Tuesday, June 14, 2005

BJJ Move #14: Knee-in-Butt Pass

Here is another way to break the closed guard open that is significantly easier than the standard method.

WARNING! These techniques could result in serious injury or death if practiced incorrectly or even if performed correctly. They should only be practiced with the supervision of an experienced instructor.

Knee-in-Butt Pass:
-reversal
-basic

This is a good pass for when someone keeps you from getting upright posture in his guard. It is also very low-energy, so you can use it repeatedly without exposing yourself to submissions and sweeps.

Get flat against your opponent’s chest and brace your hands against his armpits, either with your palms or with the webs of your thumbs.
Scoot back with your feet so his legs are crossed high on your back, then pop up on both feet, keeping him braced with your arms.
You will be bent over at the waist with your legs straight; this will look a lot like the “downward facing dog” yoga pose.
Step one foot (here, the right) forward under your shoulders and to the center, with your instep about lined up with where his crotch is.
Then sit down so your right shin is perpendicular to the ground and is pressing in between your opponent’s legs on his butt. The pressure there, combined with pressure against his legs from your back, pops his legs open. Don’t lean your shin forward at an angle; you don’t want to knee him in the butt or catch his butt between your foot and shin—-you want his butt/crotch pressed against your upright shin, creating maximum distance between his crotch and crossed feet with your shin and back. It’s important that you don’t sit down leaning forward; sit back, and his legs will pop open naturally.
If they don’t pop open immediately, use your hands to push down and forward on his hips and they will.
When his legs pop open, you can pass a number of ways.



Easy pass from knee in butt pass:

From above, after his feet pop open, here is an easy way to pass.
Slide your right shin (it’s the one pointing up) across your opponent’s left thigh, planting your right knee to the ground.
Swim your right arm underneath your opponent’s left arm as you take cross side.

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