# Kneebar

> A straight leg lock that controls the hips and knee while extending the leg between the attacker's body and arms.

- **Canonical page:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/kneebar
- **Markdown:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/kneebar.md
- **JSON:** https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/kneebar
- **Category:** submission
- **Format:** both
- **Level:** advanced
- **Aliases:** knee bar, hiza juji gatame, straight knee lock
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-25

## What it is

The kneebar resembles an armbar applied to the leg: the attacker controls the opponent's hip rotation, traps the thigh between the legs, and aligns the knee with the hips.

Entries appear from top half guard, K guard, saddle, 50/50, and rolling transitions. Because the defender can rotate the leg and because the knee has limited warning under load, controlled alignment matters more than fast extension.

## Key principles

- Control the opponent's hip so the knee cannot freely rotate.
- Keep your knees connected above the captured knee line.
- Align the kneecap before applying any extension.
- Finish slowly and release immediately on a tap.

## Common entries

- **K guard:** Capture the far leg and extend into hip control.
- **Top half guard:** Backstep around the trapped leg while keeping the opponent's hips contained.
- **Saddle:** Change from rotational control to a straight line through the knee.


## Productive next actions

- **Inside heel hook:** Change to rotational control only where legal and safely supervised.
- **50/50:** Re-entangle the leg if the opponent turns the knee line.
- **Top position:** Follow the defensive rotation and settle above the hips.


## Defensive priorities

- **Bend the knee:** Recover heel-to-hip connection before the leg is fully aligned.
- **Clear the hip line:** Move the knee outside the attacker's leg control before rotating.
- **Turn with the kneecap:** Match the leg's alignment while separating the attacker's knees.

## Rules and safety

Leg-lock legality changes substantially by age, belt, division, and ruleset. Reaping and the finishing mechanic may be regulated separately. Confirm 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

- [K Guard](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/k-guard)
- [Inside Heel Hook](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/inside-heel-hook)
- [50/50 Guard](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/fifty-fifty)
- [Straight Ankle Lock](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/straight-ankle-lock)

## Associated athletes

- [Elisabeth Clay](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/elisabeth-clay): American submission hunter, 2017 ADCC Trials winner, WNO champion, Polaris Grand Prix winner, and multiple-time IBJJF World No-Gi champion.
- [Garry Tonon](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/garry-tonon): New Jersey no-gi pioneer, five-time EBI champion, 2019 ADCC bronze medalist, and ONE Championship MMA title challenger.
- [Tye Ruotolo](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/tye-ruotolo): Atos twin prodigy, youngest IBJJF black-belt World champion, two-division WNO titleholder, and ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion.
- [Haisam Rida](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/haisam-rida): Ghanaian submission hunter, ADCC veteran, B-Team heavyweight, and 2026 ADCC EMEA Trials +99 kg champion.

## Sources

- [IBJJF rule book and rules resources](https://ibjjf.com/books-videos) — rules
- [ADCC official rules and legal-technique guides](https://adcc-official.com/pages/adcc-rules) — rules

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