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.
Starting Position: Open Guard Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%
Key Principles
- Establish dominant grips on collar and pants before initiating the pass
- Drive knee across opponent’s thigh line at perpendicular angle to their hips
- Maintain constant forward pressure with chest and shoulder
- Keep passing-side knee tight to opponent’s hip to prevent re-guard
- Control opponent’s far leg with pants grip to prevent recovery
- Transition weight smoothly from knees to chest as pass completes
- Suppress opponent’s frames by staying chest-to-chest throughout
Prerequisites
- Open guard position established with opponent’s legs not crossed
- Dominant grip secured on opponent’s collar or cross-collar
- Pants grip or underhook established on passing side
- Base established with one knee up, one knee down
- Hip mobility to drive knee perpendicular to opponent’s body
- Posture maintained to prevent opponent from breaking you down
Execution Steps
- Establish grips and posture: From open guard, establish a dominant cross-collar grip with your lead hand (thumb inside) and control the opponent’s same-side pants at the knee with your other hand. Maintain upright posture with your chest forward, preventing them from breaking your posture down. Your weight should be centered over your hips, ready to drive forward. (Timing: Begin with stable base before movement)
- Step up to combat base: Bring your passing-side leg up into combat base position (foot flat on the mat, knee up). Your other leg remains posted with knee down for stability. The standing leg should be positioned slightly wide for balance. Drive your hips forward slightly to begin pressuring their guard structure. (Timing: Transition smoothly to maintain balance)
- Control far leg: Using your pants grip, pull the opponent’s far leg across their body and pin it to the mat. This grip prevents them from inserting hooks or creating defensive frames with that leg. Your grip should be firm on the pants material near the knee, controlling the leg without allowing it to escape or create space. (Timing: Secure control before cutting knee)
- Drive knee through thigh line: Step your passing-side knee forward and across the opponent’s near thigh, driving it perpendicular to their body. Your knee should cut between their legs, with your shin creating a wedge that separates their defensive structure. Keep your knee tight to their hip to prevent them from recovering guard. Your weight should begin shifting forward onto this cutting knee. (Timing: Cut knee as you control far leg)
- Establish shoulder pressure: As your knee cuts through, drive your shoulder forward into the opponent’s chest, using your collar grip to pull them into your pressure. Your chest should be heavy on their upper body, creating a crossface-like pressure that turns their head away and suppresses their ability to frame. Your hips drive forward, collapsing the space between your bodies. (Timing: Pressure increases as knee advances)
- Clear the far leg: With your pants grip, actively push or pull the opponent’s far leg away from your body and past your hips. This leg must clear your centerline completely to prevent them from recovering half guard. Some passers push it over their back, others swim it past their far hip. The key is complete clearance. (Timing: Clear leg before settling weight)
- Transition to side control: Once the far leg is cleared, transition your weight from your knees to your chest, settling into side control. Your cutting knee can now extend back as you establish side control consolidation. Secure crossface control with your collar grip transitioning to an underhook or head control. Your hips should be heavy on the mat, perpendicular to the opponent’s body. (Timing: Settle weight gradually for stability)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent frames on your hip and creates space to recover guard (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Switch to underhook control before they can frame, or transition to long step position to clear their frames. Maintain constant forward pressure so frames cannot extend fully.
- Opponent establishes knee shield and blocks the knee cut (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Use your collar grip to break down their posture, or transition to knee shield pass variations. Alternatively, switch to other passing angles like over-under or leg drag rather than forcing the knee cut.
- Opponent rolls to their knees (turtle position) as you cut through (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow their movement and transition to turtle attacks. Maintain your grips and take back control or establish front headlock position. Do not abandon your forward pressure.
- Opponent locks half guard with their far leg as you pass (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: This is the most common counter - your far leg clearance was incomplete. Immediately address the half guard by freeing your trapped leg using knee slice from half guard or transitioning to half guard passing sequences.
- Opponent sits up and attempts to take your back (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Maintain heavy chest pressure to prevent them from coming up. If they begin to sit, immediately sprawl your legs back and windshield wiper your hips to face them, or transition to front headlock control.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the correct angle for your cutting knee relative to the opponent’s body during the knee cut pass? A: The cutting knee should drive perpendicular (90 degrees) to the opponent’s centerline, bisecting their guard structure. This perpendicular angle creates maximum separation between their legs and prevents them from closing their guard or creating effective frames. A parallel or shallow angle allows space for guard recovery.
Q2: Why is controlling the opponent’s far leg critical to the success of the knee cut pass? A: The far leg is the primary tool the opponent has to recover guard once you begin cutting your knee through. If uncontrolled, they can use this leg to establish half guard, create defensive hooks, insert butterfly hooks, or establish frames that prevent the pass. Controlling and clearing this leg past your hips is essential to completing the pass to side control.
Q3: How should your weight distribution change throughout the knee cut pass from initiation to completion? A: Initially, your weight is centered over your hips in combat base. As you cut your knee through, weight shifts forward onto the cutting knee while maintaining chest pressure. Finally, as the far leg clears, weight transitions from your knees to your chest, settling heavy into side control. The transition should be smooth and continuous, never lightening up or sitting back.
Q4: What is the most common defensive response to the knee cut pass and how should you counter it? A: The most common counter is the opponent establishing frames on your hips and shoulders to create space and prevent your forward pressure. Counter this by transitioning to underhook control before frames can fully extend, maintaining constant forward pressure so frames cannot lock out, or switching angles to long step or leg drag positions that circumvent the frames entirely.
Q5: Explain the strategic advantage of the knee cut pass over purely pressure-based or purely movement-based passes? A: The knee cut combines elements of both pressure and movement passing, making it adaptable to different defensive styles. The forward pressure component controls the opponent’s upper body and prevents them from creating space, while the perpendicular knee movement bisects their guard structure and creates a path to pass. This dual nature means it works against both passive defenders (who rely on frames) and active defenders (who try to recover guard with movement), making it universally applicable across skill levels and body types.
Q6: How can you integrate the knee cut pass into a systematic passing approach that chains multiple techniques together? A: The knee cut serves as an excellent hub technique in passing systems because failed attempts create specific opponent reactions that open other passes. If they block with knee shield, transition to over-under or leg drag. If they turtle, move to front headlock or back take. If they recover half guard, employ half guard passing sequences. If they frame heavily, switch to toreando or long step. By reading their defensive response to your knee cut attempt, you can systematically flow to the appropriate counter-pass, making your overall passing game more dynamic and difficult to defend.
Safety Considerations
The knee cut pass is generally a safe technique with minimal injury risk when practiced correctly. The primary safety concern involves knee pressure on the opponent’s thigh - avoid driving your knee with excessive force into their thigh muscle, which can cause bruising or muscle strain. When receiving the knee cut, tap if you feel excessive pressure on your knee joints or hip joints, particularly if your leg is trapped in an awkward position. When drilling, start with light pressure and gradually increase resistance as both partners develop familiarity with the technique. Beginners should avoid forcing the pass when encountering strong resistance, as this can lead to loss of balance and potential injury. Always maintain control of your weight distribution to avoid collapsing onto your partner’s legs or knees. When defending, do not explosively bridge or roll while your partner’s weight is committed to the pass, as this can cause both partners to fall awkwardly.
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.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The knee cut pass represents a perfect intersection of biomechanical efficiency and tactical pressure application. The fundamental principle at work is the creation of perpendicular force vectors that bisect the opponent’s defensive structure while simultaneously applying downward pressure that suppresses their ability to create frames. What makes this pass particularly effective from a systematic perspective is that it combines elements of both pin-based and movement-based passing - you are simultaneously pinning their upper body with shoulder pressure while moving your lower body through their guard structure. The key technical detail that separates effective knee cuts from ineffective ones is the angle of the cutting knee - it must be truly perpendicular to their centerline, not at 45 degrees or parallel. This perpendicular angle creates maximum separation between their legs while keeping your knee tight to their hip, eliminating the space they need to recover guard. From a systematic training perspective, the knee cut should be developed in conjunction with leg drag and over-under passes, as these three techniques form a comprehensive pressure passing system where the defense to one pass opens the other. The opponent’s reaction to your knee cut attempt tells you which alternative pass to employ, creating a decision tree that makes your passing increasingly difficult to defend as you become more sensitive to their defensive movements.
- Gordon Ryan: The knee cut is my go-to pass in competition because it’s extremely high percentage when executed with proper pressure and timing. What people don’t understand about this pass is that it’s not just about getting your knee across - it’s about making your entire body heavy and making the opponent carry your weight in the worst possible way for them. When I cut my knee through, I’m not just moving my leg, I’m shifting my entire center of gravity forward and down onto their chest and hips simultaneously. This creates a crushing pressure that makes it almost impossible for them to create the frames they need to defend. The biggest mistake I see people make is being too light on the pass - they’re up on their toes or their weight is back on their heels. You need to commit your weight forward and make them feel like they’re being buried. In competition, I use the knee cut as both a primary pass and as a setup for other techniques. If someone is defending the knee cut really well, that defense usually opens up leg drags or back takes. But the key is that you have to threaten the knee cut legitimately - not just fake it, but really try to pass with it. That forces them to commit to defending it, which opens everything else. Another huge detail: that far leg has to be completely cleared past your hips. I see so many people get 90% of the way through the pass and then get their leg caught in half guard because they didn’t clear that far leg properly. When you clear it, you need to actively push or pull it past your centerline - don’t just hope it clears itself.
- Eddie Bravo: The knee cut is a fundamental pass that works at all levels, but where it gets really interesting is when you start combining it with other attacks and using it to set up submissions. From a 10th Planet perspective, we’re always thinking about what happens when passes get defended - that’s when the real magic happens. When someone defends your knee cut by getting to their knees or turtling up, that’s actually a perfect entry into our truck system or front headlock attacks. We don’t see a defended pass as a failure - we see it as a transition opportunity. One variation I really like is using the knee cut as an entry to calf slicers and toe holds when you’re in the leg entanglement game. If you’re cutting your knee through and they lock half guard on you, instead of being frustrated, you can immediately transition to leg attack positions. Another thing we emphasize is the knee cut from weird angles and inverted positions - sometimes when you’re in a scramble or they’re trying to berimbolo, a perfectly timed knee cut can shut down their entire game and put you directly into side control. The creativity comes in recognizing when that perpendicular angle presents itself, even from unorthodox positions. We also train a lot of knee cut passing from rubber guard and mission control attacks - if your opponent is attempting these positions and you can time your knee cut properly, you can often pass before they establish their controls. The key is staying creative and not thinking of the knee cut as just one technique, but as a principle of perpendicular movement that can be applied from multiple positions and setups.