The Knee Cut Pass (also known as Knee Slice Pass) is one of the most fundamental and high-percentage guard passes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This technique involves driving your knee across the opponent’s thigh line while establishing control over their upper body, effectively bisecting their guard structure and creating a direct path to side control. The knee cut’s effectiveness lies in its ability to combine forward pressure with perpendicular movement, making it difficult for the opponent to retain guard once the pass is properly initiated.
What makes the knee cut particularly powerful is its versatility across all levels of competition and training. From white belt fundamentals to black belt world championships, this pass remains a staple because it creates multiple layers of control - hip pressure, shoulder pressure, and weight distribution - all working together to suppress the opponent’s defensive frames. The technique also serves as an excellent entry point into other passing sequences, making it a cornerstone of modern passing systems.
The knee cut pass represents a perfect marriage of pressure passing and movement-based passing. Unlike purely smash passes that rely on static pressure, or purely speed passes that rely on rapid movement, the knee cut combines both elements. The passer must maintain constant forward pressure while simultaneously cutting their knee through the opponent’s leg line, creating a dynamic pass that adapts to defensive reactions. This dual nature makes it both highly effective and highly technical, requiring practitioners to develop sensitivity to weight distribution and timing.
From Position: Open Guard (Top) Success Rate: 65%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 65% |
| Failure | Half Guard | 15% |
| Failure | Open Guard | 10% |
| Counter | Open Guard | 10% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Establish dominant grips on collar and pants before initiati… | Deny the cross-collar grip and pants grip early through acti… |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 5 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Establish dominant grips on collar and pants before initiating the pass
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Drive knee across opponent’s thigh line at perpendicular angle to their hips
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Maintain constant forward pressure with chest and shoulder throughout the pass
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Keep passing-side knee tight to opponent’s hip to prevent re-guard
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Control opponent’s far leg with pants grip to prevent recovery
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Transition weight smoothly from knees to chest as pass completes
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Suppress opponent’s frames by staying chest-to-chest throughout
Execution Steps
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Establish grips and posture: From open guard top, establish a dominant cross-collar grip with your lead hand (thumb inside) and c…
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Step up to combat base: Bring your passing-side leg up into combat base position (foot flat on the mat, knee up). Your other…
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Control far leg: Using your pants grip, pull the opponent’s far leg across their body and pin it to the mat. This gri…
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Drive knee through thigh line: Step your passing-side knee forward and across the opponent’s near thigh, driving it perpendicular t…
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Establish shoulder pressure: As your knee cuts through, drive your shoulder forward into the opponent’s chest, using your collar …
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Clear the far leg: With your pants grip, actively push or pull the opponent’s far leg away from your body and past your…
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Transition to side control: Once the far leg is cleared, transition your weight from your knees to your chest, settling into sid…
Common Mistakes
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Cutting the knee too shallow or parallel to opponent’s body instead of perpendicular
- Consequence: Creates space for opponent to recover guard, allows them to insert hooks or establish frames, and reduces pressure effectiveness
- Correction: Ensure your knee drives at a 90-degree angle to their centerline, creating a true bisection of their guard structure. Your shin should be perpendicular to their spine.
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Standing up too high during the pass, reducing pressure
- Consequence: Opponent can easily create frames and space, sit up to attack, or recover guard position. Loss of control over their movement.
- Correction: Stay low with your chest pressure driving forward throughout the entire pass. Your weight should transfer from knees to chest, never lightening up.
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Failing to control the far leg before cutting knee through
- Consequence: Opponent easily recovers to closed guard, half guard, or uses the free leg to create defensive frames and space
- Correction: Always secure and pin the far leg before initiating the knee cut. This leg must be controlled throughout the entire passing sequence.
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Deny the cross-collar grip and pants grip early through active hand fighting before the pass sequence begins
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Insert knee shield or shin frame before the cutting knee crosses your thigh line to create a structural barrier
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Maintain hip mobility by staying on your side rather than flat on your back, which preserves escape angles
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Frame on the passer’s shoulder and hip simultaneously to prevent chest-to-chest pressure from establishing
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Control the cutting knee with your near hand to redirect or stall its forward progress across your body
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Create distance with your hips through shrimping the moment you feel forward pressure beginning
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Time counterattacks to the passer’s forward weight shift when their base is most compromised
Recognition Cues
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Opponent secures cross-collar grip with thumb inside and grabs your pants at the knee, establishing the two key grips for the pass
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Opponent steps one foot up into combat base position with the passing-side knee raised, signaling the pass is about to initiate
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Opponent begins driving their knee forward and across your thigh line while pulling your far leg with their pants grip
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Opponent’s chest begins dropping forward and their shoulder drives toward your face, establishing the crossface pressure that completes the pass
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Your far leg is being controlled and pulled across your own body, removing your ability to insert defensive hooks
Defensive Options
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Insert knee shield by placing your shin across opponent’s chest or hip before their knee cuts through - When: Early in the pass sequence when you recognize combat base and the initial forward drive. Must be established before their knee crosses your thigh line.
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Frame on opponent’s shoulder and hip with both arms to prevent chest-to-chest connection while shrimping hips away - When: When opponent has begun the knee cut but has not yet established full shoulder pressure. Your frames must get in before their chest drops onto you.
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Underhook on the passing side and come up to dogfight position to threaten back take or sweep - When: When the passer’s weight commits forward during the knee cut, creating an opportunity to get underneath them. Best when their collar grip is loose or you can beat it.
Position Integration
The knee cut pass is a fundamental component of modern BJJ guard passing systems and serves as a central hub technique that connects to multiple positions and techniques. From open guard, it provides a direct path to side control, one of the most dominant positions in BJJ. The pass integrates seamlessly with pressure passing systems, where it often follows toreando passes or precedes over-under passes in systematic sequences. When the knee cut is defended, it naturally transitions to headquarters position, from which multiple passing options emerge. The technique also chains effectively with leg drag passing - if the knee cut is blocked on one side, many passers immediately switch to leg drag on the opposite side. In competition settings, the knee cut serves as both a primary passing technique and a setup for other passes, with elite competitors using feints and partial knee cut attempts to create reactions that open other passing lanes. The position also connects to front headlock control when opponents turtle in response, and to back take opportunities when opponents attempt to sit up during the pass. Understanding these connections transforms the knee cut from an isolated technique into a systematic passing approach.