KNEE CUT PASS
Passagem de Joelho Cortado
In Short
The knee cut pass is the most-used guard pass in modern competitive jiu jitsu, functioning effectively in both gi and no-gi contexts. It works by slicing one knee across the inside of the opponent's far leg while pinning their near leg with shoulder pressure. This technique converts the opponent's defensive framing into the pass itself, making it difficult to stop without giving up the back.
Also known as: Knee Slice, Knee Slide, Corte de Joelho
The knee cut pass is the single most-used guard pass at every level of modern competitive jiu jitsu. It works in the gi and no-gi, it functions against beginners and against world champions, and unlike many guard passes its mechanics scale up rather than down — the same movement that finishes a sweep at white belt finishes a sweep at the absolute final of the Mundial. Its dominance is the product of a simple structural insight: the most efficient way to pass guard is not to go around the legs but through them, by slicing one knee across the inside of the opponent's far leg while pinning their near leg with shoulder pressure.
The entry begins from a partial half guard or a pummeled open guard. The passer cups the back of the bottom player's same-side knee with one arm, drives their own near knee across and inside the bottom player's near thigh, and brings their head to the far side of the bottom player's near shoulder. The passing knee slides across the inside line of the bottom player's far leg, the rear leg posts wide to prevent being underhooked, and the chest stays low and heavy across the bottom player's collarbones. As the passing knee crosses, the back leg drops to the mat and the passer arrives in tight side control with the cross-face and underhook already in place.
What makes the knee cut so effective is that it converts the bottom player's most common defensive reaction — framing on the passer's biceps to stop the pressure — into the pass itself. The knee slides under the frame, the head pins the frame against the mat, and the bottom player's hands are forced to give up the frame to defend the shoulder pressure. Once the knee has crossed the centerline, the pass is almost impossible to stop without giving up the back, which is why elite competitors who specialize in the knee cut, like Lucas Lepri and Tainan Dalpra, routinely score on opponents who know exactly what is coming.
The knee cut became the dominant pass of the modern era after the Mendes brothers and Atos refined it for high-level berimbolo and 50-50 defense in the early 2010s. Today it is the foundational pass taught alongside the torreando and the over-under in every serious competition program, and it is the pass most commonly used at the top of the ADCC and IBJJF brackets.
KEY POINTS
- 01Cup the back of the bottom player's near knee to control their hip and prevent recomposition.
- 02Drive the passing knee across and inside the bottom player's near thigh — the knee cuts through, not over.
- 03Place the head to the far side of the bottom player's near shoulder, pinning their frame against the mat.
- 04Post the rear leg wide and heavy to prevent the bottom player from underhooking and rolling.
- 05Maintain chest-to-chest pressure throughout the cut — the knee slides because the pressure is forcing it through.
- 06Land in tight side control with the cross-face and underhook already established, not as an afterthought.
COMMON MISTAKES
- ✕Driving the knee over the leg instead of cutting through the inside line — the bottom player simply re-establishes a hook.
- ✕Posting the rear leg too narrow, allowing an underhook and a back-take recovery.
- ✕Letting the head pop up off the bottom player's shoulder, which opens space for them to reframe and recover guard.
- ✕Releasing the knee grip too early; without that control the bottom player's hip resets.
- ✕Rushing the pass before the chest pressure is established — the cut without pressure is a giveaway.
TRAINING DRILLS
- →Knee-cup-and-cut drill: 50 reps per side from a partial half guard, isolating the knee cup and the inside knee cut.
- →Pressure walk: from chest-to-chest contact, slowly walk the passing knee across the centerline while maintaining pressure, no resistance.
- →Rear-leg post drill: practice positioning the rear leg wide enough to defend an underhook, partner attempts to underhook for 30-second rounds.
- →Live half-guard top: roll exclusively from half-guard top with the only allowed pass being the knee cut.
- →Cut to cross-face transition: every knee cut rep finishes with an explicit cross-face and underhook before disengaging.
NOTABLE PRACTITIONERS
Lucas Lepri · Tainan Dalpra · Rafael Mendes · Andre Galvao
Frequently Asked
- What is the entry position for the knee cut pass?
- The entry begins from a partial half guard or a pummeled open guard. The passer cups the back of the bottom player's same-side knee with one arm and drives their own near knee across and inside the bottom player's near thigh.
- Why is the knee cut pass so effective against defensive frames?
- It converts the bottom player's common defensive reaction of framing on the passer's biceps into the pass itself. The knee slides under the frame, the head pins the frame against the mat, and the bottom player's hands are forced to give up the frame to defend the shoulder pressure.
- What are the key mechanical points for executing the pass?
- Key points include cupping the back of the near knee to control the hip, driving the passing knee through the inside line, placing the head to the far side of the near shoulder, and posting the rear leg wide to prevent underhooks. Chest-to-chest pressure must be maintained throughout the cut.
- What are common mistakes to avoid when performing the knee cut?
- Common mistakes include driving the knee over the leg instead of cutting through, posting the rear leg too narrow, letting the head pop up off the shoulder, releasing the knee grip too early, and rushing the pass before establishing chest pressure.