Keep the Top Knee
Mat mode
5:00
Tell the roomThe passer flanks toward chest-to-chest.
Show full gameHide full gameRules · how to win · coach notes
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Kneeling beside the bottom player with a tight waist grip.
OBJECTIVE
Flank toward chest-to-chest. Chest-to-chest and the re-face each hold for 3 seconds.
CONSTRAINTS
No foot post on the floor. The bottom's floor-side foot cannot post flat to bridge or shrimp. Keep constant contact. The passer never lets go of the hips or torso to reset the grip. Stay above the knee. The passer cannot grip or attack below the knee. Reset when the passer holds chest-to-chest past the knee line with both shoulders flattened for 3 seconds; when the passer takes the back and holds 3 seconds; when the bottom re-faces with a knee or foot frame back between them and holds 3 seconds; or when the bottom switches hips and re-faces, sits up to base, or stands. 5-6 min rounds.
WIN CONDITION
Chest-to-chest past the knee line, both shoulders flattened, held for 3 seconds; or the back, held for 3 seconds.
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
On their side, top knee to the chest, near elbow posted.
OBJECTIVE
Keep the top knee to the chest, switch hips off a frame, and re-face.
CONSTRAINTS
Same no-foot-post, constant-contact, stay-above-the-knee, and named reset rules. 5-6 min rounds.
WIN CONDITION
Re-face with a knee or foot frame back between them, held for 3 seconds; or switch hips and re-face, sit up to base, or stand.
Grapplers Collective, Keep the Top Knee. 5-6 min rounds.
Problem
Keeping the top knee to the chest and switching hips off a frame so the passer never wins the chest-to-chest race.
Tell the room
The passer flanks toward chest-to-chest. The bottom keeps the top knee to the chest, switches hips off a frame, and re-faces. Chest-to-chest and the re-face each hold for 3 seconds.
Setup
Start with the passer on a hip. Passer kneeling beside the bottom player with a tight waist grip. Bottom on their side, top knee to the chest, near elbow posted.
Score
Hold for 3 seconds.
- Passer — chest-to-chest past the knee line, both shoulders flattened, or the back
- Bottom player — re-faces with a knee or foot frame back between them
- Bottom player — switches hips and re-faces, sits up to base, or stands
Rules
- No foot post on the floor. The bottom's floor-side foot cannot post flat to bridge or shrimp.
- Keep constant contact. The passer never lets go of the hips or torso to reset the grip.
- Stay above the knee. The passer cannot grip or attack below the knee.
Adjust
Easier
Start the bottom already squared with the knee in, and let the passer circle from there at 60-70% pressure.
Harder
Let the passer attack the legs and take the back, and add a shot clock on the re-face.
If it stalls
If the bottom keeps getting flattened, watch the head. Drifting outside the knees on the hip switch opens the shoulder line.
guard