# Knee-Cut Pass

> A pressure pass that drives one knee across the opponent's thigh while controlling the upper body and clearing the hips.

- **Canonical page:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/knee-cut-pass
- **Markdown:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/knee-cut-pass.md
- **JSON:** https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/knee-cut-pass
- **Category:** pass
- **Format:** both
- **Level:** fundamental
- **Aliases:** knee slice, knee slide, knee-through pass
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-25

## What it is

The knee-cut pass turns the passer's hips sideways and slides the lead knee across the guard player's thigh. The lower-body movement succeeds only when paired with upper-body control: an underhook, collar grip, crossface, or strong head position prevents the guard player from following the hip turn.

The pass appears from headquarters, half guard, reverse De La Riva, and open-guard scrambles. Its common dilemma is between the knee cut and a backstep or long-step direction when the guard player blocks the hip.

## Key principles

- Win the underhook or equivalent inside upper-body control.
- Point the lead knee beyond the opponent's hip, not into their frame.
- Keep the trailing foot active until the knee line is clear.
- Settle shoulder control before releasing the lower-body pin.

## Common entries

- **Headquarters:** Staple one leg between yours and turn the lead knee across the thigh.
- **Half guard:** Flatten the shoulders and progressively free the trapped knee.
- **Reverse De La Riva:** Control the inside hook and connect the upper body before sliding through.


## Productive next actions

- **Side control:** Clear the hip line and settle chest-to-chest with far-side control.
- **Mount:** Walk the knee higher when the defender's elbows separate from the torso.
- **Backstep:** Change direction when the guard player overcommits to blocking the knee cut.


## Defensive priorities

- **Knee shield:** Frame across the torso before the passer closes shoulder distance.
- **Reverse De La Riva:** Hook the lead leg and keep the passer's knee from crossing the hip line.
- **Underhook:** Turn onto the side and build toward a wrestle-up or back exposure.

## Rules and safety

Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.

This guide is descriptive, not remote coaching. Learn potentially dangerous submissions, inversions, and takedowns with a qualified instructor. Release immediately when a training partner taps.

## Related techniques

- [Side Control](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/side-control)
- [Half Guard](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/half-guard)
- [Reverse De La Riva](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/reverse-de-la-riva)
- [Mount](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/mount)

## Associated athletes

- [Tainan Dalpra](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/tainan-dal-pra): Four-time IBJJF World Champion (gi) middleweight and AOJ star under Guilherme Mendes—one of the most dominant gi competitors of his generation.
- [Ffion Davies](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/ffion-davies): Welsh ADCC world champion, two-time IBJJF gi world champion, and one of Europe's most accomplished modern grapplers.
- [Amy Campo](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/amy-campo): American ADCC +60 kg world champion, IBJJF gi and no-gi world champion, and Zenith black belt under Eduardo Mori.
- [Ana Carolina Vieira](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/ana-carolina-vieira): Five-time IBJJF World champion, 2024 ADCC −65 kg champion, Aviv Jiu-Jitsu co-founder, and sister of Rodolfo Vieira.

## Sources

- [IBJJF rule book and rules resources](https://ibjjf.com/books-videos) — rules

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*Published by Ossmeta as part of the living jiu-jitsu database. Prefer citing https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/knee-cut-pass and check the last-reviewed date for rules-sensitive claims.*