Knee Pick
Takedown · Standing
A knee pick from a collar-and-sleeve grip: from standing to side control without going to your knees. The moment is when his weight sits on the lead leg; help it there by pulling his head down with the collar grip. Step your lead foot outside his lead foot at a 45-degree angle so he cannot step straight back, drop your level with bent knees, head tight to his ribs, and cup behind his lead knee with your free hand. Pull the knee toward you while the collar hand drives his head down and back: two directions at once take his base away. Keep your head above his hips so you give no guillotine, and stay on your feet to follow. If he steps the leg back, the ankle pick is next.
How to do it
- With your collar grip pull their head down so the weight comes onto the lead leg. Upper body control comes first: without it they simply step the leg back.
- Step your lead foot outside their lead foot to make a 45-degree angle, so they cannot step straight back away from you.
- Drop your level with bent knees, back straight, head tight to their ribs and above their hips, eyes forward.
- Cup behind their lead knee with your free hand, palm behind the joint, keeping your head tight to their ribs.
- Pull the knee toward you while the collar hand drives the head down and back: two directions at once. Stay on your feet and follow to side control.
Key details
- Upper body control first, then the angle, then the knee: the collar puts the weight on the leg, the angle stops the retreat.
- Pull the knee, drive the head: two directions at the same time take away their base.
- Keep your head above their hips so you do not give a guillotine.
- Stay on your feet so you can follow to the top.
Common mistakes
- Reaching for the knee without upper body control. — Their weight is not on the leg: they simply step it back. — Collar grip first, then the angle, then the knee.
- Attacking straight from the front. — They step back and there is no angle. — Step outside their lead foot first.
- Head dropped too low. — Your head goes below their hips: they catch the front headlock or a guillotine. — Head tight to their ribs, eyes forward.
If they defend
- They sprawl the hips back. → Keep the collar grip and come back up to your stance.
How to drill it
Partner stands in stance, 10 knee picks each side: pull the head, step outside, pick the knee.
Safety
The partner sits down backwards: pull the knee, never twist it.
What comes next