Knee Cut

The Knee Cut Pass (also known as Knee Slice Pass) is one of the most fundamental and highest-percentage guard passing techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This pass works by cutting the knee across the opponent’s bottom leg while maintaining heavy shoulder pressure to prevent guard recovery. The technique creates a powerful diagonal line of force that pins the opponent’s lower body while your upper body controls their upper body, making it extremely difficult to retain guard. The Knee Cut is effective against virtually all open guard variations and is particularly powerful against Half Guard, De La Riva Guard, and Butterfly Guard. What makes this pass so reliable is its combination of pressure, angle, and the difficulty opponents face in creating frames once the knee begins its cutting motion. The pass transitions seamlessly into Side Control and can be chained with other passing sequences when met with resistance.

Starting Position: Half Guard Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%

Key Principles

• Maintain constant forward pressure throughout the entire passing sequence
• Cut the knee across opponent’s thigh at a 45-degree angle, not straight forward
• Keep chest-to-chest connection to prevent opponent from creating space
• Control opponent’s far hip with your hand to prevent hip escape
• Drive shoulder into opponent’s chin/chest to break their posture
• Step over opponent’s bottom leg completely before settling into side control
• Use opponent’s defensive reactions to chain into alternative passes

Prerequisites

• Establish grips on opponent’s collar and pants or sleeve
• Break opponent’s closed guard or establish open guard position
• Create enough space to position your knee between opponent’s legs
• Secure head control or collar grip to prevent opponent sitting up
• Achieve stable base with your feet positioned for forward drive
• Clear opponent’s guards hooks or grips that control distance

Execution Steps

1. Establish grips and posture: From Half Guard or open guard position, establish a strong collar grip with your lead hand and control the opponent’s far hip or pants with your other hand. Maintain upright posture with your head up and chest forward to prevent opponent from breaking you down. (Timing: Before initiating any forward movement)
2. Insert cutting knee: Drive your lead knee forward and across the opponent’s bottom thigh, positioning it at a 45-degree angle. The knee should cut diagonally toward the mat, not straight forward. Your shin creates a wedge that separates their legs and prevents guard recovery. (Timing: As opponent’s guard opens or when you create space)
3. Apply shoulder pressure: Immediately drive your shoulder into the opponent’s chin or upper chest while maintaining your collar grip. This pressure prevents them from sitting up or turning into you. Your chest should be heavy and connected to their torso throughout the pass. (Timing: Simultaneously with knee insertion)
4. Control far hip: With your hip-side hand, firmly pin the opponent’s far hip to the mat. This control is critical—it prevents them from shrimping away or recovering guard. Your palm should be flat against their hip bone, driving it toward the mat with constant pressure. (Timing: As you begin cutting the knee across)
5. Step over bottom leg: Continue driving the cutting knee across until your shin clears their bottom leg completely. Simultaneously step your back leg over their bottom leg, positioning it near their hip. Your hips should be getting progressively lower as you advance. (Timing: Once knee has cut halfway across their thigh)
6. Clear top leg and settle: Use your hip control hand to push the opponent’s top knee to the mat while you slide your cutting leg back and settle your hips. Transition your weight fully onto your side, establishing tight chest-to-chest connection. Release collar grip and establish standard side control position. (Timing: Final step as you achieve the pass)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent frames on your shoulder and creates distance with stiff arms (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Switch to Long Step Pass by stepping your back leg around their guard and attacking the opposite side, or drop your weight suddenly to collapse their frames before continuing the cut
• Opponent underhooks your cutting leg and locks it in place (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately switch to Double Under Pass or back step to take the back if they commit heavily to the underhook. Alternatively, elevate their hips and switch to Stack Pass
• Opponent shrimps away and recovers guard using hip escape (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Maintain hip control pressure and follow their movement, or switch to Leg Drag Pass by redirecting their legs to the opposite side as they shrimp
• Opponent locks deep half guard as you attempt to step over (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Do not force the pass—instead consolidate position in quarter guard and execute specific deep half guard passes or force them back to half guard before re-attempting
• Opponent establishes butterfly hook on cutting leg side (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Redirect pressure downward to flatten the hook, or backstep and switch to Toreando Pass if they extend the hook strongly

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Cutting the knee straight forward instead of at a diagonal angle
  • Consequence: Creates space underneath for opponent to retain guard or recover, and reduces the effectiveness of the wedge that separates their legs
  • Correction: Aim your knee at a 45-degree angle toward the mat on the opposite side of their body. The direction should be diagonal, not linear.
• Mistake: Failing to maintain constant shoulder pressure during the pass
  • Consequence: Allows opponent to sit up, establish frames, or turn into you to recover guard or initiate sweeps
  • Correction: Keep your chest heavy and connected throughout the entire sequence. Your shoulder should be driving into their chin/chest from start to finish.
• Mistake: Neglecting to control the far hip
  • Consequence: Opponent easily escapes by shrimping away from the pressure, creating space to recover guard
  • Correction: Prioritize pinning the far hip to the mat with firm, constant pressure. This is equally important as the knee cut itself.
• Mistake: Rising too high on your base during the pass
  • Consequence: Creates space underneath your hips that opponent can exploit to insert hooks or frames for guard recovery
  • Correction: Keep your hips progressively lower as you advance through the pass. By the time you complete it, your hips should be nearly on the mat.
• Mistake: Rushing the pass without establishing proper grips first
  • Consequence: Opponent easily defends with frames or redirects you into inferior positions
  • Correction: Take time to establish dominant grips and posture before initiating the cutting motion. A well-prepared pass is much more effective than a rushed attempt.
• Mistake: Allowing opponent to establish underhook on cutting leg side
  • Consequence: Gives opponent powerful leverage to prevent the pass or sweep you
  • Correction: Keep your cutting-side elbow tight to your ribs and maintain inside control. If they get the underhook, immediately address it before continuing.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Fundamental Mechanics - Learn proper knee cutting angle and hip control Practice the basic cutting motion with compliant partner. Focus on the diagonal angle of the knee, maintaining shoulder pressure, and controlling the far hip. Drill slowly with no resistance to build muscle memory for proper mechanics. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Timing and Grips - Develop grip sequences and entry timing Partner provides light resistance by attempting to maintain guard structure. Practice establishing grips from different guard positions (half guard, butterfly, de la riva) and timing your entry. Work on transitioning from grip establishment to knee insertion smoothly. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-6: Pressure Development - Build effective shoulder pressure and weight distribution Partner provides moderate resistance with frames and hip escapes. Focus on maintaining constant pressure while cutting. Practice keeping your weight distributed properly and learning to follow opponent’s defensive movements without losing position. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 7-8: Counter Defense - Recognize and defeat common defensive reactions Partner specifically attempts counters: frames, underhooks, shrimping, butterfly hooks. Practice identifying these defenses early and applying appropriate responses. Drill transitioning to alternative passes when knee cut is blocked. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-10: Chain Passing - Integrate knee cut into larger passing sequences Practice chaining knee cut with toreando, leg drag, and long step passes. Partner provides full resistance. Work on reading opponent’s reactions and fluidly switching between passing options based on their defensive choices. (Resistance: Full)

Week 11+: Live Application - Apply technique in positional sparring and full rolling Use knee cut pass against fully resisting opponents in live training. Start from various guard positions and attempt to implement the pass under realistic conditions. Identify personal weaknesses and continue refining based on what succeeds or fails in live situations. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Knee Cut with Crossface: Instead of collar grip, use a strong crossface with your forearm across opponent’s face. This variation provides even more control of their upper body and prevents them from turning into you effectively. (When to use: When opponent is particularly mobile and attempting to sit up or turn into you repeatedly. Also effective in no-gi where collar grips are unavailable.)

Knee Cut with Underhook: Secure an underhook on the far side instead of hip control. This variation allows you to elevate opponent’s far shoulder, further preventing guard recovery and creating a more direct path to side control or mount. (When to use: When opponent’s far arm is extended or available. Particularly effective against opponents who use butterfly hooks or attempt to create distance.)

Low Knee Cut (Knee Slide): Keep your knee very low to the mat with your shin flat as you cut across. This variation minimizes space underneath and is harder to underhook, though it requires more flexibility and hip mobility. (When to use: Against opponents who consistently underhook the cutting leg or when working against flexible guards like de la riva or spider guard.)

Knee Cut to Mount: After cutting the knee across, instead of settling to side control, continue stepping your back leg all the way over and establish mount position. Requires exceptional pressure and timing. (When to use: When opponent is flat on their back with limited ability to turn into you, or when they focus all defense on preventing side control and neglect mount defense.)

Reverse Knee Cut: Cut your knee in the opposite direction, going under their top leg instead of over their bottom leg. This creates a different angle of attack and can surprise opponents expecting the standard knee cut. (When to use: When opponent has anticipated the standard knee cut and established strong frames or underhooks on that side. The reverse angle attacks their unprepared side.)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the optimal angle for the cutting knee during the knee cut pass? A: The cutting knee should move at approximately a 45-degree diagonal angle toward the mat on the opposite side of the opponent’s body, not straight forward. This diagonal angle creates a more effective wedge that separates the opponent’s legs and makes it harder for them to recover guard or create frames.

Q2: Why is controlling the opponent’s far hip critical to the success of the knee cut pass? A: Controlling the far hip prevents the opponent from using hip escape (shrimping) to create distance and recover guard. The far hip control pins their lower body to the mat while your shoulder pressure controls their upper body, eliminating their primary escape mechanism and making the pass significantly more effective.

Q3: What should you do if your opponent establishes a strong underhook on your cutting leg? A: If the opponent secures a strong underhook on your cutting leg, you should immediately switch to an alternative passing strategy rather than forcing the knee cut. Options include transitioning to a double under pass, performing a backstep to attack the back if they’re committed to the underhook, or elevating their hips to execute a stack pass. Forcing the original pass against a strong underhook typically results in being swept.

Q4: How does the knee cut pass integrate into a larger passing system? A: The knee cut pass functions as a central technique in modern guard passing systems, chaining effectively with toreando passes, leg drags, and long step passes. When the knee cut is defended, the opponent’s defensive reactions (frames, underhooks, shrimping) create specific openings for these alternative passes. Elite passers use the threat of the knee cut to create these reactions, then exploit them with the appropriate follow-up technique.

Q5: What are the biomechanical principles that make the knee cut pass so effective? A: The knee cut pass creates a powerful force couple where shoulder pressure drives the opponent’s upper body one direction while the cutting knee and hip control drive their lower body in the opposite direction. This diagonal line of force from shoulder to hip makes it extremely difficult for the opponent to coordinate a defense affecting both their upper and lower body simultaneously. Additionally, the cutting knee creates a wedge that progressively eliminates space for guard hooks or frames as it advances.

Q6: How should weight distribution change throughout the progression of a knee cut pass? A: At the beginning of the pass, weight is distributed more evenly with a mobile base allowing movement. As the knee cuts across, weight should progressively shift forward and downward, with your hips getting lower and more pressure concentrating on the opponent’s upper body through your shoulder. By the completion of the pass, your hips should be nearly on the mat with maximum pressure on the opponent. This progressive weight shift prevents guard recovery while maintaining mobility during the critical cutting phase.

Q7: What is the relationship between the knee cut pass and the long step pass? A: The knee cut and long step pass are complementary techniques in a passing system. When an opponent defends the knee cut with strong frames or by creating distance, the long step pass becomes available by redirecting your movement around their guard rather than through it. Conversely, when defending the long step, opponents often create openings for the knee cut. Elite passers alternate between these passes based on opponent reactions, creating a passing dilemma where defending one creates vulnerability to the other.

Safety Considerations

The knee cut pass is generally a safe technique for both practitioners when executed properly. However, care should be taken to avoid driving excessive pressure into the opponent’s jaw or throat with your shoulder—aim for the chest or chin area with controlled pressure. When drilling, partners should communicate about pressure intensity to build tolerance gradually. The cutting knee should move smoothly across the thigh, not with sudden jerking motions that could strain the knee joint. Additionally, when defending against the knee cut, avoid inverting or twisting the spine excessively, as this can lead to back injuries. Instead, focus on frames, hip escapes, and guard retention fundamentals.

Position Integration

The knee cut pass is a cornerstone technique of modern BJJ guard passing systems and integrates seamlessly with multiple passing strategies. It serves as the primary pressure pass from half guard positions and works effectively against butterfly guard, de la riva guard, and various open guard configurations. The pass chains naturally into side control, knee on belly, or mount depending on opponent reactions. Within a larger passing system, the knee cut creates a foundation for pass chaining—when defended, it opens opportunities for toreando passes, leg drags, long step passes, and body lock passes. The technique also integrates with the headquarters position, where the passer maintains the cutting knee position to control the guard while setting up multiple passing options. Defensively, understanding the knee cut is essential for developing effective guard retention, as it represents one of the highest-percentage attacks guard players must defend against regularly.

Related Techniques

• Half Guard Pass - Primary application context
• Long Step Pass - Chain passing alternative
• Leg Drag Pass - Chain passing alternative
• Toreando Pass - Chain passing alternative
• Double Under Pass - Counter to underhook defense
• Side Control - Primary finishing position
• Knee on Belly - Alternative finishing position
• Headquarters Position - Control position during execution
• Underhook Pass - Related passing variation
• Smash Pass - Related pressure passing concept
• Deep Half Guard - Common defensive counter
• Guard Retention - Primary defensive concept

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The knee cut pass represents one of the most biomechanically sound guard passing techniques in our sport. What makes this pass so effective is the creation of a diagonal line of force that simultaneously controls both the opponent’s upper and lower body in opposite directions. The cutting knee creates a progressive wedge that eliminates space for defensive frames or guard hooks as it advances across the opponent’s thigh. The key technical detail most practitioners miss is the angle—the knee must cut at approximately 45 degrees toward the mat, not straight forward. This diagonal angle maximizes the wedge effect while minimizing the space underneath your hips that opponents can exploit. The shoulder pressure serves a dual purpose: it prevents the opponent from sitting up or creating defensive frames, while also driving their weight away from the direction they need to escape. When executed with proper mechanics, the knee cut pass creates a situation where the opponent’s defensive options are systematically eliminated through superior positioning and pressure distribution. This pass integrates perfectly into larger passing systems because the defensive reactions it creates—frames, underhooks, shrimping—all open specific vulnerabilities that can be exploited with complementary passing techniques.
• Gordon Ryan: The knee cut is probably my highest-percentage guard pass in competition because it combines pressure, control, and versatility better than almost any other passing technique. What I’ve found through hundreds of competition matches is that the key to a successful knee cut isn’t just the cutting motion itself—it’s the grip fighting and pressure you establish before you even start cutting. If you win the grip battle and establish dominant collar and hip control first, the actual pass becomes much easier because the opponent is already defending from a disadvantaged position. I use the knee cut as the centerpiece of my passing system because it chains so well with everything else. If someone frames hard against my knee cut, I immediately switch to long step or toreado. If they underhook my cutting leg, I can backstep to the back or transition to a double under pass. The threat of the knee cut creates reactions, and those reactions open up other passes. In no-gi especially, the crossface variation of the knee cut is incredibly powerful because you can use your forearm to control their head while cutting, making it nearly impossible for them to turn into you. The biggest mistake I see competitors make is trying to force the knee cut when it’s defended—at the highest levels, you have to be willing to switch passes instantly based on their defensive reactions.
• Eddie Bravo: The knee cut pass is fundamental, but where it gets really interesting is when you start playing with the angles and entries that people don’t expect. In the 10th Planet system, we use variations of the knee cut from unconventional positions—like entering it from the truck position or using it as a counter to lockdown when someone tries to hold you in half guard. One variation I love is the reverse knee cut, where you cut under their top leg instead of over their bottom leg. This completely changes the angle and catches people off guard who are prepared for the standard knee cut defense. We also combine the knee cut with calf slicing pressure when in no-gi, where as you cut the knee across, you can attack their trapped leg with a calf slicer if they refuse to let you pass. The key innovation we bring to the knee cut is treating it less as a single technique and more as a position where multiple attacks are available—you can pass, you can attack the leg, you can transition to the truck, or you can bait reactions and use their defense against them. The traditional knee cut is great, but when you add the 10th Planet mindset of constant innovation and attacking from unexpected angles, it becomes even more dangerous. Don’t just drill the standard version—experiment with different grips, different angles, and different entries to develop your own unique style of knee cutting.