Position
White/Blue
Mastering the Mount: Your Ultimate BJJ Top Control Guide
๐ฅ White Belt
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Beginner
The Mount position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is arguably one of the most dominant top control positions, offering unparalleled opportunities for strikes and submissions. From here, you can exert immense pressure, limit your opponent's movement, and set up a wide array of finishing techniques, making it a cornerstone of effective BJJ.
Technique Map
graph LR
Position["Position"]:::catNode
Position --> Mount
Mount["Mount"]:::currentNode
Mount -.-> Back_Mount["Back Mount"]:::relNode
Mount -.-> Side_Control["Side Control"]:::relNode
Mount -.-> North_South["North-South"]:::relNode
Mount -.-> Knee_on_Belly["Knee on Belly"]:::relNode
Mount -.-> Turtle_Position["Turtle Position"]:::relNode
classDef currentNode fill:#22c55e,stroke:#fff,color:#fff,font-weight:700
classDef relNode fill:#141926,stroke:#1f2840,color:#a78bfa
classDef catNode fill:#1f2840,stroke:#7c6af7,color:#7c6af7,font-style:italic
How to Execute
1
Achieve Base: Once you've passed guard, typically from knee-on-belly or side control, establish a wide base with your knees pressing into your opponent's hips/thighs.
2
Control Hips & Posture: Keep your hips low and heavy, maintaining strong hip-to-hip connection, while sitting up tall to establish good posture and vision.
3
Secure Grips (Optional): Use either a cross-face and arm control or double wrist control to limit your opponent's ability to turn or escape.
4
Weight Distribution: Distribute your weight evenly, with your shins flat on the mat and your feet hooked behind their hips (grapevine or hooks) to prevent bucking.
5
Advance to High Mount: If possible, slide your knees further up towards their armpits to achieve a high mount, increasing pressure and submission threat.
Key Details & Tips
1
Heavy Hips: Always keep your hips heavy and low to the ground to maximize pressure and prevent your opponent from escaping underneath.
2
Base and Balance: Maintain a wide, stable base with your knees and shins, ready to post or shift weight to counter any escape attempts.
3
Posturing Up: Sitting tall with good posture gives you better vision, allows for stronger strikes, and makes it harder for your opponent to disrupt your balance.
4
Active Hooks/Feet: Your feet are not just for balance; they can be used as hooks (grapevine) to prevent hip escapes or as posts to shift weight quickly.
Variations
1
High Mount (S-Mount Prep): Moving your knees further up towards the opponent's armpits, offering better angles for armbars and chokes.
2
S-Mount: A transitional mount position where one leg is hooked over the opponent's shoulder, setting up powerful armbars and chokes.
3
Technical Mount: A one-legged mount where one leg is hooked and the other is posted, often used to prevent rolls or transition to the back.
When to Use
The Mount is typically achieved after successfully passing the guard from positions like Side Control or knee-on-belly. It's a primary goal once you've secured top control and are looking to finish the fight via submission or strikes.
Counters & Defenses
1
Upa/Bridge Escape: The most common escape, involving a strong bridge to roll the top player over.
2
Elbow-Knee Escape (Trap and Roll Counter): Creating space to bring the knee to the elbow, allowing for hip escape and guard recovery.
3
Frame and Push: Using frames against the opponent's hips and chest to create space and initiate a hip escape.
โ๏ธ Training Safety & Performance
Q: What is the primary objective once you achieve the Mount position?
The primary objective from the Mount is to create opportunities for submissions (like Armbars, chokes, or kimuras) or, in self-defense/MMA, to land strikes, while maintaining dominant control and preventing escape.
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