Title: Knee Pick: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/knee-pick

> Knee Pick. Steer the opponent past you and pick the knee to drop them straight to the mat. Step-by-step breakdown with key details and common mistakes.

# Knee Pick

- Wrestling
- Takedowns
- fundamental
- Collar tie
- 3 steps

Steer the opponent past you and pick the knee to drop them straight to the mat. Also known as the Knee tap. 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 knee pick when the opponent stands tall and close in a collar tie. Steer their head across and down first so their weight lands on the lead leg. It is a short attack with no deep penetration step.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Collar tie

   Establish a collar tie and feel their weight.

2. 02

   ### Level change & pick the knee

   Drive their head down and across as you drop and cup behind the lead knee, taking the base out from under them.

3. 03

   ### Drive through & finish

   Turn the corner, drive your weight through them and come up in top position.

## Key details

- Steer the head away from the knee you are picking.
- Pick at the knee, not the ankle, and drive forward.
- A short, sharp level change, no big shot needed.

## Common mistakes

- Picking the knee without moving the head.
- Reaching from too far and getting sprawled on.
- Standing up after the pick instead of driving through.

## Common counters

Opponents sprawl their hips back, square their stance so neither knee is in front, or circle away from the pick. If the head does not move, they keep their base and stuff you. Steer the head down and across as you pick.

## How to drill it

From collar ties, steer your partner’s head down and across, pick the lead knee and drive through to the mat, ten reps on each side. Then do three rounds of two minutes from ties with light resistance, looking for the pick whenever they step in.

## Related techniques

- [Double-Leg Takedown Wrestling Change levels, penetrate, and drive through both legs to put the opponent on their back.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/double-leg)
- [Single-Leg Takedown Wrestling Capture one leg with the head outside, then run the pipe or trip to finish on top.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/single-leg)
- [High Crotch Wrestling A penetrating attack to the inner thigh with the head up on the outside, tight to their hip, lifting one leg to finish.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/high-crotch)
- [Fireman's Carry Wrestling Drop under a tie, load the opponent across your shoulders and roll them to the mat.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/firemans-carry)
- [Hip Toss Wrestling Turn in, load the opponent over your hip and throw them to the mat.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/hip-toss)
- [Outside Trip Wrestling Off-balance the opponent and reap their leg from the outside to trip them onto their back.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/outside-trip)

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