Knee on Belly Top is a highly effective transitional control position where the top practitioner places one knee across the opponent’s torso while maintaining a wide base with the other leg extended. This position creates immense pressure on the bottom player’s diaphragm and solar plexus, making it difficult to breathe and forcing defensive reactions. The top player maintains constant forward pressure while staying light on their feet, ready to transition to mount, side control, or submission attacks. From a strategic standpoint, Knee on Belly Top serves as an excellent position for consolidating control after passing the guard, scoring IBJJF points, and setting up a variety of attacks. The mobility inherent in this position allows the top player to quickly respond to escape attempts while maintaining dominant pressure. Unlike more static positions like mount or side control, Knee on Belly requires active weight distribution and constant micro-adjustments to maintain effectiveness. This position is particularly valuable in competition settings where maintaining pressure while remaining mobile is essential. The threat of submissions, transitions to mount, and back takes forces the bottom player into a reactive defensive posture, allowing the top player to dictate the pace and direction of the match.
Position Definition
- One knee positioned on opponent’s torso/solar plexus area with shin perpendicular to their centerline, creating direct downward pressure through the knee joint while controlling their breathing and movement
- Opposite leg extended wide for base with foot planted firmly on the mat, toes pointing away from opponent to create stable tripod structure and enable quick transitions
- Upper body weight distributed forward through the knee contact point while hands control opponent’s collar and belt/pants, maintaining forward pressure that prevents opponent from creating space or turning into you
- Opponent flat on their back with shoulders pinned to mat, unable to turn to their side or create effective framing due to constant knee pressure and grip control
- Hips positioned high and mobile, allowing quick weight shifts and transitions while maintaining pressure through the knee on the opponent’s diaphragm region
Prerequisites
- Successful guard pass to side control or direct entry from standing
- Control of opponent’s upper body through collar or cross-collar grip
- Opponent flat on back with limited mobility
- Ability to maintain balance on one knee while controlling opponent’s movement
- Understanding of proper weight distribution to maximize pressure without sacrificing mobility
Key Offensive Principles
- Keep knee positioned on opponent’s solar plexus or lower ribs to maximize breathing disruption and control
- Maintain wide base with extended leg for stability and quick transitional movement
- Distribute weight forward through the knee while staying light on feet for mobility
- Control opponent’s near-side collar and far-side pants/belt to prevent turning and framing
- Stay active and ready to transition - Knee on Belly is a mobile attacking position, not a static hold
- Use opponent’s defensive reactions to set up submissions and transitions
- Keep hips high and forward to maintain downward pressure angle through the knee
Available Attacks
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Armbar from Side Control → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Baseball Bat Choke → Baseball Bat Choke
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to North-South → North-South
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Side Control to Mount → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Kimura from Side Control → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Back Take Generic → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
S Mount Transition → S Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent remains flat and defensive without creating frames:
- Execute Baseball Bat Choke → Baseball Bat Choke (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Transition to Mount → Mount (Probability: 65%)
If opponent pushes against knee or creates frames with arms:
- Execute Armbar from Side Control → Armbar Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Kimura from Side Control → Kimura Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent turns to side attempting to escape:
- Execute Back Take Generic → Back Control (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Transition to North-South → North-South (Probability: 70%)
If opponent successfully creates space by shrimping away:
- Execute Side Control to Mount → Side Control (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Knee Slice Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
Optimal Submission Paths
High-percentage armbar path
Knee on Belly Top → Armbar from Side Control (when opponent frames) → Armbar Control → Straight Armbar
Gi-specific choke path
Knee on Belly Top → Baseball Bat Choke setup → Baseball Bat Choke finish
Kimura attack path
Knee on Belly Top → Kimura from Side Control (when opponent pushes knee) → Kimura Control → Kimura finish or Back Take
Mount to submission path
Knee on Belly Top → Transition to Mount → Mount → Armbar from Mount or Ezekiel Choke
Back attack path
Knee on Belly Top → Back Take Generic (when opponent turns) → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 45% | 25% |
| Intermediate | 60% | 60% | 40% |
| Advanced | 75% | 75% | 55% |
Average Time in Position: 30-60 seconds
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Knee on Belly represents a fascinating intersection of mobility and control in our positional hierarchy. The biomechanical effectiveness stems from directing your body weight through a single point of contact - the knee - onto the opponent’s solar plexus or lower ribs, creating respiratory distress that compounds their defensive difficulties. The key technical element that beginners miss is the forward angle of pressure: your shoulders must be ahead of your hips, creating a downward vector through the knee rather than simply resting your weight on top. The extended base leg functions as both a stability mechanism and a launching pad for transitions. When the opponent inevitably attempts to create space by pushing your knee, this reaction opens their arms for kimuras and armbars. The position becomes truly effective when you develop the sensitivity to feel their weight shifts and breathing patterns, allowing you to predict and counter their escape attempts before they fully develop. This is not a resting position - it is an active, dynamic platform for launching attacks and maintaining offensive pressure while scoring points in competition.
Gordon Ryan
In high-level competition, Knee on Belly is one of my favorite positions because it scores points while keeping me extremely mobile and dangerous. The biggest mistake I see competitors make is treating it like a stable position where they can rest - that’s completely wrong. You need to be constantly threatening submissions and transitions to keep your opponent defensive and unable to execute their escape plan. I use Knee on Belly primarily as a transitional position after passing the guard, holding it just long enough to score the points and force a reaction, then immediately attacking based on how they defend. If they push my knee, I’m going straight to the armbar. If they turn away, I’m taking the back. The pressure needs to be intense enough that they can’t breathe comfortably, which forces rushed, desperate escapes that I can capitalize on. In no-gi, the baseball bat choke isn’t available, so I focus more on using Knee on Belly to set up arm attacks and mount transitions. The key is staying one step ahead - you should already be transitioning to your next attack before they even start their escape. This aggressive, forward-thinking approach is what separates effective Knee on Belly control from ineffective stalling.
Eddie Bravo
Knee on Belly in the 10th Planet system is all about creating chaos and forcing your opponent into bad decisions under pressure. We use it a bit differently than traditional schools - instead of just holding position for points, we’re constantly switching knees, changing angles, and threatening different attacks to keep them completely overwhelmed. One thing I love teaching is the knee switch: as soon as they start defending one side, you pop up and switch your knee to the other side of their body, which completely resets their escape progress and adds new submission opportunities. The baseball bat choke from Knee on Belly is money in the gi, but in no-gi we’re looking at darce setups and truck entries when they turn away. The mobility of this position is perfect for the flow-based approach we emphasize - you’re never stuck, always moving, always attacking. I also teach my students to use Knee on Belly as a recovery position when they’re tired in mount or side control. You can catch your breath while still maintaining dominant pressure and points, then explode back into heavy attacks when you’re ready. The creativity comes from mixing up your knee placement, grip fighting, and transition timing to keep them guessing and defensive.