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About This Technique
Knee Ride (Knee On Belly) Technique
The Knee Ride, also known as "Knee On Belly," is a controlling position leveraged in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu to maintain pressure on an opponent while in a relatively dominant position. It's an excellent technique for transitioning between positions, setting up submissions, or creating opportunities to strike in mixed martial arts.
Possible Position(s) for Knee Ride:
- Side Control
- Standing (in certain explosive transitions)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
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Starting from Side Control:
- Begin in a strong side control position, ensuring chest-to-chest contact to limit the opponent's movement.
- Your inner knee is tucked by their hip, and your other leg is sprawled out for stability.
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Frame the Body:
- Use your backward arm to post on the opponent's far hip, alleviating some pressure and preparing for movement.
- Your forward arm should control their near-side shoulder or neck.
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Create Separation:
- Glean back slightly with your upper body to create space and ease your next transitional movement.
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Post on the Opponent:
- Place your hand on the opponent's hip or knee with the backward arm, all the while keeping the forward arm exerting downward pressure on the opponent's upper body.
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Elevate the Hips:
- Simultaneously, shift your weight predominantly on your backward leg and slightly elevate your hips.
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Slide the Knee Across:
- Swiftly slide your forward knee across the opponent's abdomen, over the stomach area.
- Plant your knee on their belly while keeping the foot of the same leg off the mat and tucked near their hip.
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Balance Your Weight:
- Place your weight equally between your knee and foot, adopting an aggressive stance.
- Your free leg should extend for balance with toes dug into the mat, ready to counteract any attempt to off-balance you.
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Control and Stability:
- Maintain a firm grip on the opponent's arm or sleeve to prevent them from breaking your stability with bridging or framing.
- Occasionally, adjust your weight and pressure by shifting your posture, pushing the knee harder on their midsection.
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React to Opponent's Movements:
- Use the knee ride to transition into advanced positions or submissions if your opponent exposes openings (e.g., armbar, kimura, or taking the back as they try to escape).
Tips:
- Pressure: The technique works better if you maintain constant pressure on the opponent's abdomen, making them uncomfortable and limiting their breathing.
- Movement: Stay light and agile on your feet to react to sudden movements from the opponent.
- Transitions: Be ready to transition to another dominant position or submission whenever the opportunity arises.
How to Execute
# Knee Ride from Side Control
## Setup
- **Initial Position Details**: Begin in side control with your chest pinning your opponent's torso. Your hips should be low, and your knees should be close to your opponent to maintain control. Your head should be positioned on the side opposite to your opponent's head to maintain balance and pressure.
- **Grips and Controls Needed**: Establish a solid cross-face with your near-side arm under your opponent's head, gripping their shoulder. Your far-side arm should be controlling their far-side hip or underhooking their far-side arm. Maintain heavy shoulder pressure on their face to keep their posture broken.
## Steps
1. **Create Space**: Shift your weight slightly toward your opponent's head. Use your cross-face grip to apply pressure and keep your opponent flat. This slight shift creates space for your knee to move.
2. **Position Your Knee**: Slide your knee (nearest to their hips) across your opponent's stomach, aiming to place it on their solar plexus or just above their belt line. Your shin should be perpendicular to their body, and your foot should hover off the ground to prevent them from trapping it.
3. **Establish Control**: As your knee comes across, your far-side hand can transition to control their near-side arm by gripping their sleeve or wrist. This prevents them from pushing your knee off.
4. **Balance and Adjust**: Shift your weight onto your knee on their stomach while keeping your posture upright. Your other knee, which was controlling their near-side hip, should now come up and out slightly to help with balance. Your hands should be free to post or control, depending on your opponent's movements.
5. **Apply Pressure**: Lean slightly forward, using your body weight to apply pressure through your knee into their solar plexus. Keep your hips high and engage your core to prevent being swept.
## Key Points
- **Important Details to Remember**:
- Keep your knee high on their chest to maximize control and pressure.
- Maintain upright posture to stay balanced and ready to transition to other positions or submissions.
- Use your free hand to control your opponent's arms or to post for balance.
- **Common Mistakes to Avoid**:
- Avoid leaning too far forward, which can compromise your balance and make you vulnerable to sweeps.
- Don’t leave your foot on the ground, as it can be trapped, leading to a potential escape or sweep.
- Failing to maintain pressure with your knee can allow your opponent to create space and escape.
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