@@oneguy7202 Here is the interview: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anekmWVsodmVebsm40s

[@materialap3012]

sankaku jime's arrival at bjj is controversial, there are many theories. robson gracie, father of renzo gracie, who trained at the gracie academy in the 1950s even reported that the sankaku was already applied,it's good to remember that in the 50's the gracie team had an exceptional judoka named Georges Medhi. On the other hand, in the 1930s GM Helio fought with two Japanese brothers (Yassuiti and Naoti Ono). In preparation for the fight was reported in a photograph of a yassuiti on newspaper applying a sankaku.

[@mircow.]

Material PGE the Ono Brothers were heavily involved in the development of BJJ and Judo in Brazil (Sao Paolo). If I am not wrong, Yaichibei Kanemitsu, the founder of the sankaku jime, was the teacher of the Ono Bro’s in Japan, before they moved to Brazil. So somehow it makes sense and the puzzle pieces fit together😉

[@jeff6133]

@@materialap3012 well we know for sure that the Brazilians didn’t invent shit it was already going on for centuries

[@KyleBaker]

Thank you so much for uploading this, this is excellent evidence to add to the curious origins of the sankaku jime. The maps are extremely helpful as well. One comment, though-if you could add the transcript to help with his accented English, it would greatly aid others, since judo is an international sport. Even as a native English speaker, it takes a lot of concentration to follow him.

[@miguelarcanjo6383]

Great!!! I'm Very interested in Kosen .👍👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@AhmadAdyarso]

As a 75 years old japanese man, his english skill is quite impressive. He must be a life-long leather.

[@MC-pz9ql]

He's a published cancer surgeon at the Nagoya Medical School.

[@jeff6133]

LEGEND

[@jeff6133]

This video should have 10 million views not 12k but hey that’s the ignorant world we live in

[@aymanabaza6475]

Love the Ju Jitsu and Judo that taught the world about grappling

[@Strengtharchive80]

I love this. I currently train at an ijf club after many years out, but I'd rather train under the old school rule set. Would love to have this guy come over to the U.K. to do a kosen seminar. I wonder if that would be a possibility

[@CombatLifeSoft]

Thanks for the comment. Mr Nimura told me he has done some in France (I believe with the French national team), so it may be possible. Please email me via the address on the "About" page if you would like me to raise the idea with him.

[@Strengtharchive80]

@@CombatLifeSoft Hey there, I can't find an email address on 'about' sorry. Could be my phone. I'm definitely interested in raising the possibility with him

[@CombatLifeSoft]

@@Strengtharchive80 It is combatlifesoft [at] gmail [dot] com

[@jeff6133]

Juji-Nimura lol this guy’s name is a submission 😂😂😂

[@ricardomoura6732]

Bom dia. Eu não falo inglês, por isso não entendi o video. Por favor, quem inventou o Sankaku Jime ?

[@CombatLifeSoft]

Kanemitsu Yaichibe and his students || Kanemitsu Yaichibe e seus alunos en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaichihyōe_Kanemitsu

[@ricardomoura6732]

@@CombatLifeSoft Obrigado ありがとう (Thank you)

[@nasri]

From now on, every time I attempt a triangle choke, I will scream SANKAKU-JIME!!! as I squeeze the choke while imagining myself in anime-like fashion. If my opponent escapes, I get to shout NANI?!?! Can't wait to do this next lesson. I might get kicked out of my gym, but it's worth it.

[@jasperjasjas9669]

When Japanese Kosen Judo Master Mr Maeda immigrated Brazil, He taught Gracies Family with Kosen Judo now the change the name To Brazilian Jujitsu.

[@ramon1930]

Kosen judo was a style of judo who started after Maeda got out of Japan.

[@ricardokerscher]

Maeda never learning Kosen Judo...

[@przemekmarczak4722]

The only way is judo

[@splint3048]

No single form of martial art is complete, they all have their pros and cons. To be a well rounded martial artist you need to study multiple styles, each specializing where the others fall short.

[@paraicmcdonagh6062]

Exactly. Anything else is a poor imitation.

[@TTyger]

I think we should be hesitant to ascribe the ‘invention’ of any of these techniques to a particular martial art. Catch wrestlers would certainly dispute this particular claim, and I don’t doubt that others were wrapping their legs around a shoulder and neck in many other martial arts around the world before that.

[@CombatLifeSoft]

Agree - the emphasis here is on "development", not invention. Development takes you from the appearance of a position or technique, to a strong focus on it, a system around it, and then popularising it. This is what I understand Kanemitsu and his followers did for the triangle choke, passing it into mainstream Judo and then via Judo into related arts. "Invention" can happen spontaneously over and over in different places and times. Development is more important.

[@KyleBaker]

I have not heard this being disputed. Do catch wrestlers really disagree? Just wrapping your legs around head and arm haphazardly for control won't choke someone. It takes quite a bit of knowledge and understanding of many specific details to really choke someone there. And there are no historical accounts for this move yet found anywhere in the known archeological record. If some catch wrestlers were using it, you'd expect to see something about it somewhere, would be surprising for it to show up separately at the same time on that scale. Not impossible, but... Just because catch wrestlers would complain, doesn't mean that that complaint is enough.

[@TTyger]

Kyle Baker if you google image search catch wrestling head scissors, you’ll see a lot of pictures where the legs are fully extended, but you’ll also see one that looks like a kind of inverted triangle. It’s probably a picture taken after 1920, but still early enough that it’s unlikely the wrestler got it from Japan or Brazil.

[@Vmurmur]

A lot of stuff existed before and got lost with time. Lets not forget there are depictions of fighting with submissions from India with more than 3500 years. It seems it all started there, in Buddist Temples and so.

[@thedesertsux]

I thought Helio Gracie invented all submissions.

[@o0...957]

He didn't invent them, he just stole the credit

[@philosophiaentis5612]

He did not invent anything. The Gracies say that so people stay on their academies. Gracies gyms are a cult. That is the reason why they do not teach the japanese name of the techniques and also do not talk about the japanese masters. All these lies are just to make you believe they invented jiu jitsu what is just a lie. See this old kosen judo video and you will realize how the Gracies were very poor on their techniques compared to the masters they imitated: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoSwZmOpf8edZ9k

[@ramon1930]

Helio Gracie didnt invent the submission neither the leverage but he is responsible for the ground guards system consequently the jiu jitsu that we know today.

[@carlosluismendez7392]

@@ramon1930 nope, the samurai invented it ages ago.

[@ramon1930]

@@carlosluismendez7392 the samurais invented the joint locks.