The Knee Slice from De La Riva Guard is one of the highest-percentage guard passes against the DLR framework, targeting the guard’s fundamental weakness: its reliance on the hook-ankle grip connection for structural stability. The top player systematically strips the DLR hook and drives their knee across the bottom player’s thigh line, using crossface pressure and hip drive to cut through to side control. This pass directly addresses DLR’s primary control mechanism by eliminating the hook before initiating forward passing pressure, which prevents the guard player from executing berimbolo entries or sweep sequences during the pass.
The effectiveness of this technique lies in its sequential approach to dismantling the guard structure. Rather than attempting to pass through an established DLR framework—which plays into the guard player’s strengths—the knee slice first neutralizes the hook through grip fighting and leg positioning, then exploits the momentary structural collapse to drive through. The crossface or collar grip serves as the primary upper body anchor, preventing the guard player from turning into the passer or inverting for counter-attacks. When the timing is correct, the knee slice creates an irreversible passing momentum that overwhelms the bottom player’s ability to recover.
What makes this pass particularly valuable in competition is its role as a chain-passing hub. Failed knee slice attempts naturally flow into backstep passes, leg drags, and toreando sequences, making it an excellent first option in a multi-directional passing system. Conversely, other passes that partially break down the DLR structure feed directly into the knee slice as a finishing technique. This dual function as both primary attack and chain-passing connector makes the Knee Slice from DLR an essential technique for any serious guard passer facing modern De La Riva players.
From Position: De La Riva Guard (Top) Success Rate: 55%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 40% |
| Success | Half Guard | 15% |
| Failure | De La Riva Guard | 30% |
| Counter | Back Control | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Address the DLR hook and ankle grip before initiating any fo… | Maintain DLR hook tension and ankle grip as the primary defe… |
| Options | 8 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Address the DLR hook and ankle grip before initiating any forward passing pressure—the hook must be neutralized or significantly weakened before the knee begins to cut
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Establish dominant upper body control through crossface or collar grip to prevent the guard player from inverting, framing, or turning into you during the pass
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Commit explosively to the knee slice once the hook is cleared, eliminating the dead zone between hook removal and pass initiation where the guard player can reset
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Drive your knee across the thigh line at hip level with your shin pressing diagonally, not across the abdomen where the bottom player can trap your leg in high half guard
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Maintain constant forward hip pressure throughout the cutting motion to flatten the bottom player and remove their ability to create angles or hip escape
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Develop chain-passing awareness so that defended knee slice attempts flow immediately into backstep, toreando, or leg drag alternatives without resetting
Execution Steps
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Establish controlling grips: Secure a strong collar or lapel grip with your lead hand while your trail hand controls the bottom p…
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Strip the DLR ankle grip: Use your trail hand to peel the bottom player’s hand off your ankle or pants cuff by pushing their w…
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Neutralize the DLR hook: Push your hooked knee forward and away from the bottom player’s hooking foot while circling your leg…
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Pin the far knee to the mat: Use your free hand or your knee to drive the bottom player’s top knee toward the mat on the pass sid…
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Drop knee across their thigh line: Lower your lead knee to the mat, cutting across the bottom player’s thigh line with your shin pressi…
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Drive crossface pressure: Establish a strong crossface by driving your shoulder into their chin or jaw while your collar grip …
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Slide knee through and clear legs: Continuing your forward drive, slide your knee completely past their thigh line while maintaining he…
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Consolidate side control: Establish hip-to-hip connection with heavy shoulder pressure as you settle into side control. Secure…
Common Mistakes
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Initiating the knee slice before stripping the DLR hook and ankle grip
- Consequence: Bottom player uses the intact hook to off-balance you during the forward drive, resulting in a sweep or back take as your weight commits forward into their strongest leverage angle
- Correction: Always complete the hook removal sequence before committing to the knee slice. Address the ankle grip first, then clear the hook, then initiate the cut. These are sequential phases, not optional steps.
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Maintaining upright posture without establishing crossface during the knee cut
- Consequence: Bottom player frames on your chest and creates space to re-establish guard, insert a knee shield, or initiate sweep and inversion entries that exploit your elevated center of gravity
- Correction: Drop your weight forward and drive crossface pressure as you initiate the knee slice. Your shoulder should be driving into their jaw before your knee begins cutting across their thigh line.
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Cutting the knee too high across the abdomen instead of across the thigh line at hip level
- Consequence: Bottom player traps your leg in a high half guard position with strong frames around your torso, stalling the pass and creating sweep opportunities from half guard bottom
- Correction: Aim your knee to cut across the thigh line at hip level. The shin should press diagonally across their hip crease, not across their stomach or ribcage.
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Maintain DLR hook tension and ankle grip as the primary defensive barrier—these two connections must be preserved together to keep the guard structure intact and threatening
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Use your non-hooking leg actively to frame on the passer’s hip or bicep, preventing them from closing distance and establishing the crossface that powers the knee slice
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React to grip stripping attempts with immediate offensive threats—sweeps, inversions, or transitions that punish the passer for releasing control to fight grips
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Keep hips mobile and angled perpendicular to the passer at all times, as being flat on your back removes your ability to generate sweep leverage or initiate inversions
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Recognize the sequential nature of the knee slice and focus on disrupting early phases before the pass builds irreversible momentum
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When the DLR hook is compromised beyond recovery, immediately transition to a secondary guard such as knee shield half guard or butterfly guard rather than fighting to re-establish DLR from a weakened structure
Recognition Cues
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Passer begins actively stripping your ankle or pants grip with their free hand while maintaining upright posture and base
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Passer pushes their hooked knee forward and away from your hooking foot, attempting to clear the DLR hook through direct force or angular movement
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Passer’s weight shifts forward and downward as they begin dropping their lead knee toward the mat across your thigh line
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Passer establishes a crossface or deep collar grip and drives shoulder pressure toward your chin, indicating they are preparing to anchor the upper body for the cut
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Passer performs a backstep motion with their trapped leg, attempting to extract it from behind your calf using angular movement rather than direct pulling
Defensive Options
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Re-establish DLR hook before the knee touches the mat by immediately re-hooking when the passer clears your foot - When: During the early grip-fighting phase when the passer has stripped your hook but has not yet established the knee line or crossface
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Invert for berimbolo as the passer commits their weight forward during the knee slice drive - When: When the passer commits forward momentum during the knee slice and their weight is over your body, creating the ideal angle for an inversion entry
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Insert knee shield by bringing your top knee across the passer’s body to block the cutting knee from completing its path - When: When the passer has cleared your DLR hook and begun the knee cut but has not yet driven past your thigh line
Position Integration
The Knee Slice from DLR occupies a central position in the guard passing hierarchy against open guard systems. It serves as both a standalone high-percentage pass and a key node within longer passing chains against DLR players. The technique connects naturally to the toreando, leg drag, and backstep passing systems—failed knee slice attempts flow into these alternatives while successful hook removal from other passes feeds directly into the knee slice as a finishing technique. This pass is the default follow-up whenever the DLR hook structure begins to break down, making it the single most important technique for any practitioner who regularly faces De La Riva guard players in training or competition. Its integration with both pressure-based and mobile passing philosophies ensures relevance across all body types and athletic profiles.