For our first private, Chuong and I worked on 1/2 guard passes. I have been having good success with the knee cutter, but this really opens up my game to a new level.

Knee Cutter - Low
  • get a deep under hook
  • put your head under the armpit, not by their head
  • don’t post on the top of your head, but move forward on your forehead
  • trap their other arm by the elbow reaching around from the outside. This will help move into scarf hold down the road
  • tripod to get knee past their hips. Do not start helping with the other leg until your knee is stabilized
  • once knee is past hips, put knee to mat and hip-switch
  • then, use other foot to free your foot if needed
  • pull up on their arm, and move and scarf hold

Knee Cutter - High
  • this is used when your opponent will not let you get the under hook
  • put your hand on their Hip
  • trap other arm by elbow
  • put your head down, and keep pressure on them with your head to keep them flat
  • tripod and pass, same as before

Knee Shield Block - Low
  • this is used when opponent tries to knee shield
  • with your outside arm, push their knee down to the mat
  • with your other arm, grab their collar and pulled their head close
  • then, put pressure with your body and hips and pushed knee up into their chest. “Load the spring"
  • sprawl, and slowly slide back until your leg is clear
  • pass into scarf hold

Knee Shield Block - High
  • if your opponent will not let you push their knee down
  • using outside arm, weave and grab by their lower knee
  • grab by collar with other arm
  • the pressure on them with your head to flatten them out
  • tripod and walk around to pass

If they kick a leg in while passing
  • step your inside knee between their legs
  • keep circling in the site control, making it uncomfortable for them
  • as they try to straighten out, take mount

Roll to take back from reverse scarf hold
  • can be used from any position, but works well if they are pushing on you with their arms as you are trying to pass from half guard. Also easy set up from side mount.
  • get near side arm under their armpit
  • switch hips into reverse scarf hold
  • either they will try to reach with their top leg to hook, or you can grab their top leg and pull it towards you
  • lock with your top leg by or above their knee
  • reach down and across them with your other hand, palm up on the mat
  • with your other hand, grab their other leg
  • role towards their feet
  • as they are on top of you, kick with the trapped leg to push them back
  • take back, or worst case, turn into side mount