Move of the Day

Knee Cut Pass

Split the guard, pin the far hip, and walk your knee through to side control.

The knee cut (knee slice) is the workhorse pass of modern gi and no-gi. You do not smash through both legs. You isolate one, staple the far hip, and slide your cutting knee to the mat on the far side while your trailing knee stays connected.

The steps

1. 01From standing or combat base, get a strong cross-face or far-side collar and a grip on the near hip or pants.
2. 02Step your cutting knee over their bottom thigh so your shin splits their legs.
3. 03Drop your hip and long-step the trailing leg back to kill their underhook.
4. 04Drive the cutting knee to the far hip, chest toward their far shoulder.
5. 05Clear the bottom leg, settle your hip, and lock side control before they shrimp.

Details that matter

• If they underhook your cutting-side hip, you are about to get swept. Kill that underhook first.
• Look at their far ear, not at the legs you are passing. Your chest follows your eyes.
• Do not rush the slide. Pin the hip, then cut. Loose hips refill the guard.

Video walkthroughs live on the BJJ Everyday YouTube.

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