Flying sankaku

Flying sankaku is the judo-derived name for the flying triangle — the triangle choke entry initiated from a standing position by jumping into the leg-triangle configuration mid-flight, completing the strangulation with the attacker hanging on the trapped head and arm.

Etymology. Sankaku (三角) means “triangle,” referring to the geometric shape of the leg configuration; the “flying” qualifier describes the standing entry — the attacker jumps from upright into the triangle position rather than building it from a guard exchange. The technique sits in Kodokan judo’s shime-waza (strangulation techniques) classification as a variant entry to sankaku-jime. The flying version gained prominence in MMA and submission grappling through finishes against opponents who underestimated the standing entry’s threat profile.

Mechanics. The entry requires the attacker to break the opponent’s posture forward, secure a deep neck-and-arm grip, and use the body’s forward momentum to swing one leg over the opponent’s neck and lock the triangle. The aerial phase closes the figure-four leg lock before the opponent’s centre of gravity can compensate; the finish completes as the attacker’s body weight loads the carotid compression past the strangle’s failure point.

Cross-reference. English-speaking no-gi and BJJ use “flying triangle.” Full mechanical coverage on Flying Triangle.