Knee Slice Pass BJJ: White Belt Biomechanical Guide
☰Contents
Master the Knee Slice Pass with this biomechanically accurate guide for white belts. Learn grips, weight distribution, and injury prevention.
White
This pass starts from a dominant position, typically Side Control or north-south, aiming to break down the opponent's guard and establish a superior control position like side control or mount.
White belts often struggle because they rely on brute force instead of precise body mechanics, leading to stalled passes or giving up dominant positions.
The key insight is using your knee as a wedge to create space and your hips to drive forward, minimizing reliance on upper body strength for the pass.
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Grips & Mechanics
- Grip: Secure a cross-collar grip with your right hand and a sleeve grip (e.g., opponent's left sleeve) with your left hand.
- Hip Angle: Lower your hips to the mat, ensuring your right knee is angled slightly inward towards the opponent's hip.
- Weight Transfer: Shift your weight onto your left leg, creating a base while your right leg begins its slicing motion.
- Slicing Motion: Drive your right knee forward and across the opponent's body, aiming to place it near their hip crease.
- Frame Creation: As your right knee slices, use your left forearm to apply downward pressure on the opponent's far shoulder or bicep to prevent them from shrimping away.
- Hip Drive: Simultaneously, drive your hips forward and down, pushing your pelvis towards the opponent's hip as your knee slices through.
- Control Establishment: Once your knee is past their hip, transition your right leg to hook their far hip or leg, and secure side control by pinning their hips with your chest and hips, maintaining collar and sleeve control.
⚠️ White Belt Warnings
- Incorrect Knee Placement: Driving your knee directly into the opponent's thigh can hyperextend their knee or cause ligament damage (ACL/MCL) if they bridge or twist away suddenly. The correct movement is to slice the knee across their hip crease, not into their limb.
- Head Forward Pressure: Leaning your head forward and down without proper hip connection can lead to neck strain or injury if the opponent initiates a guillotine choke. Maintain an upright posture with your head off the center line, looking towards the ceiling.
- Knee-on-Ground Landing: Landing your slicing knee directly flat on the mat without a slight inward angle can cause knee cap pain or stress on the patellar tendon. The knee should land with a slight tuck and angle, ready to drive forward.
Drill Progressions
- Solo Hip & Knee Movement: Practice the hip-driving and knee-slicing motion without a partner. Focus on hip rotation and knee trajectory. (50 reps each side)
- Partnered Static Position: Start in side control with a compliant partner. Practice establishing grips and performing the knee slice motion, focusing on hip pressure and knee placement without resistance. (10 reps)
- Partnered Slow Resistance: Partner offers light resistance by keeping their guard closed. Practice the full knee slice pass sequence, focusing on breaking the guard and driving through. (10 reps)
- Partnered Guard Break & Slice: Partner attempts to maintain guard. You focus on breaking the guard and executing the knee slice pass. (10 reps)
- Controlled Sparring (Guard Pass Focus): Spar with a partner, with the goal of only passing guard. Your partner's objective is to defend. Focus on correct mechanics. (3 x 3 minute rounds, 75% resistance)
- Live Rolling: Execute the knee slice pass during live rolling with no specific objective other than to pass guard. (5 x 5 minute rounds, 90-100% resistance)
When to Use & Counters
- WHEN TO ATTEMPT:
- When the opponent attempts to establish a closed guard and you have established a strong cross-collar and sleeve grip.
- When the opponent opens their guard and their hips are slightly angled away from you, creating an opening.
- When you are in side control and the opponent is trying to shrimp away, creating a natural angle for the slice.
- PRIMARY COUNTERS:
- Shrimping Escape: If the opponent successfully shrimps away before the knee slices through, immediately re-establish side control or transition to a leg drag pass.
- Guard Retention Frame: If the opponent frames with their forearm against your neck or shoulder, use your free hand to peel their arm away or transition to a different pass like a torreando pass.
- Turtle Transition: If the opponent turtles to escape, follow them and secure a seatbelt grip to prevent them from standing up or transitioning to their back.
Related Video
Watch step-by-step breakdowns from black belt instructors:
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📋 Competition Rules
⚙️ Recommended Gear
Common BJJ Problems & FAQ
Knee pain during the Knee Slice Pass often stems from landing your knee directly flat on the mat or driving it into the opponent's thigh. This can cause patellar tendonitis or stress on the knee joint. Ensure you angle your slicing knee slightly inward, aiming for the hip crease, and maintain a slight bend in the knee as it connects, protecting the joint.
Against a larger opponent, leverage and timing are crucial. Focus on creating a tight cross-collar grip to control their head and prevent them from posturing up. Drive your hips forward with maximum force as your knee slices, using your body weight to unbalance them. Do not try to muscle through; use the biomechanical advantage of driving your shoulder into their hip as you pass.
The Knee Slice Pass is most effective when the opponent's legs are relatively tight and they are attempting to maintain a closed or Half Guard. It excels at breaking down these tighter guards by creating a strong internal pressure. The Torreando pass is generally better when the opponent's legs are more open, allowing you to circle around their hips easily.
🥋 Related Techniques
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