Flying Triangle

Variety

飛び三角絞(Tobi-sankaku-jime)

Traditional

Translation: Flying Triangle Strangle

Overview

The flying triangle is a spectacular variety where the attacker jumps from standing directly into a triangle choke configuration around the opponent's head and arm. ^[1] The attacker leaps upward, throws one leg over the opponent's shoulder and around the neck, hooks the ankle behind the opposite knee in mid-air, and locks the triangle while pulling the opponent to the ground. ^[1],[2] The flying entry uses explosive athletic movement to bypass the opponent's guard passing and ground-based defences entirely. ^[2] The flying triangle carries inherent risk — a failed attempt can result in the attacker landing in a disadvantageous position — but when successfully applied, the opponent has virtually no time to mount a defence. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Tobi-sankaku-jimeJP^[1]Jumping Triangle^[2]Aerial Triangle^[3]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA Sambo

History & Origin

Flying triangles appeared in judo (tobi-sankaku-jime) and were adapted into BJJ competition by acrobatic athletes seeking dynamic entries. ^[1] The technique gained widespread recognition through highlight-reel finishes in MMA and grappling competition, particularly at ADCC events. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

The flying triangle jumps into a triangle choke from standing, combining athleticism with submission skill. ^[1] It is high-risk but devastating when successful. ^[2]

Lineage

Flying submissions were popularised in BJJ competition by athletic competitors seeking to bypass guard passing. ^[1]

Competition Record

Flying triangles have been finished in UFC (notably by Korean Zombie, Demetrious Johnson) and in high-level IBJJF competition. ^[1]

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Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within seconds

Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), glenohumeral joint of the trapped arm (if arm-in), nuchal region

Force Vector — Lateral squeeze creates inward pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously

Choking Mechanism — Vascular strangle — occludes carotid arteries and jugular veins, distinct from airway (tracheal) chokes

Position & Entry

From closed guard — Control one arm across the centreline, throw legs up to lock the triangle (one arm in, one arm out), angle hips and squeeze

From mount (mounted triangle) — Isolate one arm, slide the knee up and over the shoulder, lock the triangle from top position

From open guard (arm drag) — Drag one arm across, shoot the legs up to lock the figure-four leg configuration around head and arm

Variants

Standard triangle — classic figure-four leg lock around the head and one arm from guard

Reverse triangle — legs locked from behind or inverted angle for different attack setups

Mounted triangle — applied from mount position with gravity assisting the squeeze

No-arm triangle — both arms excluded, legs-only compression on the neck

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Extreme9/10

Flying triangle involves jumping onto the opponent; high impact risk plus choke danger

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Elite

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

Legal

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— shime-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— ADCC — Legal

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓The flying triangle launches the body into the air to catch the opponent's head and arm in a triangle choke from standing — the attacker jumps, wraps the legs around the neck and arm, and pulls the opponent to the ground (Danaher, Triangles: Enter the System, 2017)

✓The flying triangle is one of the most spectacular submissions in grappling: the attacker leaves their feet entirely and relies on the jump and leg dexterity to lock the triangle before landing

✓Setup from standing: grip the opponent's head or collar with one hand and their arm with the other — then jump, swing one leg over the shoulder and behind the neck, and lock the figure-four in the air

✓The momentum of the jump is critical: the attacker's body weight pulling down plus the leg locking creates the initial compression — the technique is finished on the ground after the pull-down

✓The flying triangle works best against opponents who stand in an upright posture with one arm extended: the extended arm creates the one-in, one-out configuration needed for the triangle

✓In competition, the flying triangle is a high-reward, high-risk technique: it has produced memorable finishes in ADCC and UFC, but a failed attempt often results in a bad position

✓The flying triangle requires athleticism, timing, and confidence: the attacker must commit fully to the jump — hesitation results in an incomplete position and potential vulnerability

Common Mistakes

!Attempting without controlling at least one arm — the triangle requires one arm in; jumping without arm isolation results in a loose, easily defended position

!Jumping from too far away — the opponent must be within arm's reach; jumping from distance means the legs can't reach the neck

!Not committing to the jump — half-hearted attempts leave the attacker hanging on the opponent without proper leg placement; commit fully or don't attempt

!Landing without the figure-four locked — the lock should be established during the jump or immediately upon landing; landing with open legs allows the opponent to posture

!Attempting against a significantly larger opponent — the flying triangle requires pulling the opponent down; a much larger opponent may remain standing with the attacker hanging

!Not pulling the opponent down — as the legs lock, pull the head and body toward the ground; staying elevated on a standing opponent is an unstable position

!Using the flying triangle as a first-choice technique — it should be set up after establishing gripping patterns; cold-start flying triangles against prepared opponents fail

Related Techniques

Escape — defensive technique to relieve choking pressure and recover position Tap (Submission Signal) — the safety mechanism indicating the technique is effective

Counter Techniques

Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle

Setup Chain

1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied

2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat

3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)

4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish

Sources & References

Primary Source

Japanese Judo — widely used in competition commentary

1BookJapanese Judo — widely used in competition commentary

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese Judo — widely used in competition commentary

2SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)

3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)

Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)

4CitationJapanese Judo — widely used in competition commentary

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese Judo — widely used in competition commentary

Community

Athletics

Requires

hip flexibility, long legs relative to torso

Favours

longer limbs for easier figure-four lock around head and arm

Key muscles

hip adductors, hamstrings, quadriceps

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Flying Triangle work?

The flying triangle is a spectacular variety where the attacker jumps from standing directly into a triangle choke configuration around the opponent's head and arm. The attacker leaps upward, throws one leg over the opponent's shoulder and around the neck, hooks the ankle behind the opposite knee in mid-air, and locks the triangle while pulling the opponent to the ground.

Where does the Flying Triangle come from?

Flying triangles appeared in judo (tobi-sankaku-jime) and were adapted into BJJ competition by acrobatic athletes seeking dynamic entries. The technique gained widespread recognition through highlight-reel finishes in MMA and grappling competition, particularly at ADCC events.

Is the Flying Triangle legal in competition?

IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Flying Triangle?

Danger rating 9/10. Flying triangle involves jumping onto the opponent; high impact risk plus choke danger

How do I set up the Flying Triangle?

The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.

How do I defend against the Flying Triangle?

Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.

What are the variants of the Flying Triangle?

Common variants: Standard triangle (classic figure-four leg lock around the head and one arm …); Reverse triangle (legs locked from behind or inverted angle for different a…); Mounted triangle (applied from mount position with gravity assisting the sq…); No-arm triangle (both arms excluded, legs-only compression on the neck).

How effective is the Flying Triangle in competition?

Flying triangles have been finished in UFC (notably by Korean Zombie, Demetrious Johnson) and in high-level IBJJF competition.

What are common mistakes when doing the Flying Triangle?

Top errors to watch for: Attempting without controlling at least one arm — the triangle requires one arm in; jumping without arm isolation res… / Jumping from too far away — the opponent must be within arm's reach; jumping from distance means the legs can't reach… / Not committing to the jump — half-hearted attempts leave the attacker hanging on the opponent without proper leg plac… / Landing without the figure-four locked — the lock should be established during the jump or immediately upon landing; ….

What are other names for the Flying Triangle?

The Flying Triangle is also known as Tobi-sankaku-jime, Jumping Triangle, Aerial Triangle.

flying triangle tobi sankaku jime submission choke and strangle lock leg choke triangular strangle triangle choke triangle from standing jumping triangle aerial triangle