Title: Kneebar: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/kneebar

> Kneebar. Straighten the leg and bridge your hips against the back of the knee to hyperextend the joint.

# Kneebar

- BJJ
- Leg Locks
- advanced
- Leg entanglement
- 3 steps

Straighten the leg and bridge your hips against the back of the knee to hyperextend the joint. Also known as the Leg armbar. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.

## When to use it

Use the kneebar when you control a leg and the opponent stands up or steps over to escape a leg lock. Line their kneecap just above your hip before you bridge. It also follows a straight ankle lock that slips, because the leg slides up to your hips. Apply it only where your rules and training partners allow it.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Control the leg

   Trap their leg between yours with their knee just past your hip line.

2. 02

   ### Extend & pinch

   Straighten their leg, pinch your knees on the thigh and hug the leg tight to your chest.

3. 03

   ### Bridge the hips

   Drive your hips up into the back of their knee to hyperextend it, toes pointed to control rotation.

## Key details

- Position their kneecap just above your hip so the bridge bends the joint.
- Pinch the knees and hug the leg so it cannot rotate out.
- Finish with a slow hip bridge, not a jerk.

## Common mistakes

- Letting their knee slide to your belly where there is no leverage.
- Loose legs that let them spin.
- Cranking explosively instead of bridging slowly.

## Common counters

Opponents bend the leg, turn their knee out to the side, or sit up and grab your legs to shorten the lever. If the knee sits on your belly, there is no leverage. Pinch the thigh, hug the leg and point their toes toward the ceiling.

## How to drill it

From a leg entanglement, slide the knee above your hip, hug the leg and bridge slowly while your partner taps early, ten reps on each side. Then chain it: straight ankle lock, they pull the foot, kneebar.

## Related techniques

- [Straight Ankle Lock BJJ Trap the foot in your armpit and bridge your hips to attack the Achilles and ankle.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/straight-ankle-lock)
- [Heel Hook BJJ Control the leg, trap the heel and rotate it to torque the knee. Extremely dangerous, drill with care.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/heel-hook)
- [Toe Hold BJJ Figure-four grip the foot and rotate it to torque the ankle and knee.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/toe-hold)
- [Calf Slicer BJJ Wedge your shin behind their knee, fold their lower leg over it and pull to crush the calf into the bone.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/calf-slicer)

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