Mount

Mount is one of the most dominant positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where the practitioner is on top of their opponent with their legs straddling the opponent’s torso. It allows the top player to control, apply Pressure, and attack with a variety of submissions while limiting the bottom player's movement and escape options.

Key Characteristics

Control

  • Your hips and chest are positioned over the opponent’s torso, applying Weight Distribution to maintain pressure.

Base

  • Knees are wide and firmly planted to create stability and balance, preventing sweeps or escapes.

Attacks

Goals from Mount

Control the Opponent

  • Use Frames, grips, and body positioning to keep the opponent flat and limit their movement.
  • Keep their arms and head controlled to set up attacks or transitions.

Advance Position

  • Transition to more aggressive variations such as S-Mount or Technical Mount for better angles.
  • Maintain dominance and prevent escapes by staying centered and adapting to their movements.

Attack for Submissions

  • Use the dominant position to apply chokes, joint locks, or force the opponent to expose their back.

Types of Mount

Low Mount

  • Hips are closer to the opponent’s hips, ideal for maintaining control and preventing escapes.

High Mount

  • Knees are positioned near the opponent’s armpits, which isolates their arms and sets up attacks like the Armbar or Mounted Triangle.

S-Mount

  • One knee is positioned high near the opponent's head, with the other leg folded, creating strong control for attacking submissions.

Advantages of Mount

Dominance in the Positional Hierarchy

  • Mount is one of the most advantageous positions in BJJ.

Submission Opportunities

  • A wide range of submissions is available due to the top player's ability to isolate arms, neck, and shoulders.

Points in Competition

  • In IBJJF rules, achieving Mount scores 4 points, reflecting its high level of control.

Common Submissions from Mount

Armbar

  • Isolate the opponent’s arm and swing your leg over their head to hyperextend the elbow.

Americana

Cross Collar Choke

  • Secure deep grips in their gi collar and apply a scissor motion to choke them.

Triangle Choke

  • Transition into S-Mount and trap their head and arm with your legs.

Ezekiel

  • Use your forearm and sleeve grip to choke them directly.

Transitions from Mount

Technical Mount

  • Shift to a side angle as the opponent turns to defend or escape, allowing greater attack angles.

Back Take

  • If the opponent exposes their back, transition to Back Control.

Knee on Belly

  • Disengage to Knee on Belly to maintain pressure while staying mobile.

Common Mistakes in Mount

Leaning Too Far Forward

Not Controlling the Hips

  • If the opponent’s hips are free, they can create space to escape or recover Guard.

Neglecting Balance

  • Keeping your knees too close together can compromise your Base, leading to sweeps or escapes.
Tip

Mastering Mount Top involves blending submissions, transitions, and maintaining Pressure while anticipating escapes. By controlling the Center Line and remaining balanced, you can dominate opponents and stay on the offensive.

Advancing Mount

Transitions from Mount

Technical Mount

  • Shift your body to one side as the opponent turns, placing one knee near their head and the other on their torso, creating angles for attacks.

Back Take

  • When the opponent turns to their side or exposes their back, insert hooks to secure Back Control.

Knee on Belly

  • Slide one knee off the opponent’s torso to transition into Knee on Belly, maintaining pressure and control.

S-Mount

  • Slide one knee high near the opponent’s head and tuck the other leg, setting up better submission angles.

Submissions from Mount

Armbar

  • Isolate one of the opponent's arms, swing your leg over their head, and finish by hyperextending their elbow.

Americana

  • Trap one arm with a Figure-Four Grip, twisting their shoulder by lifting their elbow while keeping their wrist pinned to the mat.

Kimura

  • Isolate an arm, lock a Figure-Four Grip, and crank the shoulder while controlling their torso.

Cross Collar Choke

  • Secure deep grips in their gi collar and apply a scissor motion to choke them.

Mounted Triangle

  • Transition to S-Mount and trap their head and arm with your legs, locking the choke.

Ezekiel

  • Use your forearm and sleeve grip to apply a choke directly from mount.

Bow and Arrow (Transition)

  • As they defend, transition to their back for a Bow and Arrow choke.

Sweeps from Mount (If Reversed)

Butterfly Sweep (From Transition)

  • If the opponent attempts to reverse you and you post a leg, use it to elevate them and sweep to regain top control.

Reverse Sweep

  • As the opponent tries to escape, adjust your Base and use their momentum to roll them back into mount.

Passes into Mount

Knee Slide to Mount

  • From Side Control, slide your knee across their torso while trapping their arms, transitioning to Mount Top.

Over-Under Pass to Mount

  • Use forward pressure during the pass to land directly in mount.

Toreando Pass to Mount

  • Circle around their legs during the pass and drop into mount with control.

Half Guard Smash Pass

Escapes from Mount

Bridge and Roll Escape

Knee Elbow Escape

  • Frame against their hips, use Hip Movement to push their knee off, and slide one leg through to recover Guard.

Shrimp to Guard Escape

Butterfly Escape

  • Slide your legs under their hips and elevate them to transition into Butterfly Guard.

Underhook Escape

Takedowns Leading to Mount

Double Leg Takedown to Mount

  • Finish a takedown with heavy pressure and slide directly into mount by bypassing Guard.

Body Lock Takedown to Mount

  • Control their hips during the takedown and secure mount by staying tight to their torso.

Snapdown to Mount

Trip Takedown to Mount

  • Use a trip to bring them to the mat and immediately transition to mount by passing their legs.

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