Flying Knee: Tips and Tricks
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Flying Knee·Martial Arts Unlimited Victoria
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Flying Knee
Family飛び膝蹴り(Tobi Hiza-geri)
TraditionalTranslation: flying knee
Overview
History & Origin
The flying knee is one of the most spectacular techniques in combat sports, with historical roots in both Southeast Asian and East Asian martial traditions. [1] In Muay Thai, the flying knee (khao loi) has been documented since the Muay Boran era, where it was considered a decisive finishing technique in ceremonial and competitive bouts. [2] Rebac traces flying knee techniques to the Ayutthaya period (1351-1767) of Siamese history, where warriors trained aerial knee strikes as part of the military martial arts curriculum. [2] In Japanese martial arts, tobi hiza-geri (jumping knee kick) appears in traditional karate kata, though it received less tactical emphasis than in Thai systems. [3] The flying knee became internationally prominent in the MMA era, where it has produced numerous high-profile knockouts. [1]
Effectiveness
Lineage
The flying knee is found in Muay Thai (khao loi) and has been adopted into MMA. [1]
Competition Record
The flying knee has produced spectacular knockouts in MMA; Jorge Masvidal's 5-second flying knee KO of Ben Askren at UFC 239 is the fastest KO in UFC history. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Driving the knee upward or diagonally into the target using hip flexion and body weight
Joints Involved — Hip (powerful flexion drive), knee (point of impact, flexed), core (posture and power transfer)
Force Vector — Upward (straight knee to body/head), diagonal (round knee from the side), or clinch-pull driven
Clinch Integration — Most effective when combined with clinch control — pulling the opponent's head down into the rising knee multiplies impact force
Position & Entry
From outside range (running or stepping) — Take an explosive forward step, jump off the lead foot, chamber and extend the kick while airborne
As surprise attack — Close distance rapidly with a leap, launch the kick at the apex of the jump
Videos
MUAY THAI - HOW TO DO A FLYING KNEE OR JUMPING KNEE
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Flying Knee·Ironboy Experience
How to do a flying knee or jumping knee! Lets break down one of the most aggressive and powerful knee attacks in Muay Th…
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Airborne knee strike; devastating KO potential (numerous UFC finishes)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All knee strikes prohibited {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Prohibited in sport karate
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF— WT — Prohibited
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— ITF — Prohibited
ITF Competition RulesPDF— WAKO — Prohibited in most formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFRestricted
— Unified MMA — Knees to standing opponent legal, knees to ...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFK-1/GLORY — One clinch knee allowed before referee break {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
Legal
Kyokushin — Legal to body {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— IFMA — Legal — knees are a core Muay Thai weapon, clinch ...
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The flying knee bridges distance by leaping forward and driving the knee into the opponent's head or body while airborne
✓Launch off the rear foot, driving the lead knee upward as the body travels forward
✓The flying knee combines forward momentum with upward knee drive for devastating impact
✓Target the chin, solar plexus, or chest — the flying knee can end fights at any level of competition
✓Use the flying knee when the opponent is backing up or retreating in a straight line
✓Set it up with punches or kicks that push the opponent back, then leap in with the knee
✓The flying knee is one of the most spectacular finish techniques in MMA and Muay Thai
Common Mistakes
!Jumping too high instead of driving forward — the power is in the horizontal momentum, not vertical height
!Not driving the knee upward through the target — the knee must extend fully, not just float
!Landing heavily and off-balance, unable to follow up or defend
!Throwing the flying knee from too far away and falling short
!Dropping the guard during the leap — both hands should protect the head in case of a counter
!Using the flying knee against an opponent who is advancing forward — you risk a collision on their terms
!Not committing to the jump, resulting in a weak, half-airborne knee that does no damage
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Clinch or Frame — establish control of the opponent's head or body
2Pull Opponent In — use the grip to close distance and compromise their posture
3Drive the Knee — thrust the knee upward into the target
Sources & References
Primary Source
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad & James Cartmell, 2002)
1BookTaekwondo (Choi, 1965)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
History sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Boran: The Ancient Art of Muay Thai (Rebac, 2008) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationTaekwondo (Choi, 1965)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
6CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
History sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Boran: The Ancient Art of Muay Thai (Rebac, 2008) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexion power, clinch control ability, close-range comfort
Favours
long thigh for greater leverage, strong hip flexors
Key muscles
hip flexors, quadriceps, core, grip (for clinch)
Sub-techniques
Notes
The flying knee combines a leaping entry with a knee strike — it is one of the most spectacular and devastating finishes in MMA. Jorge Masvidal's 5-second flying knee KO of Ben Askren (UFC 239, 2019) is the fastest KO in UFC history. (UFC records)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a flying knee so it actually lands?
Martial Arts Unlimited Victoria recommends setting it up with a jab and a hook to create and eliminate distance while working off angle, rather than throwing it blind which has a low percentage of landing. The technique works best when your opponent is stationary and ready to trade shots, not moving or cutting angles.
What's the most important thing to focus on when executing a flying knee?
According to Ironboy Experience, the two main secrets are keeping your chin forward and maintaining balance between your head and legs throughout the movement. Keeping your chin down prevents you from losing balance in midair and when you land the strike.
How do I land a flying knee safely?
Martial Arts Unlimited Victoria emphasizes using a scarf position with your elbow in front for protection, pointing your toes, and exploding as quickly as possible while shooting your lead leg back fast. Ironboy Experience adds that you should land solid but controlled, tucking your legs and maintaining balance throughout.
How does the Flying Knee work?
A knee strike delivered while jumping or leaping toward the opponent, using the entire body's airborne momentum to drive the knee into the target with devastating force.
Where does the Flying Knee come from?
The flying knee is one of the most spectacular techniques in combat sports, with historical roots in both Southeast Asian and East Asian martial traditions. In Muay Thai, the flying knee (khao loi) has been documented since the Muay Boran era, where it was considered a decisive finishing technique in ceremonial and competitive bouts.
Is the Flying Knee legal in competition?
Unified MMA: restricted — Knees to standing opponent legal, knees to head of grounded opponent banned; WBC/Boxing: banned — All knee strikes prohibited; WKF: banned — Prohibited in sport karate; Kyokushin: legal — Legal to body; WT: banned — Prohibited; ITF: banned — Prohibited; WAKO: banned — Prohibited in most formats; K: restricted — 1/GLORY — One clinch knee allowed before referee break; IFMA: legal — Legal — knees are a core Muay Thai weapon, clinch knees highly scored
How dangerous is the Flying Knee?
Danger rating 8/10. Very High — airborne knee strike; devastating KO potential (numerous UFC finishes)
How do I set up the Flying Knee?
The standard setup chain: Clinch or Frame → Pull Opponent In → Drive the Knee.
How do I defend against the Flying Knee?
Standard counters include: Hip Check — push the opponent's hips away to create distance and kill the knee angle / Clinch Control — control the opponent's head and posture to prevent knee generation / Step Back — create distance to escape the knee's effective range.
What are the variants of the Flying Knee?
Common variants: Straight knee (driving the knee straight upward into the body or head); Curved knee (round knee) (swinging the knee from the side in a circular path); Flying knee (leaping forward and driving the knee at the apex of the jump); Clinch knee (pulling the opponent into the knee from Muay Thai plum po…).
How effective is the Flying Knee in competition?
The flying knee has produced spectacular knockouts in MMA; Jorge Masvidal's 5-second flying knee KO of Ben Askren at UFC 239 is the fastest KO in UFC history.
What are common mistakes when doing the Flying Knee?
Top errors to watch for: Jumping too high instead of driving forward — the power is in the horizontal momentum, not vertical height / Not driving the knee upward through the target — the knee must extend fully, not just float / Landing heavily and off-balance, unable to follow up or defend / Throwing the flying knee from too far away and falling short.
What are other names for the Flying Knee?
The Flying Knee is also known as Tobi Hiza-geri, Khao Loi, Jumping Knee.