Knee Cut

The Knee Cut, also known as the "knee slide," is one of the most effective Guard Pass Overview in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It involves using your knee to cut through your opponent's Guard while maintaining Pressure, Base, and control. This pass is versatile, applicable in Half Guard, Open Guard, and De La Riva situations, and leads directly to dominant positions like Side Control or Knee on Belly.

Purpose of the Knee Cut

Guard Passing

  • Efficiently bypasses lower-body defenses and transitions to a dominant position.

Maintaining Pressure

  • Neutralizes your opponent’s Frames and hooks with downward Pressure.

Positional Control

Dynamic Attacking

  • Opens pathways to submissions and transitions while keeping your opponent defensive.

Step-by-Step Execution

Set Up the Position

Post Your Lead Knee

  • Position your lead knee on the inside of their thigh, aligned to cut diagonally across their body.
  • Keep your trailing leg posted back and wide for balance and Base.

Apply Pressure

  • Drive your lead knee downward into their thigh or hip while keeping your chest low.
  • Maintain Weight Distribution through your chest and hips to pin them in place.

Slide Through

  • Slide your lead knee diagonally across their body while your trailing leg follows.
  • Use your grips to pull yourself forward and clear their legs completely.

Secure the Position

Key Principles

Pressure

  • Continuous downward pressure disrupts your opponent’s ability to frame or move effectively.

Base

  • Maintain a strong, stable base by keeping your trailing leg wide and your weight distributed.

Angles

  • The diagonal cut creates a sharp angle that bypasses their defensive Frames.

Connection

  • Stay connected to your opponent through grips and chest-to-body contact to limit their mobility.

Common Uses of the Knee Cut

Passing Half Guard

  • Use the knee cut to slice through and pin their legs, transitioning directly to Side Control.

Dealing with Z Guard

  • Drive your knee past their knee shield and apply pressure to neutralize their guard.

Passing De La Riva

  • Control their leg and grip to break the hook, then cut through with the knee.

Dynamic Transitions

Drilling Tips for the Knee Cut

Solo Drills

  • Practice the sliding motion without a partner, focusing on smooth and deliberate knee movement.
  • Combine with Shrimp or Technical Stand-Up drills for added mobility.

Partner Drills

  • Work with a partner resisting lightly to simulate realistic guard situations.
  • Drill the knee cut repeatedly from positions like Half Guard or De La Riva.

Positional Sparring

  • Start in guard positions and focus on completing the knee cut under live resistance.
  • Practice maintaining control after the pass to solidify your position.

Flow Drills

  • Combine the knee cut with follow-ups like transitioning to Knee on Belly or submission entries.

Key Mistakes to Avoid

Insufficient Pressure

  • Without proper pressure, your opponent can recover Guard or counter.

Poor Weight Distribution

  • Leaning too far forward or backward compromises balance and exposes you to sweeps.

Ignoring Opponent’s Frames

  • Failing to address their Frames allows them to block your pass or attack.

Rushing the Motion

  • Skipping grips or setup steps reduces the effectiveness of the pass.
Tip

The Knee Cut is highly effective when executed with control, precision, and timing. Focus on staying heavy and connected to your opponent, and practice frequently to refine the technique under various scenarios.

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