Kneebar Control from bottom position represents one of the most strategically complex leg attack positions in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From this configuration, the practitioner on their back has isolated their opponent’s leg using various ashi garami (leg entanglement) configurations, with their arms controlling the leg and hips positioned to attack the knee joint.
The fundamental architecture involves the bottom practitioner lying on their back or side, with one or both legs entangling the opponent’s attacking leg. The arms secure the leg across the torso in a configuration that allows the hips to create extension force against the knee while the hands prevent the leg from being extracted. The opponent remains standing, posted on hands, or in a seated defensive posture, creating a dynamic where both practitioners have offensive and defensive priorities.
From bottom kneebar control, the practitioner faces several strategic decisions. The primary offensive pathway leads to the kneebar finish itself, executed by pulling the captured leg tight to the chest while driving the hips forward and arching the back to create hyperextension. However, this commitment comes with risk - if the finish fails, the opponent may be able to escape or counter with their own attacks. Therefore, skilled practitioners use the kneebar threat to create defensive reactions that open pathways to other submissions and positional improvements.
The main variations of bottom kneebar control include inside ashi garami (inside leg controlling the opponent’s leg), outside ashi garami (outside leg control), and 50-50 configurations (symmetrical entanglement). Each variation offers different control characteristics, escape vulnerabilities, and transition options. Inside ashi provides the most mobile platform for entering other leg attacks, while outside ashi offers strong finishing leverage but fewer transition options. The 50-50 creates mutual vulnerability where both practitioners can attack simultaneously.
Defensively, the bottom practitioner must be aware that committing to a kneebar finish temporarily reduces their leg control, creating windows for the opponent to extract their leg or counter with their own attacks. Managing this risk-reward calculation based on the opponent’s defensive skill level represents a crucial aspect of high-level leg lock games. The position also requires constant awareness of positional hierarchy - while leg locks can be powerful, giving up position to pursue them must be a calculated decision rather than a desperation move.
Position Definition
- Bottom practitioner maintains at least one leg entangled with opponent’s leg, with the inside or outside leg hooking behind the opponent’s knee or across their thigh to prevent leg extraction and maintain positional connection throughout control phase
- Arms secure opponent’s leg across the torso in figure-four, gable grip, or over-under configuration, with hands positioned near the ankle or lower calf, maintaining constant pulling pressure toward the chest to prevent opponent from posturing away
- Hips remain close to opponent’s knee joint, positioned on the same side as the controlled leg, creating the necessary fulcrum for knee hyperextension, with torso angled to maximize leverage while preventing opponent from stepping over
Prerequisites
- Opponent’s leg has been isolated through guard pulling, scramble, or purposeful leg entanglement entry
- Bottom practitioner has established arm control around opponent’s leg with secure grip configuration
- Hip position has been optimized to create pressure angle against opponent’s knee joint
- Opponent’s ability to immediately extract leg has been neutralized through proper leg entanglement
- Bottom practitioner has assessed legal submission options based on competition ruleset
Key Defensive Principles
- Leg entanglement must prevent opponent from rotating their hips away or toward pressure
- Arm control transitions from loose control to tight finishing configuration as commitment increases
- Hip connection to opponent’s knee is maintained through constant pulling pressure with arms
- Kneebar finish requires breaking opponent’s defensive posture before full extension
- Failed finish attempts must immediately transition to alternate attacks or positional advancement
- Inside leg position offers more transitional options than outside leg configurations
- Opponent’s weight distribution determines optimal finishing angle and timing
Available Escapes
Kneebar Finish → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Inside Ashi Entry → Inside Ashi-Garami
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Saddle Entry from Top → Saddle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 55%
50-50 Entry from Standing → 50-50 Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Heel Hook → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 45%
Straight Ankle Lock → Straight Ankle Lock Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Toe Hold → Toe Hold Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Single Leg X Entry → Single Leg X-Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
X-Guard Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains strong defensive posture with knee bent and leg pressure resisting extension:
- Execute Inside Ashi Entry → Inside Ashi-Garami (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Straight Ankle Lock → Straight Ankle Lock Control (Probability: 45%)
If opponent’s leg becomes straightened and defensive posture breaks under pulling pressure:
- Execute Kneebar Finish → Won by Submission (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Heel Hook → Won by Submission (Probability: 45%)
If opponent rotates hips away from kneebar pressure to defend knee joint:
- Execute Saddle Entry from Top → Saddle (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Inside Ashi Entry → Inside Ashi-Garami (Probability: 65%)
If opponent attempts to step over entangled leg to clear knee line:
- Execute Single Leg X Entry → Single Leg X-Guard (Probability: 65%)
- Execute X-Guard Sweep → Mount (Probability: 50%)
If opponent creates significant distance and begins extracting leg from entanglement:
- Execute 50-50 Entry from Standing → 50-50 Guard (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Ashi Garami Escape → Open Guard (Probability: 40%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Direct Kneebar Finish
Kneebar Control Bottom → Pull leg to chest → Break defensive posture → Hip drive and back arch → Kneebar Finish
Kneebar to Heel Hook Chain
Kneebar Control Bottom → Inside Ashi-Garami → Saddle → Heel Hook
Ankle Lock Transition
Kneebar Control Bottom → Opponent creates distance → Straight Ankle Lock Control → Straight Ankle Lock
Positional Advancement Path
Kneebar Control Bottom → Single Leg X-Guard → X-Guard Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Toe Hold Alternative
Kneebar Control Bottom → Outside Ashi-Garami → Toe Hold Control → Toe Hold
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 35% | 40% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 50% | 55% | 30% |
| Advanced | 65% | 70% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 15-45 seconds before finish or transition required
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The kneebar from bottom position represents a critical component of any complete leg lock system, functioning not merely as an isolated submission but as a hub position that creates access to the entire spectrum of leg attacks. The mechanical principle underlying effective kneebar control involves creating a rigid lever system where your torso becomes the fixed point, your arms the binding mechanism, and your hips the force-generating component. The opponent’s knee joint, positioned at the fulcrum of this lever, experiences hyperextension when proper alignment is achieved. However, what separates elite leg lock practitioners from intermediate students is the understanding that the kneebar finish itself has relatively low percentage compared to heel hooks in modern competition, making the position’s primary value its role as a transitional hub. When the opponent defends the kneebar by rotating their hips, maintaining bent knee posture, or creating distance, these defensive reactions create predictable pathways to inside ashi garami, saddle, and other superior attacking positions. The systematic approach involves using the kneebar threat to generate movement, then capitalizing on that movement with higher-percentage attacks.
Gordon Ryan
In high-level no-gi competition, bottom kneebar control serves primarily as a forcing mechanism rather than a primary finishing position. My approach centers on using the kneebar threat to create specific defensive reactions that open pathways to heel hooks and positional advancement. When I establish kneebar control from bottom, I’m immediately evaluating whether the opponent’s defensive structure allows for a quick finish or whether I need to use their defense to enter saddle or inside ashi. The key competitive advantage comes from developing the sensitivity to recognize within 2-3 seconds whether the finish is available - if their leg straightens and posture breaks, I commit to the finish; if they maintain strong defensive structure, I’m already transitioning before they can consolidate their escape. Against elite opponents, the kneebar from bottom rarely finishes directly, but the threat creates the movement patterns necessary to access heel hooks, which represent far more reliable finishing mechanics. The position also serves as an excellent entry point for leg lock exchanges in 50-50 configurations, where understanding the timing of when to attack versus when to defend becomes the determining factor in who secures the submission first.
Eddie Bravo
The kneebar from bottom fits into the overall leg attack game as an entry-level position that opens up more sophisticated attacks as the opponent tries to defend. In the 10th Planet system, we use kneebar control as a waypoint rather than a destination - it’s where you end up when you’re transitioning between different leg entanglement configurations. The beauty of the position is that it’s relatively easy to enter from scrambles, failed guard passes, or anytime you can grab a leg, making it an accessible entry point even for less experienced students. However, the finish itself requires precise timing and often depends on the opponent making mistakes in their defense. Where the position really shines is in creating the framework for more advanced attacks like the Twister variations from truck position, or transitioning into electric chair setups from lockdown when the opponent tries to pressure pass through your leg entanglement. The psychological aspect also matters - once you threaten a few kneebars, opponents start reacting predictively, which opens up other attacks throughout the match. My advice is to develop comfort maintaining the control position under pressure, then systematically add the transitions to other leg attacks rather than over-committing to low-percentage finishes against prepared opponents.