Head Pressure Knee Cut

Begin by breaking the De La Riva guard and stepping over the leg. Get comfortable in a squatted position, ready to react to the opponent's movements. Anticipate the opponent trying to kick over and use their momentum to transition into a knee cut. Post your hand on the mat and look for the underhook with your right arm as you move into the knee cut.

Control the opponent's tricep and ensure your forearm and elbow are on the inside before walking to your left into the knee cut position. Instead of underhooking and controlling by the hip, grip the middle of the pants to make it difficult for the opponent to maintain half guard.

If the opponent has a strong half guard, apply head pressure by placing your forehead under their chin, forcing them to look up. Use your left hand to grip the middle of their collar on the back, and pull the collar while driving forward with your head. Maintain this pressure until you drop your hip to the mat and clear their legs.

After passing, walk your hips towards the opponent to prevent them from turning into you. Instead of gripping the hip, place your hand on the mat, using your whole arm to block their hip. Follow their movements without using grip strength to maintain control. Add head pressure to make the pass uncomfortable, adjusting the pressure based on your relationship with your training partner.

Throughout the technique, ensure you have inside control and use the tricep grip to pull the opponent with you. When finishing the knee cut, drop your hip to the mat without stopping, to avoid giving the opponent space to recover. Block the hip with your arm and switch to a strong cross face to secure the position.