Overview

The knee pick is a timing-based leg attack that targets the far knee as your opponent steps or shifts weight. Unlike penetration-style shots, the knee pick stays upright and rewards positioning, angle, and reaction over speed.

In jiu-jitsu contexts, the knee pick fits especially well because it:

  • Works from higher stances
  • Keeps your posture tall
  • Avoids extended exposure underneath your opponent

This page emphasizes the knee pick from underhooks, where inside position and head placement make the far knee accessible.

Core Principles

  • Clear the near side to access the far knee
  • Create or exploit a weight shift before picking
  • Stay upright — this is not a diving attack
  • The knee pick works on a stepping leg, not a planted one
  • Drive through the angle you create

If there’s no weight shift, there is no knee pick.

Primary Variations

Underhook Knee Pick (Primary)

The most reliable and transferable version.

Why it works:

  • Underhooks give inside position and posture control
  • Clearing the near side exposes the far knee
  • Keeps your head high and hips under you

Best used when:

  • Your opponent is upright
  • You’ve stepped in with an underhook or pummel
  • They’re circling or reacting to pressure

This is the version that translates best to BJJ.

Single-Leg to Knee Pick Transition

A common secondary entry.

When it appears:

  • Your single leg stalls
  • They step the far leg forward to base or recover
  • You release the single and change targets

This keeps the knee pick integrated into your leg-attack system rather than isolated.

Common Mistakes

  • Attacking the near knee
  • Trying to knee pick without clearing the near side
  • Reaching without forcing a step
  • Dropping posture and diving
  • Treating the knee pick like a shot instead of a timing attack

Most failed knee picks fail before the pick.

Transitions & Chains

The knee pick is a connector more than a destination.

Common chains:

  • Underhook → knee pick → cut to double
  • Knee pick → opponent hops → single leg
  • Knee pick attempt → they square up → body lock
  • Fake knee pick → snap or front headlock

When the knee pick doesn’t land, it should still move the exchange forward.

Video Study

Watch the primary breakdown first. The examples below show how the same principles appear in different contexts.

Primary Breakdown

Your video embed
(Shows underhook-based entries and far-knee timing)

Additional Examples

  • Different stances
  • Different reactions
  • Different finishes