How One Tournament Loss Sparked a Deep Exploration of the Kneebar System
Bendy Casimir grew up in Paris, eventually coming to the US via signing with the WEC. In Las Vegas, he met and married Cal Poly SLO alumni Katie while training at a Tapout gym there in 2009. The pair are today known on social media and YouTube as “King Kneebar”, referring to a system of study that was originated by Bendy and his training partner Taylor McCorriston. Since 2021, Katie has taken over Taylor’s roll of explaining the techniques, editing the videos, and running the social platforms. However, she is quick to point out that, while she contributes, “Bendy is the architect of the kneebar system.”
Bendy’s somewhat classic introduction to jiu jitsu was through VHS copies of early UFCs and Royce Gracie. He became interested in kneebars when he lost to one in a tournament. Before his fascination centered on kneebars, he pursued MMA and jiu jitsu in Europe, becoming known as one of the best grapplers there and winning at several major events.
Katie’s background in martial arts began as a kickboxer under Chuck Liddel at SLO Kickboxing; she ultimately transitioned into MMA to access more opportunities for fights, then began to focus more on grappling.
Whether You’re Familiar with Kneebars or Not, There’s Always More to Learn
Katie and Bendy’s Jiu Jitsu X course, King Kneebar, is great for an athlete of any level of training. As practitioners themselves, they implore their students to “love the journey here, because there is no destination in jiu jitsu.” Their King Kneebar course is designed with this in mind, offering techniques that you will be able to chain together as needed. There is always an ultimate goal in mind, but the ability to be flexible in a match or in training is vital.
The unpredictability of jiu jitsu is one major thing that continues to draw Katie and Bendy to it. They’ve come to understand that “there’s always something to learn. There's always someone who will give you a new problem as soon as you solve the last one. We love the collaboration process, the collective brain is enormous and the potential is endless.”
In King Kneebar, you’ll find many lessons that reference techniques from athletes that Katie and Bendy have had the benefit to know and learn from. Several of their go-to options originate from what they’ve learned at Robert Dysdale’s academy, at 10th Planet Downtown Las Vegas, and from athletes they’ve had the opportunity to meet while traveling.
In fact, the three free lessons in King Kneebar include some of these techniques that draw on what Katie and Bendy have learned from fellow jiu jitsu practitioners:
Knee Cut Entry into Drysdale Position
The Vinny Finish from the Pigeon Position
Using the Victor Control to Pass the Guard
They even attribute some of their continued understanding of the kneebar system to their students, saying: “our students ask questions that will mess everything up, and we love them for it. We find questions and answers together and learn as much from them as they do from us.”
Finally, as a couple, they often find themselves learning from each other. When they aren’t obsessing over the latest “nerd stuff” (Star Wars, Marvel, Anime, Pokémon, etc.), savoring food and coffee, discussing French politics, listening to self help audio books, or raising their children, they are often working on all things kneebar, enjoying the process of creating something together.
Take a look at the King Kneebar course page for more information about what you can learn from them, and of course, explore all things kneebar over on their YouTube and Instagram pages!
