Knee Through Guard Pass
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Knee-In-The-Middle Pass·TrainFightWin
www.TrainFightWin.com This is a basic Knee Through Guard Pass.
Knee-In-The-Middle Pass
SubFamilyニーインザミドルパス
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Knee-In-The-Middle Pass is a guard passing technique where the passer drives one knee directly through the centre of the opponent's guard, splitting the legs apart from the inside — a fundamental kneeling pass that works by establishing a wedge in the centre of the guard structure. [1] This differs from the knee slice (which goes diagonally across the thigh) by targeting the centre gap between the legs. [1],[2]
Knee Shield PassKnee Split Pass
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Developed within the modern BJJ competition passing evolution. [1]
Competition Record
Used at IBJJF and ADCC competition. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Navigating past the opponent's guard legs using this specific passing mechanic to achieve side control
Joints Involved — Hips (hip switching and pressure), knees (cutting, wedging, or stepping), hands (grips on pants or legs for control)
Force Vector — Varies by technique — forward pressure for knee-based passes, lateral for toreando variations, backward for backstep
Pass Mechanic — Each variant exploits a specific guard weakness: knee passes split the guard from inside, toreando variants outflank from outside, backstep approaches from behind, and pressure variants flatten through heavy contact
Position & Entry
From headquarters position — Initiate this pass from the standard headquarters stance based on the opponent's guard reaction
From standing — Begin the pass from a standing position in front of the opponent's open guard
From guard break — After breaking the closed guard, transition directly into this passing technique
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Guard passes carry minimal injury risk for both fighters under normal conditions
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal — transitioning past opponent's legs is part ...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Drill this pass from the appropriate starting position until the mechanics are automatic
✓Chain this pass with 2-3 other passes to create an unpredictable passing system
✓Grip fighting before the pass is as important as the pass itself
✓Practice against progressive resistance
Common Mistakes
!Not establishing grips before initiating
!Not consolidating with crossface after passing
!Only passing to one side
!Rushing without reading the guard player's position
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish Position
2Strip Grips
3Initiate Pass
4Navigate Legs
5Consolidate Side Control
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Modern BJJ passing methodology [2] Competition passing analysis
2BookBJJ competition analysis
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Modern BJJ passing methodology [2] Competition passing analysis
5CitationBJJ competition analysis
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip mobility, grip strength, timing
Favours
athletic ability, good reflexes
Key muscles
core, quadriceps, forearms
Sub-techniques
Notes
The knee-in-the-middle pass drives the knee into the center of the opponent's guard to split their legs and create a passing lane. A fundamental pressure passing concept. (Jiu-Jitsu University, Ribeiro)
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stand up slowly or quickly when starting the knee-in-the-middle pass?
According to TrainFightWin, it depends on the context: in Brazilian jiu-jitsu matches, standing slowly maintains better posture, but in faster-paced MMA or submission grappling, popping up quickly is more effective.
How do I use my opponent's arms to stand up from guard?
TrainFightWin recommends using inside arm control on your opponent to push yourself up into a standing stance, or alternatively using their ribs as a leverage point.
How do I avoid getting caught in half guard when my leg comes through?
Keep the foot of your passing leg pinned onto your opponent's thigh as it comes through, which prevents them from trapping you in half guard.
What should I do with my shoulder to prevent my opponent from taking my back?
Swim your shoulder over and put all your body weight across your opponent to prevent them from bumping you off and taking your back during the transition to side mount.
How does the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass work?
The Knee-In-The-Middle Pass is a guard passing technique where the passer drives one knee directly through the centre of the opponent's guard, splitting the legs apart from the inside — a fundamental kneeling pass that works by establishing a wedge in the centre of the guard structure. This differs from the knee slice (which goes diagonally across the thigh) by targeting the centre gap between the legs.
Where does the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass come from?
This passing technique is part of the modern BJJ guard passing curriculum, refined through competition at IBJJF and ADCC.
Is the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points; IJF: legal — Legal — transitioning past opponent's legs is part of newaza; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points; Unified MMA: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — guard passes carry minimal injury risk for both fighters under normal conditions
How do I set up the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass?
The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Strip Grips → Initiate Pass → Navigate Legs → Consolidate Side Control.
How do I defend against the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass?
Standard counters include: Guard retention / Frame and shrimp / Sweep timing / Re-guarding.
What are the variants of the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass?
Common variants: Standard execution (the fundamental version of this pass); Modified version (adapted for specific guard types); Chain variant (transitioning to this pass from another pass that was def…).
How effective is the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass in competition?
Used at IBJJF and ADCC competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Not establishing grips before initiating / Not consolidating with crossface after passing / Only passing to one side / Rushing without reading the guard player's position.
What are other names for the Knee-In-The-Middle Pass?
The Knee-In-The-Middle Pass is also known as Knee Shield Pass, Knee Split Pass.