Issue 058

January 2010

With Pete Irving.

3-minute clinic

The top leg 

Here the top leg is pressed back against the opponent’s hips, making it more difficult for him to sit up and attempt to achieve top position.  

The hips 

To apply pressure to the knee push your hips forward, arch your back and look up and over your shoulder.  

The leg vice

Here we see the knees squeezed together, helping to maintain a straight leg. The opponent will attempt to twist his leg to relieve the straight pressure on the knee joint, and this is one way to counter that defense.  

The grip 

A variety of grips are acceptable for the kneebar finish but here we see crossed arms, a very secure variation that allows the attacker to maintain control of the leg by exerting force using the back and shoulders, rather than the comparatively weaker arms.  

The kneebar is one of the most impressive of all submissions, given that the leg is a much larger limb and has more muscle groups than the arms, shoulders or neck. It takes great skill to exert leverage on an opponent’s knee.  

The inherent danger of using any kind of leg lock (but perhaps most of all the kneebar) in an MMA fight is that you run the risk of pulling the opponent on top where they can ground and pound while you are trapped by your own attack. It is paramount when going for a kneebar that you prevent your opponent from climbing up over you. This technique clinic shows you how. 

Guard pass to kneebar

Step 1: Pete is in Jack’s open guard and has posted his leg in the center to prevent Jack throwing up armbars and triangles. Pete is careful to keep his arms in to his body to stop Jack picking up any variety of arm attack. Pete’s base is low to prevent the sweep. Step 2: Pete slides his knee through Jack’s guard, over the opposite hip and underhooks the near leg. Step 3: Pete’s knee goes all the way to the mat. He starts to straighten the leg by gripping the knee very tightly. Step 4: Pete rolls all the way to his side – NOT onto both shoulders! From here he uses the crossed-arm grip and the force of his hips to straighten Jack’s leg. Step 5: Once the knee is in position Pete pushes his hips forward and looks right back. 

Rolling kneebar from turtle position

Step 1: Pete is in the turtle position and Jack is behind him gripping Pete’s hips but does not have his hooks in. Jack has made a critical error and left his knee between Pete’s legs. Step 2: Pete reaches through with his left arm to hook behind Jack’s knee as he executes a forward roll over his shoulder. Step 3: Pete rolls under, using his hips and legs to push Jack forward. Step 4: Jack lands face forward. Pete uses a mata leao grip to secure the leg, with one hand on Jack’s ankle. Step 5: Pete clamps his knees tight on Jack’s leg and lifts his hips up to force the tap.

Pete Irving is a professional welterweight fighter and Fighters Only’s resident fight expert. He has fought in Europe and the USA, and currently holds the Strike & Submit European title.