How to Correctly Set Up The Knee Cut Pass
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Standard Knee Slice Pass·JonThomasBJJ·Added by Admin
This video I go through one of my favorite ways to set up the knee cut pass. A lot of people focus on the details to fi…
Standard Knee Slice Pass
Genusニースライスパス(Nī Suraisu Pasu)
TransliterationTranslation: knee slice pass
Overview
The knee slice pass is the single most common guard pass in modern competitive BJJ, where the passer's shin acts as a wedge splitting the opponent's legs at a 45-degree diagonal angle while upper body control (underhook and crossface) prevents the guard player from recovering. [1] Popularized at the highest levels by Romulo Barral (5x IBJJF World Champion) and Lucas Lepri (5x IBJJF World Champion), the knee slice has roots in judo newaza but became dominant in competitive BJJ from the mid-2000s onward. [2] At the 2022 IBJJF Mundials, the knee cut was the number-one method of passing among black belt competitors.
Knee Slice PassKnee Cut PassKnee Slide PassFlecha
History & Origin
The knee slice pass has roots in judo newaza predating modern BJJ but became truly dominant in competition from the mid-2000s onward. Romulo Barral (5x IBJJF World Champion, medium-heavy; ADCC 2008 gold) developed what is described as 'perhaps the most devastating pass in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.' [1] Lucas Lepri (5x IBJJF World Champion) is widely considered one of the greatest guard passers ever, building his system around precision knee cuts. [2]
Effectiveness
The knee slice is the single most common guard pass at IBJJF World Championships year after year. At the 2022 Mundials (190 matches, adult male black belt), the knee cut was the most dominant way to pass the guard. Guard passing itself is rare — the average match sees only ~0.2 passes — but when a pass IS completed, the passer wins approximately 99.6% of the time. [1][2]
Lineage
The knee slice pass evolved from judo newaza fundamentals through decades of BJJ competition refinement. Romulo Barral and Lucas Lepri elevated it to the dominant guard pass of the modern era through systematic development and repeated world championship success.
Competition Record
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Shin acts as a wedge splitting opponent's legs at a 45-degree angle, pinning the bottom leg to the mat while upper body drives forward
Force Vector — Diagonal drive of knee across opponent's thigh, combined with crossface or collar grip pressure that flattens opponent's spine
Leverage Principle — Passer's full body weight drives through the shin wedge; head pressure into opponent's far shoulder kills bridging ability
Finishing Mechanic — Once the knee passes the hip line, hips slide through to establish side control or knee-on-belly
Position & Entry
From half guard — Establish crossface and win the far-side underhook, drive knee diagonally across opponent's thigh at 45 degrees
From open guard — Control opponent's knee or shin, step knee through between their legs and drop weight to pin
From headquarters position — Danaher system launching point — choose knee slice vs leg drag based on opponent's reaction to initial pressure
Variants
Standard knee slice with underhook and crossface — the fundamental version from half guard
Knee slice with collar grip — Romulo Barral's signature, thumb-in collar grip instead of underhook
Flying knee cut — Lucas Lepri's dynamic version launched from standing with momentum
Long step knee slice — combining a long step backward to clear the bottom leg before sliding through
Knee slice from open guard — applied against De La Riva, Reverse DLR, Spider, and Butterfly guards
Knee slice to mount — continuing the slide past side control directly into mount position
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Very low danger — positional advancement technique with no joint manipulation, choke, or impact; minor knee pressure on the thigh is the only discomfort
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
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
✓The knee slice pass is universally regarded as the most important guard pass in BJJ. Romulo Barral's instructional is literally titled 'Death by a Thousand Knee Cuts,' reflecting how his entire passing game centers on this technique. Lucas Lepri built his 5x World Championship passing system around precision knee cuts. The underhook is the single most critical element — winning the far-side underhook correlates with approximately 90% pass success rate. Without the underhook, the bottom player can establish their own underhook and take the back. The knee must drive at a 45-degree angle, not straight forward, to maximize power and make framing difficult for the guard player. Head pressure into the opponent's far shoulder is essential to flatten their spine and prevent the turn-in that leads to reguarding. At the 2022 IBJJF World Championships, among 190 black belt matches with 46 total guard passes recorded, the knee cut was the number-one passing method. When a guard pass is completed in IBJJF competition, the passer wins approximately 99.6% of the time, making guard passing one of the most decisive actions in competitive grappling.
Common Mistakes
!Not winning the underhook — without it, pass success drops dramatically and the opponent can take the back
!Knee not past the hip line — the pass is incomplete and reversible until the knee clears the opponent's hip
!Not using head pressure — without driving the head into the far shoulder, the opponent can turn in and reguard
!Hips too high — passer should keep hips low for proper weight distribution through the wedge
!Not controlling the far arm — allows opponent to frame against the shoulder and create distance
!Driving straight forward instead of at 45 degrees — loses mechanical advantage and makes the pass easier to defend
Related Techniques
Toreando Pass — commonly chained when opponent defends knee slice by pushing legsLeg Drag Pass — alternative lateral pass when knee slice stallsD'Arce Choke — available during the passing motion when opponent turtlesBaseball Bat Choke — gi submission threat during the knee slice transitionLong Step Pass — hybrid technique combining long step with knee slice entry
Counter Techniques
Knee Shield — top knee placed sideways across passer's hip, creating a structural barrierUnderhook Fight — winning the far-side underhook prevents the pass from completingDeep Half Guard Entry — reach under own leg to secure passer's ankle, transition to deep half guardLeg Lasso — loop outside leg onto passer's biceps or shoulder, reset to spider guardBack Take — if passer fails to secure underhook, bottom player can take the back
Setup Chain
1Establish Top Position — begin inside opponent's guard with good posture
2Win the Underhook — secure far-side underhook, the single most critical element
3Establish Crossface or Collar Grip — control opponent's upper body to prevent turning in
4Drive Knee at 45 Degrees — wedge shin diagonally across opponent's thigh
5Pin Bottom Leg to Mat — complete the wedge by driving knee to the floor
6Slide Hips Through — once knee passes hip line, slide through to side control
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) — Guard Passing
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Competition statistics — [1] BJJ Heroes — 2022 IBJJF World Championships statistics and guard passing analysis
2BookPassing the Guard (Beneville & Cartmell, 2009)
Technique instruction — [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) — brown belt guard passing chapter
3BookDeath by a Thousand Knee Cuts (Barral, Jiu Jitsu X)
System instructionals — Death by a Thousand Knee Cuts (Barral), Master the Move: Knee Cut (Danaher), Precision Knee Cut Passes (Lepri)
4BookMaster the Move: Knee Cut (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
5BookPrecision Knee Cut Passes (Lepri, BJJ Fanatics)
6OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
7CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Competition statistics — [1] BJJ Heroes — 2022 IBJJF World Championships statistics and guard passing analysis
8CitationPassing the Guard (Beneville & Cartmell, 2009)
Technique instruction — [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) — brown belt guard passing chapter
9CitationDeath by a Thousand Knee Cuts (Barral, Jiu Jitsu X)
System instructionals — Death by a Thousand Knee Cuts (Barral), Master the Move: Knee Cut (Danaher), Precision Knee Cut Passes (Lepri)
10CitationMaster the Move: Knee Cut (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
11CitationPrecision Knee Cut Passes (Lepri, BJJ Fanatics)
Community
Athletics
Requires
good base and balance, hip mobility for diagonal drive
Favours
medium build — not too tall or short for optimal angle mechanics
Key muscles
quadriceps, hip flexors, core stabilizers, neck muscles (for head pressure)
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I actually go for a knee slice pass?
According to Jon Thomas, timing is critical—you need to choose the right moment based on your opponent's positioning. Specifically, when you see wide leg positioning from your opponent, that's an ideal time to attack the knee slice. You can't force the technique; instead, you have to read what your opponent gives you.
What's the biggest mistake people make with the knee slice pass?
Jon Thomas emphasizes that most people don't pay attention to their opponent's leg positioning before attempting the pass. They rush in and get caught in a knee shield, which shuts down the technique before it starts.
How should my body weight be positioned when executing the knee slice?
Jon Thomas teaches that you should aim for the lapel or shoulder while dropping your body weight onto the opponent's knee or thigh to create a 'wishbone effect' that pries the hips open. Your weight should be positioned so it can drop down and prevent them from re-establishing an underhook.
How does the Standard Knee Slice Pass work?
The knee slice pass is the single most common guard pass in modern competitive BJJ, where the passer's shin acts as a wedge splitting the opponent's legs at a 45-degree diagonal angle while upper body control (underhook and crossface) prevents the guard player from recovering. Popularized at the highest levels by Romulo Barral (5x IBJJF World Champion) and Lucas Lepri (5x IBJJF World Champion), the knee slice has roots in judo newaza but became dominant in competitive BJJ from the mid-2000s onward.
Where does the Standard Knee Slice Pass come from?
The knee slice pass has roots in judo newaza predating modern BJJ but became truly dominant in competition from the mid-2000s onward. Romulo Barral (5x IBJJF World Champion, medium-heavy; ADCC 2008 gold) developed what is described as 'perhaps the most devastating pass in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Is the Standard Knee Slice 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 Standard Knee Slice Pass?
Danger rating 2/10. Very low danger — positional advancement technique with no joint manipulation, choke, or impact; minor knee pressure on the thigh is the only discomfort
How do I set up the Standard Knee Slice Pass?
The standard setup chain: Establish Top Position → Win the Underhook → Establish Crossface or Collar Grip → Drive Knee at 45 Degrees → Pin Bottom Leg to Mat → Slide Hips Through.
How do I defend against the Standard Knee Slice Pass?
Standard counters include: Knee Shield — top knee placed sideways across passer's hip, creating a structural barrier / Underhook Fight — winning the far-side underhook prevents the pass from completing / Deep Half Guard Entry — reach under own leg to secure passer's ankle, transition to deep half guard / Leg Lasso — loop outside leg onto passer's biceps or shoulder, reset to spider guard.
What are the variants of the Standard Knee Slice Pass?
Common variants: Standard knee slice with underhook and crossface (the fundamental version from half guard); Knee slice with collar grip (Romulo Barral's signature, thumb-in collar grip instead o…); Flying knee cut (Lucas Lepri's dynamic version launched from standing with…); Long step knee slice (combining a long step backward to clear the bottom leg be…); Knee slice from open guard (applied against De La Riva, Reverse DLR, Spider, and Butt…); Knee slice to mount (continuing the slide past side control directly into moun…).
How effective is the Standard Knee Slice Pass in competition?
The most frequently completed guard pass at IBJJF World Championships. Romulo Barral: 5x IBJJF World Champion (medium-heavy), ADCC 2008 gold.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Knee Slice Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Not winning the underhook — without it, pass success drops dramatically and the opponent can take the back / Knee not past the hip line — the pass is incomplete and reversible until the knee clears the opponent's hip / Not using head pressure — without driving the head into the far shoulder, the opponent can turn in and reguard / Hips too high — passer should keep hips low for proper weight distribution through the wedge.
What are other names for the Standard Knee Slice Pass?
The Standard Knee Slice Pass is also known as Nī Suraisu Pasu, Knee Slice Pass, Knee Cut Pass, Knee Slide Pass, Flecha.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the knee slice the most popular guard pass?
Data from IBJJF World Championships shows the knee slice as the number one method of passing guard at black belt level. It works because: (1) The shin acts as a wedge that is mechanically difficult to stop. (2) It chains naturally with other passes — if they defend, you can backstep, leg drag, or switch to toreando. (3) It works from half guard, open guard, and De La Riva guard — the most common guards you will face.
How important is the underhook in the knee slice pass?
Critical — approximately 90% of knee slice passes succeed when the passer wins the far-side underhook. Without the underhook, the bottom player can take your back when you slice through. The underhook battle IS the knee slice battle. If you cannot win the underhook, consider switching to a different pass (backstep, toreando, or body lock).
What is the best counter to the knee slice pass?
The knee shield is the first line of defense — place your top knee sideways across the passer's hip to create a structural barrier. If that fails, fight for the underhook on the far side — winning the underhook prevents the pass and opens up back takes. For a more aggressive counter, enter deep half guard by reaching under the passing leg. At high levels, inverting to reguard or counter-attacking with leg locks are also common.