Getting Air - Closed Guard

Setting up for the Flying Triangle Choke begins with establishing grips: the leading hand on the collar and the backhand on top. The objective is to elicit a specific reaction from the partner, prompting them to grab your collar with their right hand. This reaction can be induced by faking a takedown, which forces the partner to defend by reaching up to avoid being taken down or hitting their head on the mat.

Once the partner grabs your collar, it's the cue to initiate the Flying Triangle Choke. However, before attempting the choke, practice jumping into the Closed Guard as a precursor. A common mistake is trying to pull the opponent towards you while jumping. Instead, the motion should resemble climbing: using the grips to pull yourself up and over the partner, not towards you. This climbing motion helps prevent injury and avoids slamming your back on the mat.

With the grips set, pull to make the partner posture up. As they posture, jump into the Closed Guard, locking your legs around them. This drill should mimic the motion used for the Flying Triangle Choke, with the partner posturing up fully before you jump, ensuring a safe and controlled transition into the Closed Guard.