Fighters Only

Issue 073

March 2011

Peter Irving is a professional welterweight fighter and Fighters Only’s resident fight expert for the last three years. Irving has fought in Europe and the USA and coaches fighters in London.

The knee ride can be used as a knee on your opponent’s stomach or a knee on their sternum. The knee on your opponent's stomach offering greater control over the hips; the knee on sternum offering greater control of the shoulders and causing more discomfort.

3 MINUTE CLINIC

Posture

In order to maintain your balance on the ride, have your chest proud. Bend too far down and you’ll be more easily bridged off. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions the top man must demonstrate good posture to score for a knee ride.

Slightly Bent Supporting Leg

Maintaining a slight bend in your supporting leg allows you to exert maximum pressure from on top. With your leg too straight and your foot too far away you’ll sacrifice some balance and can be pushed off the ride more easily – or have your foot captured and be swept if your foot’s too close and the angle of your leg too acute.

The Knee

When riding the sternum, exert maximum pressure through your knee. When riding the stomach, pressure should be exerted evenly across your shin to control both of your opponent’s hips.

KNEE RIDE

1 Pete has his knee on Mikey’s sternum.

2 Pete grabs Mikey’s collar with his far hand, pulling Mikey's chin to his chest and restricting his respiration.

3 Mikey tries to relieve pressure from the collar tie and knee ride by lifting his head and slipping his hips out away from Pete. This allows Pete to get his arm across Mikey’s throat and make a gable grip (palms perpendicular, thumbs in) behind his head.

4 Close-up of gable grip showing the angle of the catch on Mikey's neck.

5 Pete sprawls his hips and squeezes his elbows together, crushing Mikey’s windpipe.

6 Pete has a knee ride on Mikey and his right hand cued up to throw punches.

7 As Pete lands the right Mikey covers up and turns his hips to relieve pressure from Pete’s knee.

8 Pete has anticipated Mikey’s reaction and is ready to transition. Posting his hands on Mikey’s head and triceps Pete switches his hips over Mikey’s body, both legs hopping simultaneously.