BJJ MOUNT
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a combative Martial Art that incorporates high energy systems, a range of technical components, a high calibre submission system, and a pressure game that is designed for controlling opponents. Using positional control is one of the most important factors in the game, and is a fundamental process taught to all beginners of the art.
What this article covers:
There are many different control positions that athletes will need to master like the guard, which is the first line of defense against an attacking top game player. The bjj side control position is used to neutralise an opponent with a perpendicular style of control. The back control is one of the most formidable control positions, because of its ability to keep an opponent facing away, as well as utilising a dangerous scope of choke holds.
Some practitioners will argue that the mount has the most effective control, and a dominant avenue to set up submissions from. Using the mount is an effective way to keep an opponent flat on their back, which is one of the fundamental concepts in controlling an opponent. What makes the mount so versatile is how easily an athlete can switch between different variations of the mount, and how it can be effectively used to switch between other control positions like side control, back control, and the knee on belly position. There are multiple ways to submit an opponent from the mount, and utilising these techniques while staying in such a commanding and powerful position is instrumental in dominating an opponent.
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MOUNT VARIATIONS
The mount position is more than just one type of control position. There are different variations of the mount, and each of them are dependent on what style of attacking the athlete will use, or how their opponent reacts, and tries to escape. The standard mount has an athlete on their knees with their hips driving pressure into the opponent’s belly, and is generally used to set up collar grips, or secure wrist grips. If the opponent is moving a lot, and it is hard to keep them on their back, then an athlete can move into a low mount. This means they will shoot their hips backwards, driving the pressure into their opponent's hips, and this allows the athlete to utilise the grapevine, which is when they use their hooks to thread behind the opponent's legs. This control system is used to become extremely heavy on top of the opponent, which is a good way of stifling them, and sapping their energy systems.
The high mount is usually how an athlete can attack their opponent, and this can start from the standard mount position. The athlete will scoop their forearm underneath the elbow of their opponent, as they begin to walk their hand high on the mat, as they do this they can slide their knee up underneath the armpit. This is a great method for an athlete to attack arm bars, kimuras, and head and arm triangle chokes. Another mount position is the reverse mount, and this is just how it sounds, as the athlete will control their opponent with both of their knees on the mat, while facing their opponent's legs. This unique mount position is used to attack various leg locks like the heel hook, the toe hold, or the knee bar, and can also be used for sneaky submissions like the reverse triangle.
The s-mount is a revolutionary type of mount control designed to specifically attack an opponent's arm or neck. The s-mount is secured by sliding one knee up underneath the armpit, while the other leg shoots out in a forward position, trapping the other side of their opponent's body. This mount position is good for attacking mounted triangles, or arm bar submissions. Another mount position that can be extremely effective is the technical mount, and this form of mount usually happens when the opponent turns onto their side. As the opponent turns, the athlete will slide their knee up behind their shoulder, as they step up with their other foot trapping it against their belly. This mount position is used to attack kimuras, arm bars, and monoplatas, and is a great position to utilise the gift wrap from.
WAYS TO SET UP THE MOUNT
There are different ways to set up the mount, and they will depend on which position an athlete is in. From the side control position there are multiple ways to achieve the mount position. One way is for the athlete to control the cross face, as they walk their legs towards their opponent's head. From here they can easily thread their leg over the belly, securing a tight mount control. Another way to secure the mount position is to first set up into a knee on belly position, and this can be done by securing a grip on the shoulder, and a grip on the hip. The athlete will then apply pressure into these grips, as they jump up into a knee on belly position. From here the athlete will windscreen wipe their shin across the belly of their opponent, and this will lead to the mount position.
The mount position can also be secured straight off the back of a guard pass. There are many ways to pass the guard like a toreando, an x pass, or a smash pass, and these types of guard passes can lead straight into a knee on belly position, which gives the athlete an opportunity to go directly straight into the mount. Executing the knee cut pass requires an athlete to use their knee to cut straight through the guard. Commonly the knee cut is used to grind over the thigh of an opponent, and this can lead to a side control position. What makes this pass so diverse is that the athlete can use head pressure, combined with a cross face, and an under hook to slide their knee straight up the centre line, and straight into a mount position.
Setting up the mount can also be utilised straight from the closed guard position. Utilising different sweeping mechanisms can help an athlete move straight into a mount position, and at the same time scoring six points, two for the sweep, and four for the mount in IBJJF competition. Setting up the pendulum sweep is a high percentage sweep, and requires an athlete to secure an over hook, as they dive their other arm underneath their opponent's thigh. Once they have a deep position underneath the thigh, they will change the angle of their hips, so their leg can push in a forward motion. To achieve the sweep the athlete will punch up with their under hook on the leg, as they kick forward with their leg, as their other leg uses a pendulum motion to create momentum. As the opponent loses balance, the athlete can use the momentum of the sweep to follow the movement straight into the mount position.
The mount position can also be secured from the outset of a competition match. This means from the standing position there are takedown maneuvers that can land an athlete straight into the mount position. Takedowns like the double leg, the body lock throw, even the ankle pick can outline a direct pathway straight into the mount position. Foot sweeps are also highly effective at taking an opponent down to the mat, and once the opponent is grounded an athlete can easily glide straight into a mount position. There are Judo throws like the tomoe nage, which allows an athlete to throw their opponent over their head, by using their feet in the hips. This is a powerful throw that can often land an athlete into the mount position.
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SUBMISSIONS FROM THE MOUNT
Securing jiu jitsu holds from the full mount can be easy to set up, and due to the extensive range of options an athlete has, an opponent must be careful how they try to escape. Keeping an opponent pinned on their back will take away a considerable amount of their strength, and their energy. Commonly an opponent will panic when they are trying to escape, and over reach out of desperation, and this can lead to easy avenues for an athlete to find joint locks, or choke holds. One of the most basic submissions from the mount is the arm bar, especially when the opponent over extends their arm. The athlete will look to move into a high mount, as they secure an elbow to elbow hook on the arm. Moving their knee higher toward their opponent's head, they can post off the mat, as they pivot their hips, swinging their leg over their face, and securing an arm bar submission.
Utilising a strong mount position is crucial for stifling an opponent, but moving into more attacking mount positions like the s-mount can help to bolster their submission attack. Setting up the mounted triangle from the s-mount requires an athlete to control their opponent's wrist that is closest to their extended foot, while their knee is firmly placed behind their opposite shoulder. From here the athlete will pin their opponent's wrist to the mat, as they shoot their leg over the shoulder, and around their neck. The athlete has two options to finish the choke, they can simply apply chest pressure to the back of the tricep, as they lower their body to the mat, or they can hold onto their shin as they lock a triangle with their legs. From here they can pull the head upwards to get the tap, or they can roll over into a traditional triangle from the guard position.
Chokes from the mount are highly achievable, and setting up an opponent with lapels, and collar grips can be extremely successful. The cross collar choke is one of those brutal submissions that requires an athlete to secure a collar grip with four fingers in, and one thumb out. It is important to maintain a strong postured base, so the opponent doesn't sweep the athlete. Once the athlete has secured their first grip they can use their other hand to reach across and secure a cross grip on the collar, or a pistol grip on the shoulder, before extending their elbows towards the mat, and choking the opponent in a scissoring motion. The cross collar choke can also be achieved from the guard, so even if the athlete gets swept half way through the submission attempt, they can still achieve the choke.
The clock choke is another valuable technique that athletes should master. This choke is similar to a baseball bat choke, as it requires an athlete to set up the same side collar grips. From here the athlete should be looking to exit from the mount, and begin to circle around towards the north south position. As they begin this movement the athlete will drop their forearm across their opponent's neck, straightening their arm, as they cinch the collar tight with their other grip. This can be an extremely brutal choke, and one that is effective against all levels. Another effective choke is called the brabo choke, and this is set up by an athlete opening up one of their opponent's lapels. Once they have a grip on the tip of the lapel, they will feed it underneath the arm, and around the back of the neck, passing it to their other hand. The next step is to switch the grip again, as this grip resembles a deep cross collar grip, as they use their other hand to reach across the neck, and secure a grip on the fed lapel. To finish the brabo choke, the athlete will drop their elbows towards the mat, squeezing in a cross collar motion.
ESCAPING FROM THE MOUNT
There are multiple ways to escape from the mount position, and all athletes will need to master these concepts, because they are crucial to becoming a successful Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor. One of the most fundamental mount escapes is the elbow escape, and this involves an athlete first tightening up all of their corners that can be exploited. The athlete will then thread their forearm underneath their opponent's neck, while using their other forearm to frame off of their hips. From here it is important to create some space so they can begin to turn onto their side, and it is important to note that if the opponent starts to attack the neck, then they must instantly address the grip to defend the choke. Once the athlete is set up in their framing position, they can use their top leg to scoop over their opponent’s leg, as their bottom leg slides underneath, and secures the half guard position. From here they can utilise half guard techniques to sweep, or submit their opponent, or just escape their hips further, and look to secure the closed guard.
Another extremely effective mount escape is for an athlete to tuck their elbows and knees in. This is an old term called T Rex arms, which means to keep their elbows on the inside of their body, and glued to their chest, so their forearms can easily frame away from their opponent's pressure. From here they will look to utilise a framing grip towards the hip of their opponent, and as they begin to bridge their hips upwards, they will extend their forearms, giving them enough space to slide their knees straight into an open guard position. This is an extremely efficient escape that can work on athletes of all shapes and sizes. This same technique can also be used to secure a heel hook, as instead of pushing the opponent upwards, they can move their opponent to the side, and simply wrap their leg from the inside and back around the outside, which will isolate one of their legs. Even though this is a submission, it can also be used as a way to stand up, and free themself from the mount position.
Another good way to escape the mount, but may seem like it is highly advanced is a variation of the great escape. From the outset this escape may look like an athlete needs an extreme amount of flexibility to pull this off, but in actual fact all they need is to be able to push their opponents clear of their hips, and use the right change of angle to initiate the escape. The athlete will start by pushing their opponent's hips high, forcing them to post on the mat above their head. From here they will dive both of their arms underneath both of their opponents legs, and push them even further forward. This will create enough avenue to invert their hips, hooking both of their feet around the torso of their opponent, as they escape their head from underneath their opponent's hips. If this technique is done correctly the opponent will come up on top, and can move straight into leg entanglement submissions like a toe hold, or even something as complicated as a Boston crab.
If you enjoyed this piece, consider checking:
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- BJJ Drills with a Partner
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- BJJ Arm Triangle
- Yoga for Jiu Jitsu
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- Judo or Jiu Jitsu for Self Defense
- Judo Throws for BJJ
- Escaping Side Control BJJ
- Passing Guard BJJ
- BJJ Headquarters Position
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