Combat Sports
Knee-Slice Guard Pass
The knee-slice guard pass is a grappling technique that slides your knee across a partner’s thigh to reach side control. It develops coordinated hip movement, upper-body control, and balance.
- Intermediate
- Compound
- Moderate injury risk
- Rest 45 sec
How to do it
- Face your partner’s open guard in a staggered stance, with your lead foot between their thighs and your other foot wide outside their legs.
- Thread one arm beneath their far-side upper arm to secure an underhook.
- Control their near-side elbow with your free hand.
- Slide your lead knee diagonally across the thigh on your passing side to the mat beside their hip.
- Draw your lead foot clear of their legs.
- Circle your trailing leg past their knees.
- Settle beside their torso in light side control, with your chest facing theirs.
Form cues
- Keep your chest low.
- Move your hips with your knee.
- Keep your underhook elbow close.
Common mistakes
- Twisting out a trapped footBack up slightly to free your foot rather than rotating your body against their grip.
- Driving straight forwardAngle your pelvis toward the passing side so your knee travels across the thigh rather than into their torso.
Safety
Turning while a foot is trapped can strain either partner’s knee. Dropping your weight during the finish can injure your partner’s ribs or shoulder.
- Use a clear, padded training area.
- Agree on the starting position, endpoint, and a stop signal before each set.
- Practice with a cooperative partner offering no resistance before adding light resistance.
- Stop immediately for a tap, pain, or unexpected joint pressure.
If either partner has knee, hip, or shoulder pain or a recent injury, get advice from a physiotherapist or doctor before partner drilling.
Muscles worked
Primary muscles
Secondary muscles
Equipment
- Combat Training Mat
Sets and reps
- Sets
- 2–3
- Target
- 4–6 reps per side
- Rest
- 45 sec
Count each completed pass as one rep, resetting to the same starting position between repetitions.